The much-anticipated Bollywood movie Jolly LLB 3, featuring notable actors Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi, has reportedly encountered legal issues even as the production process is underway. The film, which is the third installment in a popular dark comedy courtroom drama series, is now facing allegations of disrespecting the Indian judiciary system.
The controversy arose after the president of the Ajmer District Bar Association, Chandrabhan Singh Rathod, lodged a formal complaint against the film’s creative team. Rathod has accused the producers, director, and the star cast of diminishing the respect and image of India’s judicial system.
According to a report by Navbharat Times, Rathod’s grievance is built upon the depiction in the previous two installments of the series. He indicates a pattern of behaviors and portrayals in the franchise that, in his view, belittle the roles and importance of legal professionals and the judiciary. “Considering the first and second parts of Jolly LLB, it seems that the filmmakers, directors, and actors do not respect the dignity and prestige of the judiciary of the country’s Constitution at all,” Rathod was quoted as saying.
The complaint raises concern over scenes filmed in and around Ajmer, including the DRM office, claiming that they fail to convey an appropriate level of seriousness regarding the judiciary’s image and dignity. The accusation is that by presenting lawyers and judges in a manner that seems to ridicule or undermine them, the film could damage the public’s perception of the judicial system.
The Jolly LLB series commenced with its first installment launched in 2013, which starred Arshad Warsi in the lead role along with Amrita Rao, Boman Irani, and Saurabh Shukla. This original film introduces the audience to Jagdish Tyagi, a small-time lawyer played by Warsi, who takes on a major case involving a lethal hit-and-run accident. The story, drawing inspiration from the real-life Sanjeev Nanda case from 1999, exposes the corruption and manipulation within the legal system.
2017 witnessed the release of the sequel which saw Akshay Kumar taking over the central character of Jagdish Tyagi. Alongside Kumar, actors Huma Qureshi, Annu Kapoor, and Kumud Mishra played significant roles. The narrative continues with Tyagi’s trajectory as he embarks on setting up his own law practice through less than honorable means and then facing the moral consequences of his actions.
With the film’s abundant accolades and critical acclaim, audiences have lauded Jolly LLB for its keen observations and satirical take on the judicial process in India. However, the current complaint against Jolly LLB 3 underscores a tension between cinematic storytelling and respect for institutional dignities. While the goal of art is often to challenge and provoke, the question stands: how far is too far, especially when dealing with institutions central to a nation’s governance?
As more details emerge, it remains to be seen whether Jolly LLB 3 will be able to navigate through this legal hurdle without altering its content or if the creators will need to make concessions to assuage the concerns of the legal community. For now, the bar association’s action shines a spotlight on the intricate balance filmmakers must consider when dramatizing real-world entities.
