Subhash Kapoor’s Jolly LLB series has done quite well by mixing in an interesting way satire, humour, and social commentary addressing flaws in India’s justice system. The first two films set the bar quite high; they were both fun and also made points on places where class divides and systemic corruption were being made. In Jolly LLB 3, Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi return to portray their iconic Jollys, and in this film they continue the tradition of placing them in some court room drama involving illegal land acquisition and corporate welfare, as each of the previous films did. The film remains socially relevant, entertaining, but is just not very sharp compared to those before it.
Plot
Jolly LLB 3, helmed by Subhash Kapoor, continues the franchise’s tradition of expertly walking the line between comedy and topical social comment. This time the plot is based on illegal land acquisition in the perspective of Janki Amma (Seema Biswas), a farmer whose family history went into her land, which was acquired illegally by an immoral corporate giant. In the midst of this problem, the two Jollys — Jagdishwar Tyagi (Arshad Warsi) and Jagdishwar Mishra (Akshay Kumar) — enter into the conflict with some back-and-forth between each other and “steal” clients from each other, all while trying to overshadow the other in court, until their own morality and Amma’s plight bring the two together to battle the corporate giant, Haribhai Khaitan (Gajraj Rao). The premise is interesting and relevant and could have worked in the film’s favour, but is only relevant because the screenplay spends too much time establishing the conflict, which creates less tension in the first half, making it drag on at times.
Highlights
The most admirable aspect of the film is its genuine attempt to bring awareness to institutionalised corruption and corporate greed. The, sometimes witty, dialogue between the two Jollys gives the film some energy and a laugh from the very beginning. The chemistry between Akshay and Arshad works very well as they bounce off each other in dialogue and breath energy back into a tiring courtroom scene. Saurabh Shukla makes another great entrance as judge Tripathy, balancing the authority of the judge’s role but still finding a way to inject humour into the overall drama of the moment. The dialogue with the two Jolly’s is also some of the best moments of the film between the two Jolly’s dialogue exchanges and Judge Tripathy’s. There was also Seema Biswas (Janki Amma) who added presence without saying a word. She can say more by being silent than a million words can say.
Drawbacks
The pacing and sharpness is where Jolly LLB 3 misses the mark. The film’s length felt excessive; whereas the first two films were satirical with sufficient length. While comical aspects introduced some novelty into the film, some of it felt more contrived than before, especially with a subplot revolving around Judge Tripathi and the romantic angle, which undertook a component of storytelling that didn’t really add value. The main courtroom confrontation was ho-hum, for example, Ram Kapoor looked great as a leading lawyer, but his case lacked cogency, depth and any stakes or tension. Frankly, at times it was written rather lazily, which robbed any punch it could have had in the climax.
Performances
Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi are both on their game providing their take on Jolly with comedy, comic timing, and enough humanity to make you root for them even as both characters have flaws. The two manage to swing in and out of being self-serving small-time lawyers, to being a real crusader for justice, as needed. As the antagonist, Gajraj Rao is very credible shedding his typical placidity to become a heartless business mogul, whose own ego ultimately leads to his breakdown of farmer protests. Seema Biswas shines as the matriarch Janki Amma — the austere pain, dignity, and strength she has will stay with you long after the movie is over. And yet again, Saurabh Shukla steals every scene he is in as judge, Tripathi, bringing to life the combination of humor, heart, and integrity.
Technical Aspects
From a technical standpoint, the film is adequately made but doesn’t quite elevate to that of excellence. Direction is fine, but the screenplay could have been a bit tighter to maintain the acerbic tone established by the franchise. Like dialogue, when it is brilliant, it is brilliant, but sometimes it tips toward predictable territory. Editing could have been quicker for parts of the first half that could have been truncated. Music and background score are perfunctory and do the job but don’t particularly shine. The courtroom scenes are what really do shine in this film.
Verdict
Jolly LLB 3 is a good-natured sequel to the franchise that wants to blend comedy with a socially conscious message. Although it does not fully have the charms of the previous installments due to some patchy writing and pacing here and there, it is lively enough with the performances and the underlying theme. Additionally, fans of the shows are likely to enjoy some commonalities, despite the fact that the satire feels less sharp and the humor less organic this time around. It is not nearly as blunt as its predecessor, however, it will keep you engaged throughout, with a lot of the credits going to the rest of the cast.
