My Honest Jolly LLB 3 Review: What Worked and What Didn’t

When I went to the theater to watch Jolly LLB 3, I had two expectations: the razor-edged socio-legal satire of the 1st film and the mass-market heroism of the 2nd. I couldn’t pass up the appeal of pitting both Jagdishwar ‘Jolly’ Mishra (Akshay Kumar) and Jagdish ‘Jolly’ Tyagi (Arshad Warsi) against one another, with none other than the magnificent Saurabh Shukla as Justice Sunder Lal Tripathi presiding. 

Director Subhash Kapoor’s offering is an entertaining courtroom circus. However, the decision to give both leads equal space makes for a more scattershot narrative than either of its predecessors. It’s funny, it’s relevant, but does it achieve a unanimous ‘Hit’ verdict? Read my detailed Jolly LLB 3 review below.

Brief Synopsis (NO SPOILER) 

Jolly LLB 3 starts with the two lawyers, Jolly Mishra (from Kanpur) and Jolly Tyagi (from Meerut), settling into a rivalry in Delhi for a tiny few clients and a tiny courtroom victory. 

However, it is short-lived because they are soon caught up in a case of national importance involving a farmer-poet from a village in Rajasthan who takes his own life after losing his ancestral land to the greedy industrialist, Haribhai Khaitan (Gajraj Rao). 

The farmer’s widow, Janki Solanki (Seema Biswas), files a case in pursuit of justice, which leads the two Jollys to engage in a brazen yet purposeful tussle against corporate greed and systemic injustice, under the watchful but knowing eye of Judge Tripathi.

Acting

The main draw is its three principal actors, who serve as the backbone of the film. Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi make for an entertaining comic duo, both adept at playing different kinds of ‘Jolly.’ Kumar is quick with one-liners and is assigned some of the grander action elements, while Warsi’s nuanced, well-advised underdog charm can be subtle.

But the real scene-stealer is Saurabh Shukla as Justice Sunder Lal Tripathi. He’s not simply a judge; he’s the film’s north star and comic engine, never needing to speak loudly or brashly to own the frame. The film wisely assigns him a refreshing romantic subplot, which adds a delightful new dimension to the character.

Seema Biswas, as the widowed mother, Janki, remains memorable, with her quiet ferocity and emotional gravitas, which adds a grounding presence to the film’s central dilemma. Gajraj Rao, as the industrialist villain Haribhai Khaitan, is also strong but feels slightly underwritten in comparison to other Jolly LLB villains, resulting in lower stakes.

Directions

Subhash Kapoor should be acknowledged for managing this elaborate casting coup. He deftly combines the more varied tonalities of the first two films – the grit of the original and the exaggerated drama of the sequel. As a director, his best work surfaces when critiquing social issues using the courtroom to deliver scathing satire on farmer suicides as well as on land acquisition.

The initial rivalry between the two Jollys is well done for comedic relief, but the need to provide both stars with a “hero moment” results in an uneven momentum in the second half of the film. A pivotal chase sequence feels misplaced in the courtroom drama, and the breakneck pacing from the first two films is noticeably absent from the later redesign.

Screenplay

The screenplay, also credited to Subhash Kapoor, is a mixed bag. On the one hand, the attempt to write a story about an important and timely topic—farmer suicides and land exploitation—is bold and admirable. And the dialogue is crackling and funny and especially shines in the banter between the two Jollys and the Judge.

On the other hand, the major weakness is that the structure is inconsistent. The first half spends a lot of time introducing the comical rivalry, which is entertaining, but it slows the introduction of the main source of conflict. 

The story feels episodic, balancing the subjective case of the farmer, the rivalry between the two Jollys, and the personal backstory of the judge. The climactic shift to cooperation is uplifting, but the overall story takes a less simple route than one would wish to get there.

Music 

The music, composed by a few different contributors, serves the purpose. Background songs in the film are forgettable, obviously not in the way of moving the narrative forward. However, the background cues work great. They know when to be dramatic in order to add texture to the courtroom arguments and when to be lighthearted in support of the comedic moments. 

Cinematography

Rangarajan Ramabadran’s cinematography is clean and serviceable. Ramabadran captures the dusty, textured realness of the Rajasthani village and flows into the formal, often messy scene taking place in the Delhi courtroom. The frames are well-lit and focused on the actors’ displays of emotion, which holds considerable importance for performance-reliant dramas like this.

Pacing

Pacing is inconsistent. At 2 hours and 37 minutes, the movie feels slow at first. The jokes and family scenes are fun, but cutting them down would get us to the real story sooner. While the climax is well-paced and emotive, this film takes a long and winding road. The editing could have had a leaner and more impactful legal thriller approach.

Jolly LLB 3 Review: Pros and Cons

Verdict

Jolly LLB 3 faced an unprecedented challenge of producing an even better film by having its two protagonists meet. This may not be the most tightly plotted or most flawless in the franchise, but it does bind together the chaotic appeal that comes from both Jollys. As for box office performance, it clearly is a success story as well, exceeding expectations and cementing the franchise’s success with worldwide collections of over ₹108 crore against a reported ₹120 crore budget in its first week alone. As of 26th Sep, 2025, the movie is still running at the theaters, so it will earn more at the box office in the upcoming days.

As for substance, Jolly LLB 3 is still an enjoyable watch that is rightfully laugh-out-loud funny while still getting you to think at the same time. The chemistry between Kumar and Warsi, along with the sheer enjoyment that Saurabh Shukla provides as Judge Tripathi, sees the film through its narrative failures. And regardless, I think you’ll enjoy the experience, though the ending and the longer summary may catch your interest; they do have some clear flaws.

Who All Should Watch This Movie?

If you’re a fan of the Jolly LLB franchise, courtroom dramas, or social satires, then this is a must-see for you in theaters. If you are a casual viewer, just be aware of the slow-to-burn first half, but just as well, enjoy the second too, which is just if not “worth the price of admission.

My Personal Take

I personally enjoyed the movie and its banter between the two Jollys and the judge’s scenes. But I think the movie should have a tighter edit to make the runtime apt. However, everything else was more or less good to me. 

Rating: 3.5/5

SPOILERS (Read Only if You Watched the Film)

The film’s most important moment is not the legal victory but the moment when the two Jollys must set aside their petty rivalry and bring their strengths together—Tyagi’s street smarts and Mishra’s zealous advocacy. 

The film’s climax, where Arshad Warsi (Jolly Tyagi) delivers the final, powerful monologue, is a lovely and surprising nod to the spirit of the original, as the scrappy character lands the final punch that appeals to the Judge’s sense of justice. The Judge’s judgment, granting not only compensation but also a sweeping socio-political statement, feels massively earned.

Also Read: Filmyhit Punjabi Movies 2025 and learn more about My Koimoi Reviews

Sanghamitra Panigrahi

I have hands-on experience in SEO and digital marketing, blending my background in web analytics with a passion for driving measurable growth. Over the years, I’ve worked across on-page, off-page, technical, and local SEO, helping businesses boost traffic, gain visibility, and achieve real results.