Family dramas have been his forte so far and for the first time director V M Vinu takes a detour. His latest, ‘Face to Face’ starring Mammootty in the lead, is an investigative thriller which also whips up some drama and sentiments. “The film is a high-octane thriller woven around a murder mystery. The film brings on to the screen loads of action and suspense,” he says.
The film, set in a wide-angled canvas, also deals with a highly relevant theme - youngsters going astray. “Kids when denied love and guidance land up in ugly situations. And this frustrated flock easily gets sucked in to the criminal web. The film zooms into such cases,” says Vinu.
Mammootty plays Balachandran, a corruption-free cop who always stands by his ethics. His aim is to wipe out criminality and wherever he is posted, he immediately springs to action. “As a result most of the times he is under suspension. His uncompromising war with the antisocial elements makes him the prime target of racketeers both inside and outside the force. Finally he decides to ditch his uniform to continue his fight,” says Vinu
‘Face to Face’ unravels how Balachandran braves the storm and faces the hazards involved in challenging a completely corrupt system. “The film is basically about his crusade against crime and how he goes about it. Hence the title ‘Face to Face’,” explains Vinu who has earlier directed the actor in ‘Pallavur Devanarayanan’, ‘Vesham’ and ‘Bus Conductor’.
Vinu says though woven around a grave storyline, the film is not without its share of emotional quotient. “In the middle of the tumult Balachandran has to forgo all personal comforts including his family. The film will appeal to all genres of audience,” he adds.
‘Face to Face’ is also the launchpad for newbies Gautam, Rishikesh, Rohit and Binoy who play key roles in the film. “The storyline evolves through them and the film also addresses the issues faced by youngsters in general,” Vinu explains.
Roma and Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi play the female leads in the film. While Roma appears as a forensic surgeon Ragini dons the role of Jayasree, Mammootty’s wife. Manoj Payyannur has penned the script of the film.
Siddique, Kalabhavan mani, Vineeth Kumar, Nishanth Sagar, Vijyaraghavan and Mamukoya are also part of the cast. Alphonse scores music to the lines penned by Vayalar Sarat Chandra Varma and Anil Panachooran. Ajayan Vincent cranks the camera for the film produced by M K Nassar under the banner of Good Line Productions. The film is expected to hit 72 screens in the state on November 23.