Krishan Kumar Jangir at 17:38, 3 March 2026

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{{short description|2019 film directed by Sanjeev Reddy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = ABCD: American Born Confused Desi
| image = ABCD – American Born Confused Desi.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Sanjeev Reddy]]
| producer = Madhura Sreedhar Reddy<br />Yash Rangineni
| based_on = {{based on|''[[ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi (2013 film)|ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi]]'' by [[Martin Prakkat]]}}
| starring = [[Allu Sirish]]<br />[[Rukshar Dhillon]]
| music = [[Judah Sandhy]]
| cinematography = Raam Reddy
| editing = [[Naveen Nooli]]
| studio = Madhura Entertainment
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| runtime = 145 minutes
| budget = 40 crore

| gross = 
| distributor = Big Ben Cinemas
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2019|05|17}}
}}

'''''ABCD: American Born Confused Desi''''' is an Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[comedy drama]] film directed by [[Sanjeev Reddy]] and produced by [[Madhura Sreedhar Reddy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/american-born-confused-desi-trailer-allu-sirish-5675929/|title=American Born Confused Desi trailer: Allu Sirish film promises to be a joy ride|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=16 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416142724/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/american-born-confused-desi-trailer-allu-sirish-5675929/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film stars [[Allu Sirish]] and [[Rukshar Dhillon]]. The phrase [[American-born confused desi]] describes Indians born in America, who have difficulty in balancing their ethnic culture within the majority non-Indian American culture.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/citytimes/inside.asp?xfile=/data/citytimes/2013/December/citytimes_December198.xml&section=citytimes |title=The best of Malayalam cinema in 2013 |last=Deepa Gauri |date=26 December 2013 |work=[[Khaleej Times]] |access-date=22 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102124957/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/citytimes/inside.asp?xfile=%2Fdata%2Fcitytimes%2F2013%2FDecember%2Fcitytimes_December198.xml&section=citytimes |archive-date=2 January 2014 }}</ref> The film is a remake of the [[Malayalam]] film of [[ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi (2013 film)|the same name]] starring Dulquer Salmaan and was released on 17 May 2019 to mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/abcd-first-look-allu-sirish-release-date-5513894/|title=ABCD first look: Allu Sirish's film will release in February|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=15 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415125717/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/abcd-first-look-allu-sirish-release-date-5513894/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Plot ==
The story revolves around two spoiled youngsters, Aravind and his cousin Bhasha. Avi is the son of a millionaire who is settled in New York, while Bhasha's mother left for Paris with her new husband. Aravind and Bhasha enjoy their luxurious life by driving expensive cars, going to pubs, etc. Avi's father decides to send them to India, telling them it is a vacation, but then blocks their credit cards, forcing them to live in poverty in Andhra Pradesh, where they eventually become famous. Aravind and Bhasha try to stay at a hotel, unaware that their credit cards have been blocked, but are soon aware of this fact and try to escape from the hotel to avoid paying. However, they are caught by the hotel manager, who confiscates their visas until they are able to pay. Avi and Bhasha are given very poor accommodations by Avi's father. They try to make money by trading fake bills but are duped.

Both Avi and Bhasha join a college to finish their MBA (which was forced to do by Avi's father). Later in the college, he meets Neha and Avi falls in love with her. After a series of events, Neha too reciprocates her feelings towards Avi. Aravind inadvertently becomes a candidate for the Mr. Fame award, and realizes that he can return to America by winning the award and receiving the prize money (500,000 rupees). Bhasha and Avi participate in a protest to increase their popularity, but the event ends up in police lathi charge. Although the event increases the popularity of Aravind and Bhasha, it also draws the attention of Bhargav, another Mr. Fame candidate and the son of a minister, who tries to break up the protest through violent means. Amidst the violence, Aravind is finally able to understand and sympathize with the struggles that people born into poverty experience. Avi wins the Mr. Fame award, but confesses the motives behind his actions onstage. Aravind chooses to stay in India and complete his degree.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Allu Sirish]] as Aravind Prasad <nowiki>''Avi''</nowiki>
* [[Rukshar Dhillon]] as Neha
* Raja Chembolu as Lanka Barghav
* [[Nagendra Babu]] as Aravind's father
* [[Kalyani Natarajan]] as Aravind's mother
* [[Vennela Kishore]] as Kishore
* [[Master Bharath]] as Bala Shanmugam "Bhasha"
* [[Kota Srinivasa Rao]] as Koteswara
* [[Subhalekha Sudhakar]] as Barghav's father
* Dammu Devena as Devena
* [[Viva Harsha]] as Santosh
* Samba as News Reader
* Appaji Ambarisha Darbha as Principal
}}

== Production ==

{{Empty section|date=August 2019}}

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = ABCD – American Born Confused Desi
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Judah Sandhy]]
| cover =
| alt =
| caption = Soundtrack cover
| released = 11 May 2019
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Sathya Studios
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 17:40
| label = [[Madhura Audio]]
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{External media
| audio1 = {{YouTube|JzZuK5NkGkw|Audio Jukebox}}}}
}}

The soundtrack of the film was composed by [[Judah Sandhy]] and lyrics by Bhaskarabhatla, Krishna Kanth and Tirupathi Jaavana.

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| total_length = 17:40
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Mella Mellaga
| extra1 = [[Sid Sriram]], Aditi Bhavaraju
| lyrics1 = Krishna Kanth
| length1 = 4:02
| title2 = Muntha Kallu
| extra2 = Tirupathi Jaavana
| lyrics2 = Tirupathi Jaavana
| length2 = 3:39
| title3 = America Naa America
| extra3 = [[Benny Dayal]], [[Sanjith Hegde]]
| lyrics3 = Bhaskarabhatla
| length3 = 3:17
| title4= Celebrity
| extra4 = [[Rahul Sipligunj]]
| lyrics4 = Bhaskarabhatla
| length4 = 3:32
| title5 = ABCD
| extra5 = Judah Sandhy
| lyrics5 = Judah Sandhy
| length5 = 3:10
}}

== Release and marketing ==
The film was theatrically released on 17 May 2019. The film was also dubbed in [[Hindi]] and directly premiered by Goldmines Telefilms on ''Dhinchaak'' in early 2021.<ref>{{Citation|title=ABCD: American Born Confused Desi {{!}} 3 Days To Go {{!}} World Television Premiere on Dhinchaak|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zoo7aDnaWFg|access-date=2021-09-28|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928041717/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zoo7aDnaWFg|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==
Murali Krishna C. H. of ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' rated the film 3/5 and wrote, "''ABCD'' doesn’t quite hit the mark, it’s due to lack of emotional depth, slow pace and conflict that never rings true. [...] Director Sanjeev Reddy seems to have meted out unfair treatment to an interesting story that has great scope to play on humour and emotions."<ref>{{cite news |last1=C. H. |first1=Murali Krishna |title=ABCD movie review: Devoid of novelty or humour |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2019/May/18/devoid-of-novelty-or-humour-1978431.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=9 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Neeshita Nyayapati of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave it 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "If you’re looking for something that’s emotional, dramatic or even consistently funny, this is not the film for you. But if you’re looking for a light-hearted entertainer [...] Go watch this one with no expectations, you'll end up enjoying it!"<ref>{{cite news |title=ABCD: American Born Confused Desi Movie Review |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/abcd-american-born-confused-desi/movie-review/69371845.cms |work=The Times of India |date=17 May 2019 |archive-date=11 September 2019 |access-date=15 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911111719/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/abcd-american-born-confused-desi/movie-review/69371845.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> A critic from ''[[The Hans India]]'' gave it 2.5/5 and wrote, "Though some of the scenes are same as the original version, the director has succeeded in including fresh comedy in the film."<ref>{{cite news |title=ABCD Movie Review & Rating |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/movie-reviews/abcd-movie-review-rating-58053 |work=The Hans India |date=17 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Suresh Kavirayani of ''[[Deccan Chronicle]]'' wrote, "''ABCD'' is not a good remake. Except for Vennela Kishore, the film offers nothing. Though it’s a good plot it is badly handled and ends like a dull drama."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kavirayani |first1=Suresh |title=Movie review: ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/190519/movie-review-abcd-american-born-confused-desi.html |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=19 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=18 September 2022 |access-date=15 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220918125611/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/entertainment/movie-reviews/190519/movie-review-abcd-american-born-confused-desi.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hemanth Kumar C. R. of ''[[Firstpost]]'' wrote, "By the time ''ABCD'' ends, there’s a sense of relief - at least it didn’t turn out to be an unbearable film. It’s predictable, devoid of any strong emotional moments, and the sloppy writing makes it a boring watch."<ref>{{cite news |title=ABCD movie review: Biggest undoing of Allu Sirish's comedy is its disconnect from contemporary times |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/abcd-movie-review-biggest-undoing-of-allu-sirishs-comedy-is-its-disconnect-from-contemporary-times-6650721.html/ |work=Firstpost |date=17 May 2019 |language=en-us |archive-date=18 August 2022 |access-date=15 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818045904/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/abcd-movie-review-biggest-undoing-of-allu-sirishs-comedy-is-its-disconnect-from-contemporary-times-6650721.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Manoj Kumar R. of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave it 1/5 stars and wrote, "It puzzles me when I think why would the filmmakers expect the audience to waste their hard-earned money to see a rich brat learn his lesson on poverty and how to live on a tight budget?"<ref>{{cite news |title=ABCD movie review: A rudimentary film with no value |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/abcd-movie-review-allu-sirish-5733638/lite/ |work=The Indian Express |date=17 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=20 May 2019 |access-date=15 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520032630/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/abcd-movie-review-allu-sirish-5733638/lite/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt10348516}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:ABCD - American Born Confused Desi}}
[[Category:2019 films]]
[[Category:2019 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy films]]
[[Category:Telugu remakes of Malayalam films]]
[[Category:2019 comedy films]]

ABCD: American Born Confused Desi 2019 film - Revision history

Krishan Kumar Jangir at 17:38, 3 March 2026