Film: "Jolly LLB 2"
Director: Subhash Kapoor
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Huma Qureshi, Saurabh Shukla, Annu Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Manav Kaul, Sayani Gupta, Avijit Dutta
Rating: ***

Apart from being a courtroom drama and Saurabh Shukla playing Judge Tripathi, there is nothing common between "Jolly LLB 2" and its predecessor the Arshad Warsi-starrer "Jolly LLB". And the only reference, if any, is a faint line when Saurabh Shukla, says: "Your name seems familiar, heard it in Delhi".

Astutely mounted on a larger scale and set in Lucknow, "Jolly LLB 2" is a redemption story. The film trails Jagdishwar Mishra aka Jolly, an assistant to a renowned lawyer, who desires to set up his own practice, cheats a young lady Hina, seeking justice for her husband Iqbal, in a case of mistaken identity.

Dejected with the turn of events, Hina takes a drastic step that jolts Jolly. Ridden with guilt and to undo what he did, he files a Public Interest Litigation. How he gains redemption and prominence, forms the crux of the tale.

The script meanders with some off-beat scenes and songs. The first half toils on establishing the characters and the Holi song in particular is incongruous to the plot.

This feel-good satire seems to have lost its lustre. Not that this is a bad film, but it does tread on a predictable terrain with a plethora of poignant moments, some powerful ones. Some of the scenes seem forced with comedy, some of the parts are laugh-out-loud funny, but beneath the humour is the subtle criticism of the corrupt system which can be easily manipulated. The courtroom drama is indeed interesting albeit weary and it lacks the soul of its previous edition.

But, Akshay Kumar as Jagdishwar Mishra is the raison d'etre of this film. Though he is too old to play a novice and a bit unconvincing while indulging in buffoonery, he nevertheless carries the film squarely on his shoulders exuding star charisma.

Huma Qureshi as his whisky-drinking and Gucci-wearing wife Pushpa Pandey is competent. But her character is an appendage to the plot which offers nothing but a wholesome appeal to Jolly's character.

In supporting roles -- brilliantly essayed -- are Saurabh Shukla as Justice Sunderlal Tripathi, Annu Kapoor as the defendant lawyer Pramod Mathur, Sayani Gupta as Hina Siddiqui -- the pregnant lady seeking justice, Kumud Mishra as the sly and ambitious Inspector Suryaveer Singh and Avijit Dutt as Police Commissioner S.S. Paul.

Unfortunately, Manav Kaul in a miniscule role as Hina's husband Iqbal Qassim is wasted.

With excellent production values and good cinematography, the film is a typical Hindi blockbuster with an easy going demeanour. Nevertheless, the film is an entertainer.