He was a presenter at Eesti Televisioon and one of the leaders of the Singing Revolution.
Järlik graduated from the University of Tartu in 1959 as a physicist, then he taught physics at Puhja Gymnasium for 6 years.
He was featured in the series "Surma ei otsinud keegi" and "Viiekümnendad", the latter showing life after the Second World War, including collectivization, and Stalinist repressions in Estonia.
Along with Feliks Undusk and Hagi Šein, Järlik produced Mõtleme veel [et] (1988), an important reflection of the democratization, freedom of expression and of the Singing Revolution in Estonia.
Järlik participated in the foundation of the Popular Front of Estonia.