Director: Subhash Kapoor
Cast: Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani, Saurabh Shukla, Amrita Rao & Ramesh Deo
Inspired by the Sanjeev Nanda’s hit-and-run case, Subhash Kapoor’s latest venture has its heart in the right place but lacks consistency. Its about a rich Delhi kid, who is accused of mowing down six pavement dwellers with his speeding car and is let off for lack of evidence, a small-time lawyer spots an opportunity and gets the case reopened in a bid to get name, fame and wealth.
Meerut-bred Jagdish Tyagi, or Jolly (Arshad Warsi), whose ambitions are clearly bigger than the modest court in his town heads to Delhi where in bid to gain publicity he reopens a hit-and-run case where he has to take on legal heavyweight Tejinder Rajpal (Boman Irani), who is defending the accused. However the story turns when egged on by his fiancée (Amrita Rao), and in a powerful but silent moment by the Canteen Manager (Ramesh Deo) he wants to find the TRUTH. Rajpal, whose defense is built around a bunch of lies and a “botched-up police investigation”, resorts to everything from treachery to bribery to physical assault to scare off Jolly from pursuing the case.
Director Subhash Kapoor tackles these scenes with fantastic humour but gets carried away in histrionics, and a bunch of unnecessary songs which reminds you that its after all a Hindi film!!! A satirical sequence in which a corrupt cop (Sanjay Mishra) openly auctions off a promotion in the police department to the highest bidder amongst a fleet of dishonourable officers though extremely funny was unnecessary or way too long. While a scene in which Jolly witnesses the plight of pavement dwellers first-hand is genuinely moving, other bits feel contrived and ring untrue. The aged spindly bodyguard assigned to Jolly mans up in the hour of need bringing a lump to your throat. The poignant and silent scene where veteran actor slaps Jolly speaks of all the pain and disappointment he feels without a word. A sequence of melodrama in the court was unnecessary & only helped to lend it a lame feel.
Jolly LLB’s screenplay maybe predictable, with lavish melodrama but what the story lacks in terms of surprise, the cast makes up with its performances. The film benefits from some fiery courtroom exchanges between its two leads and a very effective Saurabh Shukla playing the seasoned judge. Arshad Warsi brings Jolly to life giving him depth, revealing a simmering frustration beneath that cheery exterior. Boman Irani is superb as a corrupt lawyer, constantly texting, conniving and scheming, who revels in the dread he inspires in others. But the game set and match went to Saurabh Shukla Shukla for the ease with which he plays the oddball eccentricity of the wise ol’ judge. Not once does he strike a wrong note, as he dutifully witnesses the circus before him. Hell, he turns even the seemingly innocuous act of eating lunch into a riveting performance.
The movie is a perfect weekend arvo watch throwing up some relevant points about society’s apathy towards the poor, the loopholes in our judicial system, and the ease with which the rich often manipulate the truth while maintaining its levity through some great dialogues and strong performances from its three lead actors!!! An easy 2.5 out of 5!!!
Dhwaney 