JAMES – TYPICAL MASALA FILM, A MIXED BAG

Rating:- *

THAT every film made by Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘factory’ can’t be equally good is amply proved
by “James”. If the first hour of the film makes a damn good impact,its hackneyed plot notwithstanding, the post-interval portions leave a lot to be desired.

Shanti Narayan [Zakir Hussain] and his henchmen have spread terror in Mumbai. And since he is well connected in the corridors of power, he almost gets away with whatever he does.

James [Mohit Ahlawat] arrives in Mumbai, with lot of dreams in his eyes and starts living with his childhood friend Babloo [Snehal Dabhi] and takes up the job of a bouncer at a popular nightclub.

James meets Nisha [Nisha Kothari], a model, in the gym first and at the nightclub later. The casual acquaintance between the two develops into friendship.

As part of his job, James ‘fixes up’ a drunkard misbehaving in the club. The latter also had a covetous eye on Nisha. After James has set the guy right, he comes to know that he is Radhe Narayan [Shereveer Vakil], the younger brother of Shanti Narayan.

AS expected, Shanti and Radhe want to settle scores with James…

Although the film rests on a thin plot, it has been almost overloaded with action, with the result that it fails to appeal to logic.

Screenplay leaves a lot to be desired although there are good sequences here and there.

Rohit Jugraj’s direction is fairly stylish at places, but in totality the film fails to impress.

The director gets good help from two departments: Action and background score [Amar Mohile].

JAMES is more of a showreel for Mohit Ahlawat. The debutante has a tough physique to carry off the role with flourish. But he is an average actor who needs to improve his dialogue delivery also. Nisha Kothari is camera-friendly and exposes her anatomy without inhibitions. But she also needs to hone her acting abilities.

Zakir Hussain proves yet again [after ‘SARKAR”] that he's a supremely talented actor. Shereveer Vakil is another actor who catches your attention. Ravi Kale is excellent.

On the whole, JAMES is a masala film which might appeal to a certain section of masses who like action, even when it is overdone.