Director Abi Varghese says his movie, ‘Monsoon Mangoes’, may be set in the US but it exudes a very realistic tang. The frames are real, with no traces of anything outlandish and shot design and settings are plain, just like the subtle humour in it.
‘Monsoon Mangoes’, the debut vehicle of Abi Varghese, the brain behind the very entertaining ‘Akkarakazchakal’, is a light-hearted entertainer about an expatriate aspiring film-maker D P Pallikkal who is on a quest to make a movie, though he isn’t solid in the talent department.
“The protagonist is a washed-out actor who wants to make a movie. Its about how he sets out on the journey,” says Abi. He quickly adds that his movie is not a jibe about aspiring filmmakers. Instead, it is a call to pursue their dreams.
Though his movie may be about an expatriate dream, Abi says that it is in no way similar to his popular sit-com ‘Akkarakazchakal’.
“Both are situational comedies. But the prominent difference is that, unlike ‘Akkarakazchakal’, here the character has to progress, and undergoe change that will mark his life. But the humour quotient is the same,” says Abi.
Fahad’s comeback?
Abi, however, is confident that Fahad Fazil’s performance as DP Pallikkal will win him accolades. “Fahad is not doing a comic role. The role requires him to act normally, while the humour is basically in the situations. He fits the role to a T. He is exactly whom I wanted when I penned the script,” says Abi. He hopes that the movie will ressurect Fahad’s career.
Autobiographical content
Abi agrees that there might be traces of his life in the movie because thatis “something I know better”. But, he says, this will be nothing like the US we have seen in other movies.
“The US, as seen in Malayalam movies, has its quirly style and moments. But the US in ‘Monsoon Mangoes’ will be a normal one,” says Abi. “I ha
ve insisted on the use of minimal colours and the tone of the movie from the beginning to the end will be the same,” says Abi.
The movie also stars Vinay Forrt and Iswarya Menon, and will hit the screens this Friday. ‘Monsoon Mangoes’ is produced by Thambi Antony under the banner of Kayal Films.