10 light-hearted courtroom dramas that delivered important social commentaries!

From Boston Legal to Jolly LLB, here is a list of ten light-hearted courtroom dramas that entertain and enlighten about various topics in equal parts! - sound the same as the title

Courtroom dramas are an interesting genre with a lot of scope for heroism, character development, emotional grounding, and some awakening. There is no dearth of impactful legal dramas across industries that have not only entertained but also brought to light some important stories for us to see and understand various societies better. Nothing hits better than satire, and therefore, when the category is coupled with some humor and punchlines, the stories deliver a powerful message and highlight or at least spark important conversations about issues concerning our society.

Also Read: Court Kacheri review: A wholesome courtroom drama that hits the right notes!

Let's take a look at some of them!

OMG – Oh My God! - Jio Hotstar 

Probably one of the most progressive films made about religion, Umesh Shukla's OMG was bold in its stance against the commercialization of faith and questioning the hypocrisy of religious institutions. It inspired the audience to rethink their relationship with God and encouraged the idea of loving him instead of fearing him! The film’s premise of Kanji Mehta (Paresh Rawal) suing God and Lord Krishna (Akshay Kumar) himself helping Mehta, served as a fantastic source of humor and satire.

 OMG - Oh My God 2 -  Jio Hotstar 

Another important legal drama, Amit Rai's OMG 2, stood for including sex education in schools and destigmatizing the conversations around it. The film featured Kanti Sharan Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi) embroiled in a complicated legal battle and various emotional conflicts after his son is expelled from school over a supposedly ‘vulgar act’ of masturbation. The film handled the sensitive subject with light-humor through Mudgal's courtroom antics and witty arguments in the court.

Jolly LLB and Jolly LLB 2 - Jio Hotstar 

Subhash Kapoor’s Jolly LLB franchise was sharp in its commentary on the broken system, class divide, the corruption within the Indian legal set-up, and how difficult justice is for the poor. The films featured Jollys (Arshad Warsi and Akshay Kumar), two small-time lawyers who defend the underprivileged against powerful businessmen and influential police inspectors, respectively, in the court of law. The unequal tussle between the two Jollys and their formidable opponents, their sarcastic digs and wild theatrics added to the success of the films. 

Batti Gul Meter Chalu - Prime Video 

Shree Narayan Singh’s Batti Gul Meter Chalu, which explored the problems of inflated electricity bills in rural India, shed light on the serious issue of rampant electricity fraud and the exploitation of common citizens by power companies through the story of three childhood friend SK (Shahid Kapoor) Lalita (Shraddha Kapoor) and Sundar (Divyendu), and how their happy lives take a shocking turn after Sundar’s printing press receives an inflated electricity bill forcing him to commit suicide after he sees no hope of being heard or cooperated with by the system. SK, who was till then an unscrupulous lawyer making money from out-of-court settlements, sets out to bring justice to the electricity company, making this a comic yet emotionally grounded film. 

 Kyuki Main Jhooth Nahi Bolta - Prime Video 

While an out-and-out comedy film, David Dhawan's Kyuki Main Jhooth Nahi Bolta also explored how the rich and powerful exploit the poor and influence the legal system to deny them justice. Raj Malhotra (Govinda) played an ambitious lawyer who defends the underworld and builder lobby and gets them acquitted of the most heinous crimes until he regains his conscience and decides to defend the disadvantaged widow, whose husband gets murdered by the same clients he had been defending throughout his career.

Maamla Legal Hai - Netflix

A thoroughly entertaining 8-part-series with nuanced characters, Netflix’s Maamla Legal Hai, provides a realistic look at the chaotic, inefficient, and often absurd inner workings of the lower courts of our country. Inspired by real incidents, the show explores the lesser-known struggles of lawyers and how they overcome them, without making anything serious!

Court Kachehri - Sony LIV

Similar to Maamla Legal Hai, Sony LIV and TVF’s Court Kacheri, though largely a father-son story, was also a light-hearted take on the regular days at rural courts in India, which humanizes lawyers - the professionals who are often looked at with an undertone of skepticism and distrust, by portraying their moral and professional dilemmas. Also, the divorce case handled by Harish Mathur, (Pavan Malhotra) that is one of the key plots of the show, highlights the slow pace of justice in India, especially for the poor, and how stereotypes play a crucial role in influencing legal decisions in such situations. 

Nna Thaan Case Kodu - Jio Hotstar 

This Malayalam legal drama was a sharp satire that used a simple plot to expose the deep-seated corruption within the government and administrative systems of India. The Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduvaldirectorial follows an ex-robber, who gets falsely accused of theft by an MLA, and what compels him to retaliate against him in court. The core commentary, handled with humor, and a grounded and realistic approach, underlined the struggle of a common man, Kozhummal Rajeevan, (Kunchacko Boban) against a powerful opponent and showcased how a small incident of unintentional trespassing snowballs into legal trouble just because the property belonged to the affluent.

Boston Legal - Prime Video 

ABC’s legal drama dealt with everything from political corruption to corporate greed, the death penalty, and the ethics of the legal profession through the partnership between Alan Shore (James Spader) and his mentor Denny Crane (William Shatner), who win many civil cases, often using unethical methods, when the former joins a mighty legal firm. The show is quirky, and the chemistry between the leads, highlighted by their witty banters, and outrageous antics, offered a constant source of humor and satire, without making even the most serious subjects too intense!

My Cousin Vinny - Prime Video 

Directed by Jonathan Lynn, ​My Cousin Vinny is a classic comedy that explored the clash of legal cultures between cities through the saga of a rigid, traditional Southern court and a street-smart New Yorker Vinny (Joe Pesci) an inexperienced lawyer, who steps in to defend his cousin Billy and his friend Stan in his first ever trial after the duo gets falsely accused of murdering a shop owner. The humor here stems from Vinny’s witty banter with the judge, wherein he is often held in contempt for his unprofessional attire, attitude, and ignorance of courtroom decorum, resulting in brief stints in jail for him as well, making this an absolute riot to watch!

Which other films or shows deserved to be featured in our lists? Tell us in the comments below!

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