ABCD: American Born Confused Desi

Story:

ABCD: American Born Confused Desi a Telugu-language comedy drama directed by Sanjeev Reddy and produced by Madhura Sreedhar Reddy, features Allu Sirish and Rukshar Dhillon. The movie explores the concept of American-Born Confused Desi, referring to Indians born in the U.S. grappling with the challenge of harmonizing their ethnic identity amid the predominantly non-Indian American culture. This film is a remake of the Malayalam movie with the same title, originally starring Dulquer Salmaan, and hit the screens on May 17, 2019.

Plot

The narrative centers on two affluent and indulged individuals, Aravind and his cousin Bhasha. Aravind, the son of a wealthy New York-based millionaire, and Bhasha, whose mother has moved to Paris with her new spouse, lead a lavish lifestyle involving expensive cars and pub outings. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when Avi’s father, presenting a trip to India as a vacation, blocks their credit cards, compelling them to experience a life of hardship in Andhra Pradesh. Despite their initial attempts to maintain their accustomed lifestyle, they find themselves in a predicament when their credit cards are revealed to be useless.

In their pursuit to escape the financial constraints, Aravind and Bhasha try to avoid settling their hotel bill, only to be apprehended by the manager who seizes their visas until payment is made. Avi and Bhasha, given meager accommodations by Avi’s father, resort to dubious means like trading fake bills, only to fall victim to deception.

As part of Avi’s father’s insistence, both Avi and Bhasha enroll in a college to pursue their MBA. During their college tenure, Avi develops romantic feelings for Neha, and after a series of events, their feelings become mutual. Meanwhile, Aravind unwittingly becomes a contender for the Mr. Fame award, realizing that winning it and claiming the prize money (500,000 rupees) could facilitate his return to America.

To boost their popularity, Bhasha and Avi engage in a protest that gains attention through police intervention. Although the protest enhances Aravind and Bhasha’s popularity, it also attracts the notice of Bhargav, another Mr. Fame candidate and the minister’s son, who attempts to suppress the protest violently. Amid the chaos, Aravind gains a newfound understanding and empathy for the challenges faced by those born into poverty.

Ultimately, Avi wins the Mr. Fame award but uses the platform to confess the true motivations behind his actions. In a surprising decision, Aravind opts to stay in India to complete his degree, marking a significant shift in his perspective and priorities.