We have laughed our hearts out watching the clumsy, neurotic dolt Mr Bean, mostly in his trademark tweed jacket and red tie. Watching this iconic comedy character’s unusual ways of solving the simplest of everyday problems takes us on a brawling boisterous fun ride, and recreating the same magic is debutant director Reji Paul with his upcoming flick Mr Bean- The Laugh Riot. “It is an out-an-out comedy film which is not in any way the Malayalam version of the cartoon or the Hollywood movie that came out with the same name. Four vibrant youngsters in the movie have the characteristic traits of Mr Bean and the situations they face in life offer the comicality in the movie,” says Reji.
When asked about what prompted him to name his film Mr Bean, Reji says, “The name of the four friends are Babukuttan, Enjoy, Alby and Nazar. As the first letters of these characters and the traits shown by them are similar to those of Mr Bean, we decided to name our film so.”
The story revolves around four fun loving insurance agents who work in the same office and live together and their innocent tantrums that often lands them in more troubles. “It is the story of these four prodigal youth who live a luxurious life that burns a hole in their pockets. It portrays their distress and struggle to make both ends meet and how they are unable to pay back to people to whom they are indebted to,” says Reji. “The twist in the story comes with the entry of a girl who comes as a new tenant at their house. She is on a secret mission that these four are unaware of and this remains the crux of the rest of the movie. The movie is more on the lines of situational down-to-earth comedy. And these bunch of friends are not the ultra modern ‘so called new gen’ youth but people who live in a town,” adds Reji.
Young upcoming actors Divya Darshan, Irfan Khan, Maanav and popular comedian Biju Kuttan don the role of the four insurance agents and the female lead is donned by the 2011 finalist of Femina Miss India Kriti Kapoor. Other actors are Avantika Mohan, Pritam Kagne, Narayanan Kutty, Kochupreman and Kalaranjini.
There are four songs in the film, and lyrics have been penned down by Padmaja Radhakrishnan, wife of late music director M J Radhakrishnan. “Another interesting part about the music is that M J Raja Krishnan, son of M J Radhakrishnan has composed the music for his mother’s lyrics. So in a way the music is a combined venture by mother-son duo,” says Reji.
The script is written by Sharvi, Reji’s guru and mentor. “I have worked as an assistant director to Sharvi and I feel lucky that he penned down the script for my first film,” adds Reji.
The film produced under the banner of Euro Star Cinema will reach the theatres on June 7.