Jolly LLB

Indian movies and novels, being influenced by the American pulp fiction, have always shown the courts as a place of enormous drama (and entertainment) whereas the reality is polar different at least in the Indian courts. For decades and decades, the Indian filmwaalas have shown the artificial, non-existing courts to the Indian audience on the silver screen. However in the year 2013, the Indian courtroom dramas seem to have come of age through Jolly LLB.

Through the activities of a petty lawyer - Jagdish Tyagi, nicknamed as Jolly, the filmmaker has shown the courage of showing the real courtrooms of India. All the courtroom scenes are so realistic with the judge, the lawyers, the plaintiffs, the defendants, the cops, the witnesses, the court-staff; all appearing real and not filmy that it won't be an exaggeration to consider this movie as a landmark movie in the history of Bollywood. It's definitely a path-breaker and therefore, we can expect many more realistic courtroom dramas on the Indian screen in the times to come.

Our hero Jolly (Arshad Waarsi) migrates to Delhi from Meerut on order to rise in his career of a professional lawyer. He finds public interest litigation (P.I.L.) as a means to be in news and get quick name and fame (which is expected to turn into money in future). Seeing a high profile lawyer Raajpaal (Boman Irani) winning the case of his client who is actually guilty of crushing some innocents sleeping on footpath under his car, Jolly decides to play a gamble which if he wins, is likely to take him much ahead in his career. He files a P.I.L. to reopen that case and then the game of checks and checkmates starts between the rival lawyers inside as well as outside the court. The hero wins in the end after passing through lures to withdraw, hardships and danger on his life. His Meerut-stationed sweetheart - Sandhya (Amrita Rao) plays the role of an eye-opener and a motivator for him when he is slipping from the correct path.

Never before any Bollywood movie has shown such a real judge who is a normal human-being with all the weaknesses expected in the normal folks. The character of the judge (Saurabh Shukla) is the best developed one who is shown as more or less honest(perhaps to keep the movie optimistic and making the hero only as the winner in the end). He wants to do justice but not very much keen to improve the system. Corruption is rampant just beneath his nose but he is not bothered about it (perhaps because he feels there's little that he can do about it). He knows that a major part of his duty is only to give dates of next hearings of the cases and that he performs by consulting with the lawyers only. He seeks the help of the high-profile lawyer to get a good flat while sitting on the chair of the justice itself. He mostly remains subservient to the high profile lawyer but realizes the significance of his chair and the power inherent in that in the climax.

The inexperienced lawyer in this movie wins the case because fortunately for him, the judge is not totally corrupt and his conscience is still alive. Had it not been, then ? Then our hero would have met the fate of most of justice-seekers in India. The climax has been designed with an optimistic twist which is seldom seen at least in the lower courts. But the complete proceedings and environment in the court have been depicted with utmost realism.

How lawyers resort to rhetoric and hollow talks when they are exhausted of logic, arguments and facts, has been underscored very well in the climax through the character of the corrupt but highly successful lawyer - Raajpaal. The fact is, not only the lawyers, but the judges also go for rhetoric and nonsense comments when dealing with the cases, as if they have a license to say anything and everything. They want to become preachers for all but have they ever shown any concern for the corruption in the judicial system itself ?

Arshad Waarsi has done exceedingly well in the title role with Boman Irani not far behind as the high profile but crooked lawyer. Amrita Rao has filled heroine's quota. The complete supporting cast has done perfectly. Especially veteran actor Ramesh Dev has delivered a touching performance. The actor in the role of a weak yet conscientious policeman (deputed as Jolly's bodyguard) is also very impressive. However the show-stopper is Saurabh Shukla (the session judge of Delhi).

I term Johnny LLB as a highly realistic and hence, a praiseworthy movie. Kudos to its writer-director - Subhash Kapoor. While signing off, I reproduce the dialog of Raajpal for Jolly - 'Yeh Court Hai Mr. Tyagi. Yahaan Jaldi Kuchh Nahin Hota' (This is court Mr. Tyagi. Nothing happens fast here.' Very true. Nothing happens fast here, at least not justice.

One of the best films I've seen in a very long time. The movie grabs you from the first intense car chase scene and never let's you go. The movie is full of realism drama. The performance were great. The movie get's you involved, It's gets you to think. Revolves around the biggest problems of our nation- "Justice". Brilliant Storytelling, Investing Characters, Great Dialogues. It delivers everything that an audience expects. Some performances deserve a filmfare. Thanks to Subhash Kapoor's directing that he delivers one of the best films of the year or maybe all time. Quite shocking that the government didn't cut out few scenes. I guess in a way the government is accepting that these practices do involve in our society. Overall Jolly L.L.B. deserves 8/10.

Jolly LLB is a rib-tickling comedy which is a satire on Indian Court process and judiciary.

A small time lawyer wants to make it big by enforcing himself in a hit- and-run case where 6 innocent footpath dwellers are mowed by a speeding car.

From the director of "Phas Gaye Re Obama" , Jolly LLB is based on a true incident which grabbed media attention few years back. It also showed another incident where a pregnant woman was operated by a 14 year old lad. Jolly LLB also focuses on our poor judiciary where a single case is bought at the hand of big goons who desperately try to save their kids brushing their mistakes as act of innocence. Hats off to Subhash Kapoor for fearlessly depicting these events with ease. Few acts did catch my attention- the introduction court scene , the court fight scene between two music directors and the argument between Saurabh Shukla and Boman Irani will certainly bring down the house. Of course , the film has its share of flaw as well - the chemistry between Amrita Rao and Arshad Warsi , the unnecessary insertion of songs and dance (completely unrequired in this kind of cinema). 3 central characters - Arshad Warsi , Boman Irani and Saurabh Suhkla will drive you nuts with their admirable performances. Arshad Warsi not emotes well in comic scenes but is commendable in essaying serious role as well. Boman Irani , as usual , is marvelous. Saurabh Shukla as judge is simply fantastic. He is sure to make you laugh with typical Delhi accent and comic timings.

Jolly LLB is pleasure to watch not just for its satirical humor on Indian Judiciary system, but always for its beautiful message on honesty and bravery.

Each & every time you move forward to have a closer look and a leaner ear to the drama, this movie scores for Jolly LLB is a fantastic thriller drama which showcases the maddening reality of India, its judicial system and people's wrath & lax attitude on crime.

A standing ovation to Boman Irani for such a beautiful and genuine performance as a senior advocate. Saurabh Shukla is faaantastic as the judge and towards the end, his ire-ridden, frustrated reply to one of the lawyers leading is just the best scene of the movie; JLLB runs for a sweet little about 2 hours with no cheap humor or blatant slapstick as one is continuously experiencing in Bollywood genres. Arshad Warsi is poignant and dramatic after his "Zila Ghaziabad" villainy look. Amrita Rao didn't have much to play, maybe that is why she was casted. After "I Love You Mr. Kalakaar," this is her latest role and she does good enough. The rest of the cast is good as the direction is cheeky.

Screenplay is straightforward while some songs made me yawn because the script didn't need them to entice me. The balance of thrills, spine- chills and oohs and aahs and whoas is equal on the two halves. Plus, since it is a based on a true story which is indeed based on vendetta, Jolly LLB is a pretty good entertainer with not much left for the audience to interpret other than enjoying it. I could forget some loopholes or plot points for this as it made my day.

BOTTOM LINE: Watch it if you have a thing for courtroom dramas or if you get emotional by the callous judicial system of India. 'Cause this one is a genuine entertainer based on sheer facts.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Language: Strong | Sex or Nudity: No | Violence: Strong | Gore: No | Smoking or Drugs: No | Alcohol: Mild

I agree with the comments, but Arshad Warsi was the best as shown from Meerut. The problem is with director who was unable to get Arshad into the Character. Everyone knows Arshad Warsi character in "Lage Raho Munna Bhai".

The film is a fun watch if you are willing to overlook its minor indulgences and the slow pace of the first half.

Jolly LLB's first half meanders a bit, featuring a clumsy 'daaru' song and a Meerut that mysteriously hides - but boy, does its second half hammer things home. With crackling scenes between Jolly versus Rajpal (Irani deadly smooth, like velvet soaked in blood) and Rajpal versus judge Tripathi (Shukla in a brilliant show, hysterically yelling, Gavel kidder-rakha Ha?!", thundering at Rajpal, "Sit down! Yeh Meara court Ha aapka club nahin!"), the action becomes electric. Drama builds as Jolly (Warsi, highly endearing and impressive) finds his voice. Jolly's astonishment at Rajpal's callousness - "Footpath sone ke liye nahin Ha" - Jolly responding, "Footpath gaudy chalane ke liye Bi nahin Ha!", mirrors the aam aadmi's bewilderment and determination to fight.

Jolly LLB works because of its bigger point - decency is for all and worth fighting for. Using bittersweet satire and plot twirls, the film shows corruption even used against the corrupt. Despite that weaker first half, this truly becomes a Jolly good show.