Fahadh Faasil's Monsoon Mangoes is the story behind the making of a film set in the US

FAHADH FAASIL MIGHT have had a tad slow start at the box office this year with Monsoon Mangoes, a film that had generated tremendous buzz with its popular trailer.
But the actor is now the flavour of the season again with the stupendous success of Maheshinte Prathikaaram, a film that has taken on Nivin Pauly's much-touted Action Hero Biju and won over audiences.
Reinventing his career after a troublesome 2015 that saw almost all his movies plummet at the box office, Fahadh is back to his confident self. Taking it slow, cancelling projects, returning advance money and being picky about his roles, the young actor proves with Monsoon Mangoes that he will lend his weight only to movies that stand a cut above the rest.
Marking the film directorial debut of Abi Varghese, the maker of the popular sitcom Akkarakazhchakal about expatriate Malayali life in the US, Monsoon Mangoes is not the conventional laughathon or comedy riot. It tries to present an interesting perspective in new generation filmmaking.
And Abi ought to be feted for not playing to the gallery with his debut film but sticking steadfast to a plot that balances mainstream appeal with arthouse sensibilities.
Naturally, the film turns out to be way different than the comic caper that audiences might have expected. Narrating the story of DP Pallikkal, a failed actor-turned-director, the film has an ensemble cast including Hindi film industry's talent powerhouse Vijay Raaz, Vinay Fort and Iswarya Menon, among others.
Playing the protagonist, Fahadh infuses life into the character in his own inimitable way. Abi says that Fahadh was the perfect choice for the role and brings in some exceptional comic timing. His humour skill is efficiently brought out in Maheshinte Prathikaaram too.
Abi adds that he steered from the clichés and quirkiness that are almost always associated with films shot in the US. Typically, Kerala filmmakers use the US more as a backdrop for songs or to present stereotype characters.
Instead Abi focuses squarely on how DP Pallikkal turns director through a number of chance incidents. In this, his own observations of living in the US helped.
But as we get to see in Monsoon Mangoes, making a film, and pursuing his dreams, is anything but easy for Pallikkal. He has his friends for solace and encouragement but they can do little to make things happen. That is when he bumps into Hindi's towering superstar Prem Kumar (Vijay Raaz), who consents to being a part of the film.
From then on it is a journey of new learning for Pallikkal to accomplish his dream. Subtle humour serves as the backdrop for the film set in the 1990s especially with Vinay Fort also having a central role. For Abi, recreating an era from the past for the movie meant ensuring meticulous attention to details. He accomplishes that with remarkable ease.
With Lukasz Pruchnik wielding the camera, the film has exceptionally composed frames that will be any cinematography enthusiast's delight.
On the flip side, the film can be a tad slow for audiences expecting a comedy riot. Taking his own pace, Abi has delivered a film that might not have set the cash-trills singing but will definitely add to his credentials as a director who knows his craft.
Monsoon Mangoes is now playing at theatres in the UAE.