The Jolly LLB franchise has always been one of those rare Bollywood series that managed to mix humor with social awareness. The first film gave us an underdog played brilliantly by Arshad Warsi who dared to challenge a corrupted system. The second part introduced Akshay Kumar and raised the stakes with bigger courtroom drama, more emotional moments, and a serious undertone that resonated with audiences. Naturally, expectations for the third film in the series were sky high. With both Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi coming together on the same screen, one would imagine that the result would be absolute fireworks. Sadly, that is not what we get.
Jolly LLB 3 tries to play on nostalgia while also addressing present day issues, but somewhere in between, it loses its rhythm. The film attempts to combine two Jollys, Akshay’s Jagdishwar Mishra and Arshad’s Jagdish Tyagi, and pits them against each other first before turning them into allies. It sounds exciting on paper, but on screen, it feels stretched and sluggish.
A Tale of Two Jollys
One of the biggest attractions of this film is watching Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi face off in the same courtroom. Their chemistry is undeniably watchable, especially when they throw witty remarks at one another. The first half of the film relies heavily on this clash. There are plenty of back-and-forth exchanges, but unfortunately, many of them drag longer than needed.
Both men eventually realize that their petty fights must take a back seat when they confront something far more dangerous: a massive land scam that is swallowing the lives of villagers. When the truth behind greedy land developers and their chain of corrupt accomplices is revealed, the film gains some momentum. Suddenly the two rivals become teammates, and that is when the story really begins.
The Anti Establishment Streak
If the Jolly LLB films have stood out for one thing, it is their courage to speak truth to power while keeping audiences entertained. Jolly LLB 3 continues this tradition by shining a harsh light on the deep rooted corruption of the justice system and influential real estate lobbies.
On one side are land barons who grab properties with ease, manipulate local leaders, and crush ordinary people under the weight of their wealth. On the other side are poor farmers who lose their homes, their honor, and sometimes even their lives, simply because no one is willing to fight for them. When a farmer and his daughter in law die dramatically in a Rajasthan tehsil, their tragedy ignites the fire that brings the story to Delhi.
An elderly woman, played beautifully by Seema Biswas, carries this emotional thread forward. She arrives in court armed not with power or money but with resilience and two goats that serve as a constant reminder of the life she has been deprived of. Through her, the film addresses injustice with sincerity. Her fight compels both Jollys to look beyond their ego battles and toward real justice.
The Highlight: Judge Sundar Lal
Every big dish needs a spice that elevates it, and in Jolly LLB 3 that spice is once again Saurabh Shukla. As Judge Sundar Lal, he embodies authority, warmth, and humor in equal measure. Even when the courtroom exchanges become too talkative and repetitive, Shukla’s presence revives the energy.
The surprise in this installment is his personal subplot. Judge Sundar Lal discovers the joy of fitness, experiments with dating apps, and even plunges into a hilariously awkward romantic escapade with a police officer played by Shilpa Shukla. For audiences familiar with his serious but funny character from earlier films, this new twist is refreshing. His balance of comic timing and sharp dialogue proves that he continues to be the heart of the franchise.
The Weakest Links
Unfortunately, apart from Shukla and Seema Biswas, many other talented actors are wasted. Huma Qureshi and Amrita Rao, both fine performers, are barely given any substance and seem to be present only for star value. Gajraj Rao slips into the role of the scheming builder Haribhai Khetan but comes across more like a caricature than a menacing villain. Ram Kapoor, however, does bring some charm by playing his sleek lawyer with cleverness, though even he feels underutilized.
The narrative itself struggles with pacing. The runtime feels unnecessarily long, and the screenplay cannot decide whether it wants to be a satirical courtroom drama, a serious social commentary, or a buddy comedy. Because of this confusion, the film ends up being a muddle of all three, without truly excelling at any.
Courtroom Drama and Modern Day References
One thing that still lingers with the audience is how grounded the film tries to remain while making references to current issues. Ram Kapoor’s character receives phone calls from a fugitive businessman in London, a character so familiar in Indian news that audiences instantly recognize him. These touches make the film more relevant, but they do not always flow smoothly into the narrative.
The final courtroom sequences are meant to be gripping and powerful, but they tend to feel weighed down by heavy speeches. Both Akshay and Arshad deliver long tirades filled with facts, figures, and moral outrage, yet these scenes lose the natural spark that made the earlier Jolly LLB films so engaging. By the time Seema Biswas gets her emotional outburst, the viewers are already exhausted.
Why This Film Fails Where the Others Worked
The problem with Jolly LLB 3 is not about performances or intentions but about execution. The first film was tight, humorous, and realistic. The second one was ambitious, anchored by Akshay’s strong presence and Shukla’s brilliance, and it did not drag unnecessarily. By the time we come to the third, the team seems to have run out of steam.
The writing is simplistic, the jokes lack punch, and the direction feels complacent. The mixture of satirical comedy and emotional tragedy never finds balance. Scene after scene lingers too long, forcing the audience to check the time. Even moments that were meant to generate laughter or shock come across as staged and exaggerated.
What hurts the most is that the premise had so much potential. Bringing both Jollys into the same courtroom should have been electric, but instead the sparks fizzle out before they can ignite anything meaningful.
Performances at a Glance
- Akshay Kumar: Tries hard to bring gravity to his Jolly but feels constrained by the weak writing.
- Arshad Warsi: Retains his natural comic timing and emotional depth, but his character sometimes plays second fiddle.
- Saurabh Shukla: Steals the show effortlessly. Perhaps the only reason many viewers will sit through the long runtime.
- Seema Biswas: Deeply moving performance that stands above the mediocrity surrounding her.
- Gajraj Rao: Talented actor but wasted in a shallow role.
- Ram Kapoor: Underused but delivers when given a chance.
- Huma Qureshi and Amrita Rao: Sadly reduced to decorative additions with no critical impact.
The Final Verdict
Jolly LLB 3 wanted to be more than just a comedy or a courtroom satire. It wanted to expose corruption, question authority, and remind audiences that cinema can be both entertaining and socially conscious. Unfortunately, what we get is a film that talks too much and delivers too little.
While individual scenes shine thanks to Saurabh Shukla or Seema Biswas, the film as a whole collapses under its own weight. The humor is inconsistent, the drama is overdone, and the political messaging is strong but diluted by weak storytelling.
For fans of the franchise, this will feel like a missed opportunity. For casual moviegoers, it may drag more than it entertains. Compared to the sharpness and impact of the earlier films, Jolly LLB 3 is undeniably the weakest link in the chain.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This courtroom is still open, but it feels like the arguments that made us care once upon a time have finally grown tired.
