Custody

Watched the Tamil version. This Venkat Prabhu's hunt deals with an honest constable stumbling upon two suspects during a night stroll. He arrests them suspecting drunk and disorderly but turns out, one of them is a dreaded criminal and the other, a CBI officer who had just arrested him. The criminal has to be produced in Bengaluru court and the state government is trying to stop that from happening. How they face all odds to make it to the court on time forms the story.

The problem with the screenplay is it barely throws any surprises. One can easily predict the main villain at the beginning itself. The love story between Naga Chaitanya and Krithi Shetty barely registers. Neither the actors of Aravind Swamy, Sarath Kumar, Ramki are given meaty roles. The bad vfx doesn't help Venkat Prabhu's vision considering the whole movie is one prolonged chase sequences hoping to be thrilling.

The flashback felt forced and simplifying the story to that extent made a certain character's death pointless and the film too ends on a joke which could've been fine if not for the main tone of the film. The signature humor one expects from Venkat Prabhu simply doesn't sync in this type of serious film.

Ok the people who are actually honest obedient responsible police officers are VARGHESE, GEORGE,and millitant PHILIP....but but but The sadistic CM and the criminal is DAKSHAYANI and RAJASHEKHAR aka RAJU...whyyyyy????what is the director trying to prove here???what is the conversation between the millitant officer and accused??? Director is trying to tell audience that millitary is actually killing people who has a family too... seriously????and the director deliberately inserted hindu pooja in a scene where CM is talking to her party founder...and the military officer who removes bullet and shelters the accused is xtian?????this is such a useless movie..waste of time watching...bomblast scene was totally unnecessary...and no mother would leave a child in such a traffic that is for sure....what a crap movie it is..🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

The mixture of dark humour and thriller seems to be the right fit for Venkat Prabhu. It's rare to see thrillers like this in Telugu. Welcome Venkat Prabhu sir. Thank you for filling the void.

Chay, absolutely killed it. Glad that he picked this role.

People who have been criticizing or picking out things that are trivial are just shocked or unsettled of how word of mouth is the only thing that's pulling the audience to the theaters. (At the time this review was written).

No one really expected much but this film proves yet again 'Content is King'.

Yes the music apart from the BGM had its flaws but it's a minor inconvenience. It'll be remembered as a classic in the industry for sure!

Maybe the weakest work from VP till date. Even his earlier flop movies at least had some kind of half baked content in them. But 'Custody' has nothing new to offer. I felt bored all along and very difficult to sit through.

The only thing that stood out for me is the cinematography. The water sequences are good and I am sure the makers must have gone through a lot of challenging situations to bring this output, but, what's the point in trying all these unique film making ideas without a proper story.

Chay did his best but the character itself is very ordinary. In fact all the characters in this movie are just ordinary.

Plot is very thin and routine with no conflict among the characters.

I don't know if VP got confused in dealing a bilingual or if he is genuinely out of ideas, but it didn't feel like a VP film at all.

Overall, a disappointing movie. Forgettable.

In 2023, the discourse surrounding child custody in India continued to evolve, largely shaped by judicial pronouncements and a sustained emphasis on the "best interests of the child" principle. While the legal framework for custody largely remained anchored in existing statutes like the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, and personal laws (such as the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956), the judiciary consistently interpreted and applied these laws with a child-centric approach.

A significant theme in 2023 was the increasing recognition of the child's voice in custody matters. Courts, particularly the Supreme Court, demonstrated a willingness to consider the preferences of mature minor children, recognizing that their emotional and psychological well-being is paramount. A December 2023 Supreme Court ruling specifically highlighted the significance of a 12-year-old child's strong preference to live with their father, ultimately granting custody accordingly while ensuring visitation rights for the mother. This reflects a shift from a purely parental rights perspective to one that prioritizes the child's intelligent choice and agency.

While the general principle still holds that mothers are often preferred for the custody of children below five years of age due to the "tender age" doctrine, 2023 also saw reaffirmations that this is not an absolute rule. The courts continue to assess each case individually, considering the mother's capacity, and if circumstances dictate, custody can be granted to the father or even a third party if it serves the child's welfare better. Factors such as the moral and ethical upbringing, physical and emotional well-being, and the stability of the environment offered by each parent remain crucial considerations.

Joint custody arrangements continued to gain traction in 2023 as a preferred model, reflecting a growing understanding that children benefit from maintaining strong bonds with both parents, even after separation or divorce. This doesn't necessarily imply shared physical residence but rather shared legal custody, where both parents are involved in major decisions concerning the child's education, healthcare, and overall welfare. Courts are increasingly encouraging parents to cooperate to foster this shared responsibility.

The digital age also started to play a more discernible role in custody cases in 2023. Digital evidence, including text messages, emails, and social media activity, is increasingly being presented and considered by courts to assess parental fitness and the overall environment being provided to the child. The impact of "parental alienation syndrome" through technology, where one parent attempts to manipulate a child's relationship with the other, also came under judicial scrutiny, with courts acknowledging the psychological effect on children and using digital evidence to understand such complaints.

Despite these progressive interpretations, challenges persist. The lack of a uniform codified law for child custody across all religions in India can lead to complexities when personal laws intersect with general statutes. However, the consistent judicial emphasis on the "welfare principle" serves as a guiding light, ensuring that the child's best interests override specific provisions of personal laws in cases of conflict.

In essence, 2023 solidified the trend in Indian custody jurisprudence towards a more nuanced, child-centric approach. The courts continued to move beyond traditional notions of parental rights, prioritizing the child's welfare, considering their wishes when mature, and encouraging shared parenting responsibilities wherever feasible. The increasing relevance of digital evidence also highlighted the evolving nature of family law in response to societal and technological changes.