The theory of 'opposites attract' held much weight when Aanand L Rai and Anurag Kashyap, two filmmakers who are poles apart, collaborated for a love story. Mix of the two can be well described as a mix of chalk and cheese. While the former is mostly known for his small-town romances like 'Raanjhanaa', 'Tanu Weds Manu', and 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan', the latter is known for his cut-throat, hard-hitting films like the 'Gangs of Wasseypur', and 'Black Friday'.
'Mukkabaaz' is a film about aspiring boxer Shravan from Bareilly, and works hard for recognition. However, things soon take a turn for the worse when he falls in love with a mute girl who belongs to a higher caste. Further complications occur when he finds out his love interest is also the niece of his arch nemesis- head of the state boxing federation, Bhagwandas Mishra. “I like the way Anurag narrates his stories - they feature interesting characters and exciting backdrops. I was looking for an opportunity to work with him and 'Mukkabaaz' has been quite an enriching experience,” Aanand said.
“I was desperate to make this film and I needed a collaborator who understands the small town and loves cinema like me. Anandji turned out to be a total blessing. He never questioned my choices and empowered me to go all out,” Kashyap said. Set to hit the screens in January 2018, the movie is presented by Eros International and Rai, and produced by Colour Yellow Productions in association with Phantom Films.
