Aug 19, 2003 11:59 AM
5490 Views
(Updated Aug 19, 2003 12:45 PM)
Varun (Nagesh Kukunoor) returns home after a 12 year stint in US of A, studying and now employed in Coke. He wants this trip to be a respite from the heavy working schedule and rat race that he is facing in his life.
When he arrives in Hyderabad, he is really excited to meet his Nothing-to-beat-Indian-values father and eat-or-you-will-shrink mother and two childhood friends, Harish and Sanjeev. Soon he realizes that he has changed a lot and can't accept many traditions and rituals which others follow blindly. He finds himself facing a culture shock in reverse - unable to understand any more what he had taken for granted earlier. His parents and a worth mentioning Shashi Aunty ;-) want him to get married before he returns to his job, but he won't take any of it.
He finally agrees to join Sanjeev on his hunt for the homely bride (A euphemism for arranged marriage..;-)) and encounters the would-you-like-some-tea Ashwini (Rajshri Nair). She is a self-made doctor who has preconceived notions about anything even remotely American!! Varun is finally able to convince her for a cup of coffee and then the story moves on. He wants to know her better before committing himself which is not taken in the right spirit by his friends and Ashwini. To top it all, their parents are against this alliance as the two belong to different castes. After some humorous and thought-provoking situations, they decide to go ahead.
Hyderabad Blues is the debut of filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor (also wrote and produced the movie), and was shot in 17 days on a low budget of 2 million rupees, in of course, Hyderabad. (Ack: IMDb)
The movie is a touching, often very funny comedy-drama, where the writer-director-star compares Indian and Western cultures. The movie has very natural performances and dialogue, and is a unique treat for anyone who likes good entertainment. Ultimately, the well-told story and characters are it's strongest assets! The generation gap is most brilliantly portrayed, including how the elders take the youth on a guilt trip to get them to buy-in to their designs.
Some of the scenes where the elders talk about BMW and dowry and the beer-guzzling sessions of the three friends are hilarious.. without anyone purposely acting as comedian to evoke laughs.
The ending is a bit of a dampener..it goes too fast..tries to be funny but not in the subtle way the rest of the movie is. Let's blame it on the running out of an already low budget.
And don't let that discourage you...this movie leaves the others in the same category (American Desi, Bollywood Hollywood etc etc) far far behind.
A must watch!!
Ohhh...in case you are wondering what in the is the title abt......well....Varun is obsessed with a Brooke Shields poster in his old room (Has helped him pass many a boring nights..;-)) ..while his mom goes into fits when she see the poster. And Kalyani is the world famous beer (ok..ok..Atleast it Rulez in India..;-))
Don't forget to RRC the review.;-))
Adieu!
Nitin
