James Movie Review: A fitting ode to Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar

Director Chethan Kumar's James starring late actor Puneeth Rajkumar, Sarath Kumar and Priya Anand is a stylish thriller. James is Puneeth Rajkumar's swan song and a fitting tribute.

Watching a posthumous release is always cathartic. Especially, if it's a film starring an ever-smiling person like Puneeth Rajkumar, you can't help but give in to nostalgia. Puneeth Rajkumar would have been 47 years old today, March 17. While he passed away in October 2021, his fans gathered to celebrate their idol one last time. And, James doesn't disappoint.

James doesn't take time to delve into the story. Director Chethan Kumar jumps into the plot right from the first frame. We are introduced to the main villains, who belong to the drug mafia. In comes Santhosh Kumar AKA James, who runs a security agency called J Wings. He has been hired to rescue a rich businessman's daughter, captured by his rivals. Only Santhosh Kumar is willing to take the risk. And he does the job to perfection.

Soon, Santhosh is hired by the Gayakawad family to provide security. He earns their trust by showing his willingness to sacrifice his life in order to save them. But, Santhosh has a past. And he is here for revenge. Why is Santhosh so stiff? What about his family and why does he take revenge? These questions form the plot of James.

Here's the teaser of James:

James is an out-and-out star vehicle and it completely belongs to Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar. The director has done a wonderful job with the introduction scene of Puneeth. We don't really get to see him for 10 minutes. Even when he comes on screen, the visuals are blurred. It makes you eager to get a look at the star. And with a stunning car chase sequence, Puneeth Rajkumar comes alive on screen. Hoots and whistles follow.

It is a bittersweet experience to see Puneeth Rajkumar doing what he did best. From enacting emotional sequences to nailing difficult dance steps, he has given his all to James. We get to see cameos from his elder brothers, Shivarajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar. There is a sense of melancholy when we look at the entire Rajkumar family coming together for a film. Then, it hits you that this will never happen again.

Puneeth Rajkumar owns the film. James has its fair share of problems. For example, the pace of the first half is slow and only Puneeth saves it with his charm. It is during the intermission, when Puneeth's character undergoes a transformation, that you get invested in the story. The flashback portions and climax are tastefully done.