Critical reception
Paul Nicodemus of The Times of India rated the film three-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "Debutant director Ram Jagadeesh punches well above his weight, delivering a film that is both deeply moving and socially relevant. Court: State vs A Nobody is not just a courtroom drama—it is a slice-of-life portrayal of human emotions, societal biases, and the pursuit of justice." [22] Avad Mohammad of OTTplay gave the film 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "a gripping courtroom drama with outstanding performances, a strong message, and powerful emotions. Though the film starts slow, once it reaches the conflict point, there is hardly a dull moment." [23] A critic from The Hans India gave the film 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Court: State Vs A Nobody is an engaging legal drama with standout performances from Priyadarshi, Shivaji, and Harsh Roshan. Though the first half is slow, the courtroom sequences in the latter half make it worth a watch." [24] Avinash Ramachandran of The Indian Express gave the 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Strong performances and emotional beats do the heavy lifting in this familiar legal drama." [25]
Satya Pulagam of ABP Desam rated the film three out of five stars. [26] Jalapathy Gudelli of Telugucinema.com gave the film 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "a fairly engaging courtroom drama that sparks reflection on societal and judicial issues. Despite a sluggish first half and some narrative conveniences, strong performances—particularly from Priyadarshi and Shivaji—and a well-executed second half make it a worthwhile watch." [27] Sanjay Ponnappa of India Today gave it 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "Presented by Telugu star Nani, this courtroom drama steadily captures the audience's attention before entering the court to make an emotional case, but falls short when it comes to making the case compelling and smart." [28] Sashidhar Adivi of Times Now gave it 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "Overall, Court–State vs. A Nobody is a decent courtroom drama in Telugu cinema and will appeal to its target audience. The emotional depth, narrative style, and social message make it a one-time watch despite shortcomings." [29]
B. H. Harsh of Cinema Express wrote, "Debutant filmmaker Ram Jagadeesh shows a lot of promise in his debut, handling a familiar concept with impressive control and freshness". [30] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote, "Court is not groundbreaking. But it is an absorbing drama where the most applause-worthy moments stem from thoughtful writing and sharp dialogues." [31] Balakrishna Ganeshan of The News Minute wrote, "Although director Ram Jagadeesh’s Court: State Vs A Nobody aspires to be a gripping legal drama, it leans heavily onto melodrama rather than procedural precision, ultimately weakening its impact." [32] Swaroop Kodur of The Hollywood Reporter India wrote, "Some of the elements in Ram Jagadeesh’s debut film feel slightly off-base, but the film comes together because of strong performances and staging." [33]
