Why Saurabh Shukla’s Judge Sundar Lal Tripathi is the moral anchor of Jolly LLB!

Jugde Tripathi first looks at Jollys, both Arshad Warsi and Akshay Kumar’s as shady, over-ambitious, small-time lawyers, who are trying to rise up the ranks through PIL ‘shortcuts’. He doesn’t take them seriously and carries a disdain towards their shoddy paperworks, unprofessional attitudes and unpreparedness during hearings often stemming from their inexperience or not so fancy education that the defense attorneys were privileged to have. However, as Judge Tripathi senses honesty and the pursuit of truth, he becomes their biggest ally, staying well within the legal framework of course!

Also Read: Jolly LLB 3 review: An engaging and socially relevant entertainer that lacks the sharpness and wit of its predecessors!

All three films begin with a hopeless PIL against a powerful entity. There is a hit and run case involving a high-profile business family, a fake encounter by a super-cop and, this time around, a fraudulent land acquisition by a mighty capitalist. The PILs lack strong technical grounds, however, recognizing the seriousness of the issue and perhaps sensing a flicker of genuine intent, Tripathi gives the two Jollys a chance by setting a date for a formal hearing, effectively opening the door for the entire legal battle to begin. Not just that, he upholds witness testimonies, overlooking the formalities required to present one in the court despite strong opposition by influential lawyers and media presence, simply because he understands the unequal tussle and wants to give truth a chance. Knowing that the Jollys are up against formidable and corrupt systems, Tripathi also often grants them the time and legal space to gather evidence, which, let’s not forget, isn't just a routine part of the trial but a strategic move that gives the underdogs a fighting chance against a set-up that is rigged against him. Lastly, the climaxes, across all the three films, show Judge Tripathi's final verdict being not merely based on legal technicalities but on a powerful, moral, though emotional argument, about the value of human life, their rights and the sanctity of truth, seeing through convincing lies and manipulation. 

However more than anything, what makes Tripathi an affable character is the fact that despite his position as a judge, he isn’t stuffy yes he takes his chair seriously and shows the most influential people their place when they try to demean it, but himself? Never! He jokes around with lawyers, uses sarcasm to express his frustration and shows his admiration for high-profile participants of court-proceedings but never for once brings down the dignity of the post he is holding. And how can we not talk about the actor who breathes life into Judge Tripathi’s character? Shukla, who has even won a National Film Award for his role in the first Jolly LLB, combines humor, wit, and gravitas, with the kind of effortlessness that is synonymous to his craft now. His witty one-liners, hilarious expressions and mannerism that convey how sharp his observation is, add humor and entertainment in this courtroom drama, making his character the silent hero of the franchise!

What do you think of the actor, especially in the Jolly LLB franchise? Tell us in comments below!