James Pandu(2000)
James Pandu is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language comedy thriller film directed by Selvaa and produced by V. Sundar. The film stars Parthiban and Prabhu Deva in the lead roles, alongside Kausalya and Renu Desai. The story follows two rival railway porters, James and Pandu, who are separately hired to steal the same bag of money from a corrupt chit fund owner. Their rivalry turns to friendship, but they become prime suspects when the owner is murdered. The film is notable for being the first on-screen collaboration between Parthiban and Prabhu Deva with shared scenes. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the premise but criticized the execution. The film was released on 4 May 2000.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Sun NXT, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 22 April 2000
- Director
- Selva
- Language
- Tamil 0
Storyline
Two former best friends, James and Pandu, now bitter rivals, work as railway porters. A crooked chit fund owner hires James to steal a bag of money, while his manager hires Pandu to steal it from James. The chase reunites them, but the owner's murder turns them into fugitives.
“Friendship is the real treasure”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for James Pandu
Cast reunions in this film: Pandu & Prabhu Deva (10 films together), Pandu & Thalaivasal Vijay (9 films together), Pandu & Kausalya (8 films together), Nizhalgal Ravi & Pandu (5 films together), Nizhalgal Ravi & S. A. Rajkumar (5 films together), and Nizhalgal Ravi & Thalaivasal Vijay (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'James Pandian' but was shortened to 'James Pandu' before release.
- Prabhu Deva played a dual role, portraying both a police officer and a lookalike thief.
- Director Selva included a cameo appearance by popular comedian Vadivelu, which became a highlight.
- The movie's soundtrack by Deva featured a hit song 'Kadhal Vandhuchu' that reused tunes from his earlier Telugu compositions.
- It was one of the few films where actor Parthiban played a full-fledged comedic sidekick role rather than the lead.
- The climax was shot in a specially constructed set resembling a palace, which was considered lavish for a mid-budget film at the time.
- Despite mixed reviews, the film developed a cult following for its comedy scenes and Prabhu Deva's dance numbers.