Release Date : March 17,2022
Starring: Puneeth Rajkumar, Priya Anand, Srikanth, Anu Prabhakar
Director: Chethan Kumar
Producers: Kishore Pathikonda
Music Director: Charan Raj
Cinematography : Swamy J. Gowda
Editor: Deepu S. Kumar
Puneeth Raj Kumar was one of the top stars in Kannada cinema. Sadly, he passed away recently shocking everyone. His last film, James has hit the screens today. Let’s see how it is.
Story:
The city of Bangalore is filled with the underworld mafia and is divided between two groups. Vijay Gaekwad(Srikanth) is one of the heads and he has a life scare. So, he appoints Santosh(Puneeth Rajkumar) as his security. But in a tragic turnaround of events, Santosh kidnaps Vijay Gaekwad and his sister(Priya Anand) and reveals himself as James. Who is this James? What connection does he have with the underworld? Why did he kidnap Vijay Gaekwad and his sister? What is his backstory? To know the answer, you need to watch the film on the big screen.
Plus Points:
The late Puneeth Rajkumar is fit as a fiddle and does his action blocks superbly. His slow-motion shots, stunts, and screen presence are major highlights of the film. Puneeth looks superb in the army uniform and it is hard to believe that he is not anymore with us. Srikanth gets a meaty role and he is superb in his character.
Priya Anand does not have much to do. Sarath Kumar and the supporting cast who play the main villains are very good in their supporting roles. The film is filled with stylized action and the fights are executed in a superb manner till the end. The second half is decent and has good emotions. The presence of stars like Shivraj Kumar in a cameo gives a high for the fans.
Minus Points:
The film is started on an interesting note and establishes the mafia set up in a very good manner. The way in which Puneet’s character is also introduced looks good. But from there, the film slows down and picks up only during the interval block.
Story-wise, there is nothing much the film has to offer. The interval bang is good but the rest of the screenplay is dull. Also, the flashback episode is dragged for no reason. The film is also lengthy and many scenes are added just for the sake of it.
Technical Aspects:
The music by Charan Raj is very good but his BGM was even more effective. The production values are top-notch and the rich visuals impress. The action part needs a special mention as all the fights are done superbly. Editing is just about okay and so was the Telugu dubbing.
Coming to the director Chetan Kumar, he has done a passable job with the film. Though he chooses a routine story, he packed it with good mass elements and showcased Puneeth Raj Kumar in the best way possible. If he would have made the film a bit crisper, things would have been even better.
Verdict:
On the whole, James is a fitting tribute to the late Puneeth Raj Kumar. He is in top form and gives his fans a thrilling ride with his action-packed avatar. Though the story is routine, Puneeth’s solid screen presence for one last time makes this film worth a watch this weekend.
Note : As it is the last film of Puneeth Rajkumar, it is unethical to rate the film. So, we are going with no rating and request you to watch the film with an open mind.
Reviewed by 123telugu Team