Hindi
Jolly LLB 2….Lacklustre
Jolly LLB 2 is, what the Hindi film industry has got used to describe as a sequel and this one is supposed to be a sequel to Jolly LLB (2013). The film actually is another comic satire on the judiciary like the earlier one and the same director if that qualifies it to be called a sequel.
Otherwise, the film is just using the title considering the earlier Jolly LLB was a fair success.
Jolly LLB 2 takes similar start as the earlier one in that, though Akshay Kumar’s character is a qualified lawyer, he works with a senior solicitor in Lucknow where he is mainly an attendant to his boss, never trusted to take up a case or stand in court.
Akshay has a demanding wife, played by Huma Qureshi, in that Akshay has to do all the house work, make whiskey for her, cook for her etc. While Akshay has but one ambition, that is to have his own chamber and take on cases independently, Huma’s ambition is to wear Gucci dress. Akshay can’t afford it so, on one occasion, she gets a Gucci dress on rent. That is the kind of comedy the film offers.
Sayani Gupta’s husband, Manav Kaul, has been killed by the policeman, Inaamulhaq, passing it off as an encounter just to get accolades and his next promotion. Pregnant Sayani wants Akshay’s boss to take up her case but he is not even willing to meet her. Akshay lies to her and accepts two lakh from her as fees for his boss and uses it to get his own chamber. Sayani commits suicide and guilt-ridden Akshay decides to take on the might of the local police.
The rest of the film tries to replicate the earlier version as the big time lawyer defending the cop here is the character played by Annu Kapoor while the judge is Saurabh Shukla, straight out of Jolly LLB. A novice, Akshay tries to get a conviction for Inaamullah but Annu comes up with all sorts of antics most of which are farcical, let alone be convincing.
For distraction, some song and dance routine is put in at places but that hardly helps. The fact is, there is little scope for a heroine in the story. Instead, the couple also have a child nobody knows to what purpose except to stretch the film. This aspect actually bogs down the film.
The court proceedings are lackluster and get neither serious nor funny. Characters pop out from nowhere as if to give the film another twist; the ploy fails.
The film suffers right from conception stage as the script is poor lacking the expected thrill and twist and turns from a courtroom drama. The comparison with the earlier film is inevitable as, even the comic quotient, is missing in most parts. Direction is patchy. Music has no decent song to offer and only drags the film. Editing is slack. Production values are below par.
As for performances, Akshay Kumar tries his best but lacks his usual élan. Annu Kapoor goes overboard being loud. Saurabh Shukla is okay. Huma Qureshi was not needed in this scheme of things and, while she is there, she adds nothing. Imaanulhaq does well and so does Sayani Gupta.
Jolly LLB 2 is an average fare lacking the required entertainment value.
Producer: Fox Star Studios.
Director: Subhash Kapoor.
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Annu Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Saurabh Shukla.
Hindi
Dhurandhar returns to theatres worldwide on March 13 ahead of Dhurandhar The Revenge release
Jio Studios re-releases blockbuster across 500 screens globally before sequel
MUMBAI: The spy saga of Dhurandhar is gearing up for a big-screen encore before its next chapter arrives.
Ahead of the release of Dhurandhar The Revenge on March 19, Jio Studios and B62 Studios are bringing the original Dhurandhar back to cinemas worldwide in a rare international theatrical re-release.
The global blockbuster is returning across nearly 500 screens, including around 250 in India from March 12 and another 250 overseas beginning March 13.
For fans of the franchise, the move offers a chance to revisit the film that ignited the high-octane spy-action universe just days before the sequel lands in theatres. It also sets up a rare back-to-back big-screen experience, allowing audiences to relive the original before diving straight into the next chapter.
While re-releases of popular films are occasionally seen in India, international re-runs of Hindi films remain uncommon. The scale of the rollout reflects the growing global appetite for the franchise.
In North America alone, Dhurandhar will return to theatres across nearly 185 screens, highlighting the strong anticipation surrounding the upcoming sequel.
The excitement is set to build further with special Wednesday premiere shows of Dhurandhar The Revenge scheduled across the US and Canada on March 18, a day ahead of its global release. Many of these premieres will be hosted on premium large format screens, featuring wall-to-wall displays, immersive sound systems such as Dolby Atmos, enhanced projection and luxury seating.
These formats are typically reserved for major Hollywood event films, and early bookings suggest strong demand with several shows already sold out.
The recently released trailer of Dhurandhar The Revenge has also sparked buzz among exhibitors and trade circles, with expectations running high for the film’s international performance.
Dhurandhar The Revenge is written, directed and produced by Aditya Dhar. The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar.
Jio Studios presents a B62 Studios production, an Aditya Dhar film.
The spy-action thriller will release worldwide on March 19, 2026, in five languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
The film arrives in theatres globally on the occasion of Gudi Padwa and Ugadi, just ahead of Eid, setting the stage for a festive box office run.
