Jai (2004)

Jai is a 2004 Telugu film written and directed by Teja, who had made his name with youthful love stories such as Chitram, Nuvvu Nenu and Jayam, often built around newcomers. True to form, he introduced a fresh lead pair here: Navdeep, in his first film, and Santhoshi, with Ayesha Jhulka, the heroine of Hindi films such as Khiladi, in a supporting role. The story combines a young romance with a patriotic, action-driven thread in which the hero has to stand up for his country as well as his love. The film is also noted as the debut of composer Anup Rubens, who went on to score many Telugu hits.