Mr.Fraud takes Thunderous opening - Exclusive Box Office Report

Mohanlal's latest release Mr. Fraud took a thunderous opening all across Kerala. Being the next release after Drishyam and making lot os news in the past weeks the film released to awesome response from movie goers, last Saturday. The Day 1 gross was about 1.35 crores with distributors share of about 65 lakhs (approx). Eventhough the film got mixed response from general public the fans have been extremely happy with the way Mohanlal has been portrayed, especially in the first half. So the second day the business zoomed to 1.42 crores gross, with a distributors share of 1bout 68 lakhs(approx).

The 2 days total from Kerala Box Office is 2.77 crores with distributors share of 1.33 crore (approx). The film had a regular drop today, being Monday. But main centers are still super strong, Multiplexes which began on a slow note also showed improvement towards matinee and night shows. The film also took great opening Rest of India too. The film got the biggest release outside Kerala, releasing in same amount of screens as in Kerala. Addition of subtitles helped many non-Malayalees thronging theaters to watch the film, thanks to Drishyam.

As per early estimates the gross should be around 70-80 lakhs today taking the total to 3.5 crores and by tomorrow it looks like will cross the life time gross of Gangster. With music, video rights being sold for record breaking figures and satellite rights close to 6crores and the film yet to release in overseas markets, it looks like producers will be laughing all the way to the banks...


Kerala gross in 2 days 2.77 crores
Kerala Distributors share in 2 days 1.33 crores
All India Gross in 2 days: - About 3.5 - 4 crores (Yet to confirm)


* Update - 3rd Day All Kerala Gross 80 lakhs
 All Kerala Gross in 3 days  3.57 crores
 All Kerala Distributors share in 3 days 1.71 cr  (approx)

Mr. Fraud - Malayalam Movie Review - Mohanlal, Unnikrishnan B

 Mr. Fraud Malayalam Movie Review

Crew

Director: B.Unnikrishnaan
    Producer: A.V Anoop
    Executive Producer: B.Unnikrishnan

Banner : AVA Productions
    Script: B.Unnikrishnan
    Cinematographer: Satheesh Kurup
    Makeup: Pradeep Rangan, Liju Kumar S
    Music: Gopi Sundar
    Playback Singers: Shankar Mahadevan, Shakthisree Gopalan, Sithara & Gopi Sundar
    Editor: Manoj
    Lyrics: Hari Narayanan, Chittoor Gopi & Santhosh Varma
    Costume: S.B Satheesh, Murali
    Art Director: Joseph Nellikal
    Stills: Sinat Savier
    Production Controller: Aroma Mohan

Cast

      Mohanlal as 'Fraud'
    Dev Gill
    Pallavi Purohit
    Mia George as Saraswathi
    Manjari Phadnis
    Vijay Babu
    Vijayakumar
    Siddique
    Sai Kumar
    Suresh Krishna
    Rahul Madhav
    Ashvin Matthew
    Rajeev Parameshwar
    Arjun Nandhakumar
    Balaji
    Sathaar
    Devan
    Gopi Sundar (cameo appearance)
    Amritha Anilkumar

Mohanlal plays a 'Fraud' who has many names and many faces, a non sympathetic cunning hi-tech robber. He gets offered a job with enough money that he can very much retire after this. But its not easy as it seems and is 'one of the most difficult mission' he has come across as the character says. The treasure belongs to an Old Kovilakam and they are going to open the chest for the first time in 41 years with all the relatives, police and top level private security team guarding it. So will he able to do it forms the rest of the story.

Mr Fraud is a heist movie presented in a mass masala packaging, so there's no logic in asking for a unique or different storyline as all of them have universally one theme. The first half is racy and entertaining largely thanks to Mohanlal who was simply free flowing and outstanding making even minutest expressions and simple dialogues clap worthy. The Director being a Lal fan has added elements to please the fans. The packaging and the way everything is setup in the first half is really good. Its in the second half the movie suffers a bit. Totally its an above average 2nd half with an average, rushed up climax. The first half makes us prepared for a better 2nd half which the film couldn't provide, also the unnecessary sentimence ruins the pace. It would have been great if the film had a climax like 'Mankatha' or 'Don' (SRK's).

With the limited budget Malayalam can afford Director was able to show the heist scenes convincingly. May not be a patch on Hollywood counter parts, but still they serve the purpose. Unnikrishnan B is definitely improving every time as a director, and this one is his best Directorial outing. Even though his scripting faltered here and there in the 2nd half, for most of the run time it was engaging. The dialogues as always were good, made look even better by Mohanlal.

It can be called a one man show by Mohanlal, after a long time Malayalees gets to see his Mass entertainer side which he did with elan. He carries the movie in his entire 'slanting' shoulder. Siddique, Mia George, Sai Kumar, Ashwin were good. Vijay & Manjari was okay. rest of the cast did their role. Dev Gill's villain character was a disappointment, as it was an underwritten role, the film could have had a better villain character.

Gopi Sunder is back in full form after a long back as both his songs and BG are very good. Back Ground score infact is a great plus for the movie. Cinematography was good, editing was sharp. VFX team have done a great job. Art work was superb. Action choreography was average.

Over all Mr Fraud is a Mass-Heist movie - must watch for fans, one time watch for others

After 150 days of delivering 'Class' to the world, its time to give some MASS with Class, good old Lalettan way, which no one can replicate

Rating 3/5

Verdict: Good

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Mohanlal's Mr. Fraud Kerala Paper ADs & All India Theaters List

Mammootty's Silence - Exclusive Movie Review

 Silence - Exclusive Movie Review

Crew

Director: V. K. Prakash
Producer: Afseena Saleem

Story/Writer: YV Rajesh
Production House: Aysha Films
Music: Ratheesh Vegha
Lyrics: Rajeev Alunkal
Editing: Mahesh Narayanan
Art Direction: M Bawa
Costume Design: Liji Preman
Makeup : Roshan.G
Release Date-December 6

Cast

Mammootty - Aravind Chandrashekhar

Pallavi Chandran 

Anoop Menon - P. Balachandran
Joy Mathew
Prakash Bare
Basil
Aparna Nair

'Silence' is a whodunnit murder mystery investigation thriller. The film was first titled 'Judgement' which was then changed to 'Ithu Veroral' before finalizing with 'Silence'

Aravind Chandrashekhar, a lawyer by profession, has been living a happy life with his wife & children. As soon as he gets appointed as a Judge in Karnataka High Court, begins to get  anonymous calls & stalkers following him affecting his peaceful life. All this leads to him re-opening an old murder case and investigating it with the help of his Police friend (Anoop Menon). Whats the link between the stalkers, the murder, who was the real culprit etc gets answered in the film.

 From the moments trailer was released people were taking about resemblances with Mohanlal's Grandmaster. But apart from 'lead character getting drawn into an investigation' there are no other similarities. 

The first half which flushes Aravind out of his comfort zone and his encounters and interactions with the mystery stalkers are pretty interesting. At about 50 mins, the first half is racy and thrilling and raises the expectation bar quite a bit which unfortunately the writer couldn't manage in the later half. The 2nd half is under whelming comparing to the promise the former one gave. It looked half baked, predictable and simple as the story gets unfold. Too many cooks spoils the brath, should have tried to rell a decent 'whodunnit' thriller rather going through many. It was a real golden opportunity which ended up as above average thanks to average 2nd half. 

Also the film raises many questions which are left unanswered thanks to a not so fool proof writing.


Mammooty was Very Good as Arvind was looking damn good to, which comes easy for him. Pallavi gets decent enough screen time and she did a good job. Rest of the cast are also good. 
VKP's direction is top notch, especially in the first half. Camera work is very good especially in the chase and Under water sequences. BG was good in the first half, but that too felt a bit over board in the second. Songs (or bit songs) forms a part of the narration, which are passable. Editing is efficient, helping to keep the raciness necessary for a thriller. Writing is good in the first half, the film has got quite a few nice dialogues too.

Silence is a decent watch thanks to the good first half. Its a decent thriller, but not comparable to Grandmaster or Mumbai Police or Memories the recent critical as well as box office hits from Mollywood that falls in the same genre. 

A nice weekend/evening time pass movie which you can watch with your entire family

Rating 2.75/5

Above Average