Jolly LLB 2 makers get 'chaanta' from Bata

Legal firm Kochhar & Co. has shot off a legal notice to the makers of Jolly LLB 2, the sequel to the popular Boman Irani-Arshad Warsi courtroom drama (2013), on behalf of global footwear brand Bata. The brand has asked the makers to apologise for an allegedly disparaging comment made against it by a protagonist in the film's trailer that released recently.

The scene features lawyers Annu Kapoor and Akshay Kumar. Annu's character is slapped by Akshay's for the comment: "Varna Kya…. BATA ka joota pehan kar, tuchhi si terricot ki shirt pehan kar, saala humse zabaan lada rahe hain". The dialogue is accompanied by English subtitles that read: "Who are you to argue with me in your cheap shoes and shabby clothes".

Partner at Kochhar & Co., Neeraj Grover's petition says the trailer, which released on December 19 and is being viewed widely online, is damaging to Bata's image. The petition reads: The footwear and other accessories of Our Client are worn by the who's who of the country and patronised by well known personalities… the dialogue is intended to convey that the brand Bata is adorned only by the lower strata of society and one should feel humiliated if one wears Bata footwear."

They have asked Fox Star Studios India Pvt Ltd, director Subhash Kapoor and actors Annu Kapoor and Akshay Kumar to pull down the trailer and issue an apology in mainstream media.

Grover told hitlist, "Bata has taken this derogatory remark very seriously and shall pursue all legal remedies. The impunged dialogue has caused immense damage to the goodwill of Bata and lowered its image."

Repeated attempts to get a comment from the film's makers were met with no response. Jolly LLB 1 was the story of a simpleton lawyer with the track record of attracting legal notices, earlier played by Arshad, now Akshay. Interestingly, the first film was also embroiled in controversy and was served three legal notices for allegedly ridiculing Meerut Law College, where the protagonist had earned his LLB degree.