In an era of media trials and performative outrage, Maamla Legal Hai 2 uses sharp writing to show the quiet dignity and daily struggles of the Indian judiciary via Judge Tyagi.
It’s been 2 months since I watched Ravi Kishan’s Judge Tyagi step into the shoes of Patparganj District court judge and I still can’t get over how effortlessly the actor portrayed the simple yet powerful character in Netflix’s Maamla Legal Hai 2- easily one of the finest performances of the first six months of 2026.Even now as I scroll through news about delayed justice, various pressure on courts or some complex verdicts Judge Tyagi comes to mind for the way he humanised the Indian judiciary for me. There’s something beautifully real about Kishan’s portrayal of the district judge. He isn’t the snobbish, Italian suit wearing and ultra polished hero we usually get to see in legal dramas. Instead, Tyagi is middle-class, sarcastic and wonderfully human. Despite his title, he neither carries the air of entitlement around him nor does he let the weight of his position lose touch with on ground realities. For instance, I liked how he came down to celebrate Mintu ji’s birthday without thinking twice just to keep their age old tradition alive. This scene showed his humility and how much values human relationships.
Kishan’s body language, the tired yet kind eyes, and that perfect mix of Bhojpuri soul with judicial Hindi exterior, all in all felt so authentic, so lived-in! However, one scene that still haunts me is when he has to pronounce the death penalty on the 24-year-old Deepak Ahlawadi for the brutal murder of two underage boys. Now, debates on death penalties have often fascinated me as they force us to confront the uncomfortable questions on our view of justice. At least for me, it brings my moral beliefs, the complex legal philosophies and interpretation of justice in conflict all at once. For society, it brings a profound dilemma as to how we choose to punish our worst crimes but also reflects our collective values as humans. I loved how each of these inner conflicts were depicted by Kishan throughout the process of presiding over this case. And finally, when the judgement day arrives, you still see a quiet storm inside him in that morally complex scene.
