Three directors are in the ring this Friday to win the viewers at box office for their debut films. 'Chocolate', an all-new look film directed by debutant Vivek Agnihotri, takes on with 'James'. An erstwhile assistant of Ram Gopal Verma, Rohit Jugraj, tries his luck with debutant actor Mohit Ahlawat and one film old Nisha Kothari. Nisha who was seen in a minuscule role of a starlet in Ram Gopal Verma's last flick 'Sarkar' gets her first full-fledged role in 'James'.
Ram Gopal Verma, who started his career with campus politics film 'Shiva', sees his protégé Rohit Jugraj beginning with the same theme that once was followed by him. 'James' is campus politics revisited in the new and modern era with a new face and style. Rohit Jugraj is not a film director by default; he is by choice. After learning the nuances of film making in America, Rohit is back where his first love is, cinema. Rohit Jugraj is a young boy who wants to foray into filmmaking. 'James' is the litmus test not only for Rohit's ideas, but also for his conviction to make it happen in his own style.
click for larger view
To revisit 'Shiva' in 'James', Rohit Jugraj transforms the college campus into the whole of Mumbai city. The college politics is turned into city politics, and the good boy Shiva is changed to James as an unemployed guy from outside who reaches Mumbai with a lot of ambitions but with a shoulder bag only. He is in the city where norms are made only to be broken by the mighties. He has to learn the harsh way of life and also the way life deals with righteous people.
click for larger view
James (Mohit Ahlawat) has no place to stay and takes shelter at his friend Babloo's house. He seeks a job and has no inhibition to do any kind of work. A body builder by choice, he gets the job to lead a team of bouncers in a night club. It is here that James meets a sesuous girl called Nisha (Nisha Kothari ). Nisha and James share their feelings as both are doing their odd jobs with reluctance, just to survive. Their righteous approach towards life becomes a common wavelength between them and soon they develop a kind of mutual admiration.
click for larger view
One fine day, James teaches a lesson to a drunkard who has teased Nisha. Incidentally, the drunkard is none other than the younger brother of the city's mightiest man Shanti Narayan. Shanti Narayan rules the city with his family. This family chases James . Meanwhile, James' childhood friend Babloo is killed. Now, James is ready to face any challenge. The war between the good and the evil begins. The ugly is there too. Twists and turns make the going for James an interesting narration.
click for larger view
Welcome aboard Bollywood's new fantasies, Rohit Jugraj. He knows how to make people sit and watch a two-line story for more than two hours. 'James' is a new teen-age action thriller. The theme has been tried many times before on screen, but the way Rohit presents it in 'James' is quite different. He gets ample support from his writer Manish Gupta to turn a common story into an uncommon one. Rohit and Manish team up to make a low budget film with a fresh approach.
click for larger view
The narration and scenic distribution of the events is the highlight. The scenes where Mohit and Nisha meet for the first time and also when Mohit is confronted with the baddies for the first time show the conviction of Rohit Jugraj to create an unusual atmosphere that is very archetype in its conception. Also, Amal Neerad's cinematography and Amar Mohile's background score come as a great support for Rohit in his debut film. Rohit gets full marks in his technical brilliance in ' James'.
click for larger view
As far as acting is concerned, Mohit walks away with all the glory in the film. He is the new star in making provided he keeps on getting meaty roles like this and the directors bring his hidden talent out. Though there are few flaws in his dialogue delivery, but he can certainly improve with time. Nisha Kothari is presented in a very glamorous way. But, she cannot be sure of a very bright future in Bollywood with such roles. She has neither the necessary physique nor the height. These weaknesses hinder in her being compared with Priyanka or Bipasha. Zakir Hussain shocks the audience with his abilities to create terror on screen. This is Zakir's first full-fledged role too. The team of newcomers delivers a fresh movies that will be liked by college going crowd the most.