FILM REVIEW: JAMES (2005)

Director: Rohit Jugraj
Producer: Ram Gopal Varma, Sahara One and K Sera Sera
Cast: Mohit Ahlawat, Nisha Kothari, Zakir Hussain, Rajpal Yadav, Shereveer Vakil
Music: Nitin Raikwar, Bapi Tutul, Prasanna Shekhar
Lyrics: Nitin Raikwar, Sandeep Nath

Long ago, before ‘Factory’ (name of RGV’s Film Production Company) happened, Ram Gopal Varma made his first impression in Bollywood with a film named Shiva, about a man with nerves of steel and a pride to match in the city filled with goons and corrupt. The film became a milestone and its star Nagarjuna became a biggie down south.

Fifteen years down the lane, RGV sets out to produce his first out-and-out commercial film and he opts for a brushed up version of ‘Shiva’.

Let’s get to the chase then - James hardly looks like a film from Ram Gopal Varma ‘Factory’. Directed by newcomer Rohit Jugraj, James isn’t original by any standards. It’s a banal, beaten to death plot seen by us on the silver screen many times. Coupled with shoddy direction and bad script this James is our un-official entry into the hall of shame.

So who is James? Oh! He is your typical macho man with pierced eyebrows, shlokas tattooed on back, brawny, brooding and boyish newcomer - Mohit Ahlawat. James is a guy from Goa who came to ‘Mumbai - The city of Dreams’ to make it big. James believes in izzat ki zindagi and standing against crime and injustice.

Mumbai, as it has been shown, has turned into Sin City; ruled by jerks, corrupt and powerful politicians like Shanti Narayan (Zakir Hussain).

Back to James, he gets work at a popular nightclub as a bouncer. He meets Nisha (Nisha Kothari), an upcoming teen model, at the gym and later at the nightclub he works in. The two get acquainted and fall in love a couple of fantasy songs later. So, when a jerk named Radhe sets his eyes on Nisha, James sets him right for good.

But this is no love story and so Radhe turns out to be the brother of Shanti Narayan. James is now being hunted for by the Narayan family. His childhood friend Babloo (Snehal Dabhi) is killed.

What ensues is a designed setup of fights, both, battles of fist-fights, battle of moves and awful demonstration of gore.

Debutant director Rohit Jugraj’s homage to mentor Varma’s Shiva falters due to the lack of outdated plot, powerful screenplay and screen presences of actors.

James is nothing but a designer vehicle for model Mohit Ahlawat’s entry in Bollywood. Mohit has an excellent physique and a finely chiseled face. Mohit forte is action and not acting. He is everything Nagarjuna was not and he has nothing that Nagarjuna had. Mohit lacks the screen presence, the smoldering eyes and intensity that oozed out of Nagarjuna. The anger and the simmering intensity of Mohit’s character in the movie come forth in glimmers only. Sadly, Mohit’s the only positive aspect about James. The Jatt from Haryana has the thing to make it to the top in Bollywood.

Nisha Kothari tries to do an Urmila act of Rangeela and romp about the beach in skimpy and ugly clothes that show ample skin. But her acting is pathetic and she has this funny voice.

Rajpal Yadav play’s a little role in the movie. He is as usual fantastic in his little part he plays as Tommie. Zakir Hussain catches your attention. He is venomous to the core. So is Shereveer Vakil.

JAMES is a masala flick that will appeal only to the masses. It’s comparison with Shiva would be unfortunate.

James is all actions and no curry. Give this a miss.

Pros: Mohit Ahlawat.
Cons: You name it and you have it.

RS Rating: 2/10

Credit: This review was submitted by Ankit Jain of Footprints.in. They run their own movie Blog at DCECinemas. To submit your own review for posting on radiosargam.com please email.

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