On a Con Outing
It seems like a sumptuous package of gloss, suspense, drama and action. Mohanlal gets into the garb of a super thief in Mr Fraud that looks bigger, brighter and smarter than any of the superstar’s recent outings. Helmed by Unnikrishnan B, the film promises to be a brisk thriller where edge-of-the-seat excitement comes into full play.
Unnikrishnan says Mr Fraud has been conceived as an out-and-out entertainer, a mass masala replete with all ingredients to draw the crowds. “It’s the first time I am attempting this genre, I have never tried my hands at a potboiler before. The film has tastefully-shot songs, daredevil stunts, high-voltage drama and coiled suspense. At the same time it’s not a mindless medley as Mr Fraud also has a focused storyline to keep the viewers hooked.”
Contrary to initial reports, Unnikrishnan says Mr Fraud is not a total heist movie. “Though the story premise is that of a heist film, Mr Fraud doesn’t quite fit into that format.” The film revolves around a seasoned robber and his latest-but-last operation before calling it a day. “Mr Fraud zooms into a spate of unexpected events that come his way and how he negotiates the situation. It’s more of an emotional thriller,” he adds.
At the same time Mr Fraud doesn’t quite follow the conventions and cliches of a crime caper. “Every character in the film has streaks of grey. So it’s not a clash between good and evil and you will find no razor-sharp binaries in the film.”
The USP of the film is definitely a dapper-looking Mohanlal in his classy, salt-and-pepper avatar. “The film is more of a vintage Mohanlal package presenting the actor in a way masses like him most. And instead of going for a much younger version, the actor plays his age and still looks hot. Every aspect of his character, including his getup, was finalised with much precision,” says Unnikrishnan.
The film has a stellar cast featuring an array of stars including Bollywood imports. While Dev Singh Gill appears in a key role, Pallavi Purohit and Manjari Phadnis complete the female front along with Mia George. “All the women in Mr Fraud are independent and strong ones, a rarity in hero-oriented scripts. While Mia plays a teacher who runs a school owned by her father, Pallavi is an entrepreneur based in Mumbai who has clear-cut ideas about what she wants in life. She is not worried about the moral framework of the society or the rights and wrongs defined by it. Manjari’s character is also along similar lines,” he says. Vijayakumar, Siddique, Sai Kumar, Rahul Madhav, Suresh Krishna and P Balachandran are also part of the cast.
The film is equally strong when it comes to the technical front. “Cinematographer Satheesh Kurup has rendered exceptional frames and art direction by Joseph Nellikal is simply brilliant,” says the director. The film also has a slew of computer generated shots to keep its tech-savvy flavour. Music is another highlight of Mr Fraud and the two fusion tracks sung by Shankar Mahadevan are already buzzing. The film produced by A V Anoop under the banner of AVA Productions will hit the screens this weekend.