Jeevi Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: RGV Film Company
Cast: Mohit Ahlawat, Nisha Kothari, Snehal Dabhi, Zakir Hussain, Sherevir Vakeel, Mohan Agashe, Rajpal Yadav, Ravi Kale & Riya Sen (SA)
BG Music: Amar Mohile
Story/writer: Manish Gupta
Cinematography: Amal Neerad
Stunts: Peter Hynes
Art: Sunil Nigvekar
Screenplay: Kona Venkat, Manish Gupta
Direction: Rohit Jugraj
Producer: Ram Gopal Varma
Theatrical release date: 16th September 2005

New director Rohit Jugraj gives Ram Gopal Varma a taste of his own medicine by lifting scenes, dialogues and characterizations from Varma's popular flicks. Hero's characterization is inspired by Nagarjuna's character in Shiva, heroine's characterization is inspired by Urmila's Character in Rangeela and villain's characterization is taken from Raghuvaran's in Shiva.

James (Mohit Ahlawat) comes to the city Mumbai in search of livelihood. He stays with his friend Babloo (Snehal Dabhi). Nisha (Nisha Kothari) is a popular model and also the only daughter of a top level cop (Mohan Agashe). James gets employed as a bouncer at a happening nightclub.

Shanti Narayan (Zakir Hussain) and his maniac brother Radhe Narayan (Sherevir Vakeel) are dreaded kingpins in Mumbai city. James objects Radhe Narayan when he tries to take advantage of Nisha at the nightclub. This incident brings James and Nisha together. It also creates animosity between Radhe Narayan and James. As Radhe Narayan and cops chase James and Nisha, they disappear into the jungle. The rest of the story is about how James eradicates Santhi Narayan and Radhe Narayan.

Debutant hero Mohit Ahlawat has got terrific body. He is too stiff for an actor. He is pretty mediocre on histrionics aspect, but is extremely good in action sequences. He performed with the precision of a robot in action sequences in an extremely believable way. Heroine Nisha Kothari is cute. She made sure that people look more at her body than her face by exposing her legs to the maximum extent upwards. As far as histrionics goes, she is just average. Zakhir Hussain imitated the body language of Raghuvaran of Shiva. Sherevir Vakeel appears threatening with beard and long hair. Rajpal Yadav is the only actor who makes you laugh in this film. Riya Sen is cool as the item girl in the title track.

The first half of the story has similarities to that of Shiva and the second half dwells on Ramu's favorite theme - the couple on run. The director Rohit Jugraj has got good technical stuff in him and can present the film stylishly. But he could not handle the emotional quotient of the film well. Screenplay of the film is adequate till the interval and then went lethargic during the second half.

The first and foremost credit for composing exceptionally good action sequences in first half goes to Peter Hynes. The way he composed the pre-interval chase fight is extraordinary (I have not seen a SUV falling on its side like that in any of Indian films so far). Photography by Amal Neerad is an asset. However, he tried not using lighting equipments and reflectors for certain scenes in this film. Dialogues of the film are good. Music and background scores are adequate. Editing is neat. The locations are very attractive.

First half of the film is quite decent and it establishes James in a very powerful way. The second half - most of which takes place in Jungle - is a big letdown and bores you. Most of the scenes are inspired from Varma's flicks like Shiva, Kshanakshanam, Rangeela, Satya etc. The one scene which is lifted from films other than Varma's is the scene in which a guy falls on the top of the cab from a top floor (from 'Collateral' film). The plus points of James are stunt sequences, photography and stylish taking. The major drawbacks are director's inability to establish emotions and a boring second half. On a whole, 'James' turns out to be a below average film.