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ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi (2013 film)

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ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi
Theatrical-release poster
Directed byMartin Prakkat
Screenplay by
Story bySooraj-Neeraj
Produced byShibu Thameens
Starring
CinematographyJomon T. John
Edited byDon Max
Music byGopi Sunder
Production
company
Distributed byThameens_films & Tricolor Entertainments
PJ Entertainments (Europe)
Release date
  • 14 June 2013 (2013-06-14)
Running time
167 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Budget₹4.5 crore[2]

ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi is a 2013 Indian Malayalam-language black comedy film directed by Martin Prakkat, produced by Shibu Thameens under the banner of Thameens Films.[3] It stars Dulquer Salmaan, Jacob Gregory, Tovino Thomas and Aparna Gopinath . The film features music composed by Gopi Sunder, cinematography is handled by Jomon T. John.[4] The film deals about the journey of two young American Malayalees to Kerala. The title is based on the term American-Born Confused Desi.[5] Released on 14 June 2013, the film received positive reviews and was commercially successful.[6] It marked the first collaboration between Dulquer Salmaan and Martin Prakkat.[3] The film was remade into Telugu in 2019 with the same name.[7]

Plot

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The story revolves around two rich spoilt brats who were born in the U.S.: Johns Isaac, and his cousin Korah Murikken. Johns is the son of a billionaire named Isaac Johns who is settled in New York, while Korah's mother left for Paris with her new husband. Johns and Korah enjoy their luxurious lives by driving expensive cars, going to pubs and nightclubs, playing pranks on public. Isaac decides to send both of them to India, saying that it is a vacation before Johns goes to Melbourne for his MBA studies the next month. He then blocks Johns and Korah's credit cards post their arrival in India. Johns and Korah initially stay at a luxurious hotel apartment unaware that their credit cards are useless. Upon realizing their financial situation, they try to escape from the apartment to avoid paying. However, they are caught by the security guard. He brings them to the manager who then confiscates their mobile phones, tablets PCs and wrist watches. Isaac provides Johns and Korah with very poor accommodation with water from the nearby community dug well and a public toilet. They try to make money through underhand methods but are duped. With all of their money gone, they are left with no choice but to join the MBA studies at a local university that Isaac arranged for them, along with ₹5000 monthly for their combined expenses, provided they attend their classes regularly.

They befriend a student and social worker, Madhumitha, from their college. Johns, out of romantic interest, takes part in Madhumita's social works and protests during which they get to know each other better. One of Madhumita's friends Seenamol, a journalist, publishes a fabricated article on Johns and Korah's poor upbringing and how they manage to survive on just ₹ 83 per day, which gains widespread popularity, making Johns and Korah overnight public figures. This triggers Akhilesh, the son of the late minister K. P. Ravi Varma, whose government claimed that ₹ 28 per day is enough to survive in the current economy. Johns and Korah's popularity is on the rise along with their frustration. Battling sociopolitical issues on their journey they realize one day that their only way to go back to the U.S. is by winning a competition called Youth Icon of the year and the prize money of ₹ 100,000. So, they participate in a protest which ends up in a police baton charge. This raises their popularity and votes in the competition, much to the disappointment of Akhilesh, who is a candidate in the upcoming election. Seeing the duo's bravery, Naxalite representatives approach them and give them a handgun seeking their support in future. Johns & Korah realize things are getting out of hand and go AWOL, but later are found to have taken refuge at Madhumita's house.

Madhumita loans them money to go back to the US. However, Akhilesh tracks them down and confiscates their passports. Johns fights off Akhilesh but surrenders to law enforcement agencies. The ministry confirms in a press conference that Johns and Korah are not Indian citizens and, thus, are not legally allowed to be involved in sociopolitical matters of India and are hence being deported. Now back in America, Johns and Korah return Madhumita's loan while also expressing Johns' romantic interest in her but Madhumita has other plans. As the movie ends, during the family prayer, an anonymous person arrives in front of the duo's house and shouts for revenge for one of Johns' earlier pranks. Johns and Korah escape through the back door.

Cast

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Production

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The project was announced a few months before its shoot, but acquiring the licence to shoot in the US delayed the commencement of the project.[8] Initially many actresses were considered for the heroine including Isha Talwar, but theatre artist Aparna Gopinath was selected for the role in her debut film.[9][10] Jacob Gregory, a mutual friend of Martin played the character of Korah. He himself showed interest in playing Korah and auditioned for the role. He had been part of the film from the scripting process itself.[11]

Filming

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The shooting was announced to start in March 2013 in the U.S.[8] New York City was the main location for the scenes shot in America.[12] The original plan was to start the shooting of the film in the U.S. but that had to be changed after it became difficult to get the required permission and the visas. So the schedules were altered and the scenes in Kerala were wrapped up first. The college scenes were shot inside the Federal Institute of Science And Technology (FISAT), Angamaly. The filming of a few 'montage cuts' for showing in between the songs were shot at the college.[10]

Soundtrack

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ABCD
Soundtrack album by
Gopi Sundar
Released6 June 2013 (2013-06-06)
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length25:32
LanguageMalayalam
LabelManorama Music
ProducerGopi Sundar
Gopi Sundar chronology
Sound Thoma
(2013) 		ABCD
(2013) 		5 Sundarikal
(2013)

The music of the film is from Gopi Sundar.[13] The soundtrack features a remixed version of the song "Nayaapaisayilla" sung by Mehaboob for the 1960 film Neelisaali. This version is sung by Junior Mehaboob.[14]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Johnny Mone Johnny"Santhosh Varma, Anna Katharina ValayilDulquer Salmaan, Anna Katharina Valayil4:32
2."Sivane"Santhosh VarmaSuchith Suresan4:25
3."Vaanam"Rafeeq AhammedGopi Sundar, Anna Katharina Valayil4:20
4."Nayapaisayilla (Remix)"P. BhaskaranJunior Mehboob, Anna Katharina Valayil, Asif Akber, San Jaimt4:20
Total length:25:32

Release

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The film was released on 14 June 2013.

Critical reception

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Unni R Nair of Kerala9 stated that the movie is a "confused mess to an extent" and was "not up to the mark", but gave 3.5 stars in a scale of 5.[15] Sudheer Shah, writing for IndiaGlitz, awarded the movie 6.5 stars out of 10, concluding that "ABCD is one movie that must not be taken with any bit of seriousness." and that "If you have a few hours to laugh out for simple jokes that are not that intelligent, this is your movie."[16] Shekhar of OneIndia gave the movie 3/5 stars, called the movie "a wonderful comedy entertainer, which has an interesting story" and said that "If you are comedy lover, don't miss to watch this film."[17] Aswin J Kumar of The Times of India wrote that the movie is "watchable for the chemistry between Johns and Kora", giving it 3 stars.[18] Rahul of Metro Matinee rated the movie as Entertaining, while stating that "it entertains in full throttle, asks the right questions and provides moments of emotional ecstasy and angst, all of which is part and parcel of a feel good movie."[19] Paresh C Palicha of Rediff awarded the movie 2.5 stars, and wrote that the movie "is a showcase for Dulquer Salmaan; nothing more, nothing less."[20]

Box office

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The film became a commercial success.[21][22] The film collected $48,711(₹36.31 lakhs) in three weeks from the United Kingdom box office.[6] The film collected around ₹12.5 crore from Kerala box office.[2] The film ran 101 days in theatres.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "ABCD – AMERICAN BORN CONFUSED DESI (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Allu Sirish's 'ABCD' ready for summer release". The News Minute. 9 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Dulquar Salman Martin Prakkat Movie Titled ABCD | ABCD Dulquar Salman Movie – Online Movie And TV Reporter". Mallumoviereporter.com. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Dulquer Salmaan – Martin Prakkat movie titled as "ABCD"..? :News – Movie News, Film News, Cinema News – Malayalam Movie News". Metromatinee.com. 15 October 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  5. ^ Deepa Gauri (26 December 2013). "The best of Malayalam cinema in 2013". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  6. ^ a b "ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi". Box Office Mojo. 3 July 2013.
  7. ^ "ABCD first look: Allu Sirish's film will release in February". 28 December 2018.
  8. ^ a b Shiba Kurian (18 October 2012). "Dulquer Salmaan as a confused desi!". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  9. ^ Nambidi, Parvathy. "Aparna Gopinath dances her way to Mollywood". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  10. ^ a b George, Vijay (8 November 2012). "Back to roots". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  11. ^ Sathyendran, Nita (14 November 2012). "Life imitates art". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  12. ^ "ABCD: In awe of Martin's visual mastery – The Times of India". The Times of India.
  13. ^ Nambidi, Parvathy (13 June 2013). "A frothy expat tale comes home". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  14. ^ "That forgotten maverick's voice..." Archived 20 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Thehindu.com (3 January 2013). Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  15. ^ Unni R Nair (14 June 2013). "ABCD Malayalam Movie Review". Kerala9. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  16. ^ Sudheer Shah (17 June 2013). "ABCD – American Born Confused Desi Movie Review". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  17. ^ Shekhar (18 June 2013). "ABCD – Movie Review". OneIndia. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  18. ^ Aswin J Kumar (16 June 2013). "ABCD Movie Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  19. ^ Rahul (14 June 2013). "ABCD Film Review". MetroMatinee. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.Entertaining
  20. ^ Paresh C Palicha (17 June 2013). "Review: Malayalam film ABCD". Rediff.com. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Dulquer Salmaan's journey to stardom". Sify. 18 June 2019. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015.
  22. ^ "Allu Sirish on ABCD: We have only taken the soul of the Malayalam version". The Indian Express. 16 May 2019.
  23. ^ "ABCD' 101 DAYS CELEBRATION". Indiaglitz. 10 October 2013.
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