Director Vikarnan Ashok has opened up about the deeply personal experience that shaped the story of his new film Mask, which stars Kavin and has opened strongly in theatres. The filmmaker revealed that the core idea for the film came from a real-life real estate scam that affected him and his family years ago.

Speaking to IANS about where the narrative originated, Vikarnan said, “It happened in my life. I was a victim of a real estate scam.” He explained that such scams often target people from the middle class because fraudsters assume they won’t push back. “People who intend to commit fraud confidently pick the middle class to con, as they think that people belonging to this class will hesitate to hit back,” he said. Daily responsibilities like EMI payments and jobs, he added, make it harder for many to protest or fight back.

The filmmaker reflected on how powerless victims often feel, especially educated individuals who are aware of the injustice but unable to respond. “When educated people are conned, they are bound to get angry. But then, they can't react,” he said. He was intrigued by the idea of what might happen if someone in that position finally got the chance to retaliate — and that question eventually grew into the premise of Mask.

When asked whether his family ever recovered their money, Vikarnan shared a long-awaited update: “After 17 years, in June 2025, we got our money back.”

Released worldwide on November 21, Mask is produced by Black Madras Films and The Show Must Go On and marks yet another interesting chapter in Andrea Jeremiah’s career. Not only has she co-produced the film with SP Chockalingam, but she also takes on the antagonist’s role — a space she previously explored in Vetri Maaran’s Vada Chennai.

The film also boasts strong technical talent, including composer GV Prakash and cinematographer RD Rajashekar. Editing is handled by Ramar, with art direction by Jacki and Vijay Iyyappan.