Director Manu Anand compares 'Mr. X' with 'Dhurandhar,' says, 'The spy thriller combines real incidents'

The upcoming Tamil spy thriller 'Mr. X,' starring Arya, has been in production for more than two years before finally gearing up for its theatrical release. Under Manu Anand's direction, the film began shooting in 2023 and wrapped up its shooting in 2024; nevertheless, the release was postponed due to multiple reasons. Despite the delay, the film has generated strong excitement among its fans, particularly because spy thrillers are seldom explored in Tamil cinema. But at this time, the producers have revealed the release date of 'Mr. X,' which will be in theaters on April 17. This announcement has raised the expectation level among people eager to watch a new action thriller.

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Manu Anand compares the 'Mr. X' narrative with 'Dhurandhar'

Director Manu Anand recently drew an interesting comparison between 'Mr. X' and the mega-blockbuster Hindi film 'Dhurandhar' featuring Ranveer Singh. Speaking to Cinema Vikatan, he explained that both films follow a storytelling style connecting multiple incidents into one screenplay. Speaking about the structure, he said, “Watching 'Dhurandhar,' you see multiple incidents across India connected into one screenplay.” He added that 'Mr. X' uses a similar approach. “More or less, we have done the same in 'Mr X,' combining several real incidents into one powerful story,” he said. Manu Anand also revealed that he had already locked the screenplay back in 2023, long before the film started generating buzz.




'Mr. X' is based on real-life spy incidents across India

According to the director, the story of 'Mr. X' draws inspiration from several real-life spy-related incidents that took place in India over many decades. The story integrates happenings between 1960 and 2022, blending them into a riveting mystery thriller. Manu Anand noted that the film is divided into different chapters, disclosing segments of the broader storyline in each. This structure is thought to provide the picture with a multiple-narrative perspective and make it more interesting for spectators, who will follow the movie through different timelines and locations. Besides, the motion picture was shot in several places, including Rajasthan, Thoothukudi, Kullu Manali, Mumbai, and Puducherry, while a few important scenes were filmed in Azerbaijan.

Arya leads a strong cast in a high-budget spy thriller

"Mr. X" stars Arya in the lead role as a spy on a dangerous assignment and features the tagline: “Once a spy, always a spy.” The film's cast includes Gautham Karthik, Sarathkumar, Manju Warrier, Athulya Ravi, Raiza Wilson, Anagha, Jayaprakash, and Kaali Venkat, among others. Cinematographer Arul Vincent, music director Dhibu Ninan Thomas, and editor Prasanna GK are also part of the crew. The movie has received a U/A rating, and the satellite and OTT rights have been sold.

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