Artifice) is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language drama film, directed by Joshiy and produced by Mathew George.

The film start with James, a wealthy businessman, driving back home on Christmas Eve.

During the funeral, James' estranged father, Puthenpurackal Kurien Joseph, and brother, David, arrive.

Susanna hires George to defend her case after James' friend and lawyer, Advocate Rajasekharan refuses to represent her, citing his relationship with Kurien.

George, as advised by Pillai, decides to take financial advantage of Susanna, asking for 2% of the total assets of James, for representing her in what appears to be a straightforward case.

Kurien further establishes that Susanna was arrested in February 1981, for prostitution, and admitted to a rescue home, which turned her into a psychiatric patient.

Kurien manages to convince the parish vicar of this, by producing a police officer, rescue home warden, and psychologist.

A young Susanna, an orphan, trained in accounting, attends a job interview in James' company.

She is mistakenly arrested for prostitution by the commissioner of police and is sentenced to 18 days in a rescue shelter.

George not only establishes the wedding in the court, but also files a private suit, claiming that James was murdered.

James also believed that Kurien murdered his own father, John Varghese, and married his mother to capture all of their family assets.