The film has a problem with pacing and lags a few times but the director uses these moments to add meat to the characters, says Paresh C Palicha.
Njan Steve Lope has been made with no commercial considerations in mind and does not cater to any specific section of the audience.
It is directed by noted cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, whose vision about the life of his characters is of paramount importance.
The film revolves around Steve (Farhaan Faasil), a youngster whose life is all about his friends, booze, WhatsApp, the girl in his neighbourhood and college. He has been brought up in a well to do home, his father being a high-ranking police officer.
Everything seems to be going well for him until the day he witnesses an incident that changes the course of his life.
Steve is in love with Anjali (Ahaana Krishnakumar), a childhood friend. She reciprocates his feelings. One day he is witness to a gangland murder. He is the only witness who has the gumption to come forward, while his father is desperately trying to keep him away from all this, or so it seems.
This creates a rift between them and prompts Steve to seek answers to his questions on his own. In a way, it is left to us to guess whether his father George (Alencier) is a part of the killing games or not.
In the beginning we get the feeling that this story may go the Kireedam (1989) way, but it takes its own route.
The film has a problem with pacing and lags a few times but the director uses these moments to add meat to the characters. Most of these stretches are travels or movements where the actors talk among themselves or on the phone giving solidity to their identities.
Farhaan is comfortable as Steve Lopez. He is confident that being the son of an influential father means no harm can come to him, but this same fact makes him feel guilty and angry in the later stages.
Ahaana makes a desperate attempt to be something more than a pretty face, and she succeeds to a certain extent. But her character does not have the layering that Farhaan's character has.
Njan Steve Lopez is a bold personal film by Rajeev Ravi.
Rediff Rating: .gif)
