Middle Class Abbayi (transl. Middle class boy), also known as MCA, is a 2017 Indian Telugu-language action comedy film directed by Venu Sriram and produced by Dil Raju. The film stars Nani and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles.[4][5] Devi Sri Prasad composed the soundtrack and score, while Sameer Reddy and Prawin Pudi handled the cinematography and editing.
| Middle Class Abbayi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Venu Sriram |
| Written by | Venu Sriram |
| Produced by | Dil Raju |
| Starring | Nani Sai Pallavi |
| Cinematography | Sameer Reddy |
| Edited by | Prawin Pudi |
| Music by | Devi Sri Prasad |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Sri Venkateswara Creations |
Release date |
|
Running time | 144 mins. |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
| Budget | ₹25 crore[1] |
| Box office | est. ₹80 crore[2][3] |
Middle Class Abbayi was released theatrically on 21 December 2017 and received mixed reviews from critics, but became a commercial success.[6][7] It was remade in Hindi as Nikamma (2022).
Plot
editNani, a middle-class youth with an eidetic memory, stays at his uncle's house in Hyderabad. He has issues with his brother's house because he dislikes his sister-in-law Jyothi, an RTO officer. Ravi, Nani's elder brother, asks him to leave for Warangal to aid Jyothi in the new place. He falls for Pallavi, who proposes to him in the first encounter.
Nani realizes that Pallavi is actually Jyothi's sister after she arrives to live with them. Pallavi tells him that she has seen him during his brother's wedding and has been in love with him. Jyothi learns about Nani and Pallavi's love towards each other and sends Pallavi back to her village, while secretly pursuing Pallavi's father to accept their relationship, but Pallavi's father refuses. Jyothi tries to make Nani to become a software engineer, but to no avail.
Meanwhile, Jyothi seizes two buses with the same number which belongs to "Siva Shakti Travels", owned by Shiva Shakti alias "Warangal" Siva, a dangerous gangster. Siva threatens Jyothi with dire consequences. Nani learns about Jyothi's sacrifices and realizes his mistake. When Siva threatens Jyothi at the RTO office, Nani thrashes him in public and warns him. Nani and Siva agree to bet on Jyothi's life, without letting anyone know about the challenge.
Siva plans various strategies to finish Jyothi, but Nani intelligently rescues her. However, Siva kidnaps Jyothi and hides her in the one of the bus, which she seized earlier. Nani ask Jyothi's whereabouts to Siva, who commits suicide and is taken to the hospital. Nani figures out the buses and saves Jyothi. Siva survives, but loses his memory and starts his life afresh. Nani marries Pallavi, while fooling her father that he is a software engineer.
Cast
edit- Nani as Nani
- Bhumika Chawla as Jyothi, Nani's sister-in-law
- Vijay Varma as Shiva Shakti alias "Warangal" Shiva
- Sai Pallavi as Pallavi "Chinni", Jyothi's sister
- Rajeev Kanakala as Ravi, Nani's elder brother and Jyothi's Husband
- Naresh as Nani's uncle
- Aamani as Nani's aunt
- Priyadarshi Pullikonda as Darshan alias Darshi
- Posani Krishna Murali as Pallavi's father
- Pavitra Lokesh as Siva's mother
- Vennela Kishore as a software consultant
- Mahadevan as an RTO Officer
- Racha Ravi as Nani's friend
- Ashritha Vemuganti as a doctor
- Subhalekha Sudhakar as D. Srinivas
- Rakesh Varre as Rakesh
Music
editThe music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad and was distributed by Aditya Music.
| Middle Class Abbayi | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 11 December 2017 | |||
| Recorded | 2017 | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 19:14 | |||
| Label | Aditya Music | |||
| Producer | Devi Sri Prasad | |||
| Devi Sri Prasad chronology | ||||
| ||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "MCA Title Song" | Chandrabose | Nakash Aziz | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Kothaga" | Sri Mani | Sagar, Priya Hemesh | 4:38 |
| 3. | "Yemaindho Teliyadu Naaku" | Sri Mani | Karthik, Deepika V | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Family Party" | Sri Mani | Jaspreet Jasz | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Yevandoi Nani Garu" | Balaji | Divya Kumar, Sravana Bhargavi | 4:30 |
| Total length: | 19:14 | |||
Release
editThe film was released on 21 December 2017. The Times of India reported that the film was released in over 900 screens.[8] The theatrical rights of the film were sold at a cost of ₹30 crore. BlueSky Cinemas have acquired the distribution rights of the film in the United States for ₹3.50 crore. Sakshi Post reported that the film was released in over 150 screens across North America.[9]
The film was also dubbed and released in Tamil as Middle Class Aambala.[10] It was also dubbed in Kannada as Middle Class Huduga.
Reception
editBox office
editOn its opening day, the film collected a total gross of ₹28 crore worldwide.[11] As of 8 January 2018, the film grossed US$1.07 million (₹6.85 crore) at the United States box office.[12] By the end of its theatrical run, Middle Class Abbayi grossed ₹80 crore worldwide, with the distributors' share of ₹40 crore.[13]
Critical response
editHemanth Kumar of Firstpost gave 3/5 stars and wrote "MCA is not a bad film, but it also leaves you with a feeling that it could have been a lot more.[14] Sify gave 2.75/5 stars and wrote "Nani and Sai Pallavi's romantic thread is the major highlight in this otherwise regular commercial movie that is too bland".[15]
Neeshita Nyayapati of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "MCA is good enough for a one-time watch, especially if you're a Nani fan or a sucker for family dramas".[16] Manoj Kumar R of The Indian Express gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Venu has banked heavily on the charming performances of Nani and Pallavi to make MCA click with the audience, as his writing is unambitious and mostly filled with clichés like his idea of middle class".[17]
Sowmya Rajendran of The News Minute wrote "Middle Class Abbayi is a middling entertainer with a lot of fresh ideas that unnecessarily turns into a routine drama".[18] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote "Three versatile performers are the saving grace in this partly entertaining and partly middling film".[19]
Remake
editThe film was remade in Hindi as Nikamma and was produced by Shabbir Khan Films and Sony Pictures India. The film was released on 17 June 2022.[20][21][22]
References
edit- ^ Nyayapati, Neeshita. "'MCA' Box Office Collections Day 12: Nani, Sai Pallavi and Bhumika starrer rakes in Rs 60 Cr gross worldwide". The Times of India.
- ^ Shekhar H Hooli (31 January 2018). "MCA movie total box office collection:Middle Class Abbayi turns another hit for Nani, Dil Raju in 2017". International Business Times. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ "MCA box office: Nani-Sai Pallavi film earns over Rs 80 crore". The Indian Express. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Scroll Staff. "Watch: Nani is a middle class hero who no one (except his family) can mess with in 'MCA' trailer". Scroll.in. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Nani. "#MCA #Nani20 Shooting in progress". Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ Adivi, Sashidhar (26 December 2017). "Nani, Sai Pallavi starrer MCA takes a great opening at the box office". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Back to (21 December 2017). "MCA vs Hello: Nani and Akhil Akkineni's films all set to clash at Telugu box office this week". Firstpost.com. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ Nyayapati, Neeshita. "'MCA' Box Office Collections Day 12: Nani, Sai Pallavi and Bhumika starrer rakes in Rs 60 Cr gross worldwide". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Middle Class Abbayi Box Office Collections From US Premieres Phenomenal". Sakshi Post. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "MCA came to Tamil as Middle Class Aambala". indiaherald.com. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Nani's MCA takes exceptional opening, mints over Rs 15 crore on first day". Hindustan Times. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Middle Class Abbayi Total US Box office collections". Sakshi Post. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Hooli, Shekhar H. (31 January 2018). "MCA movie total box office collection: Middle Class Abbayi turns another hit for Nani, Dil Raju in 2017". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "MCA movie review: Nani, Bhumika, Sai Pallavi breathe life into an unimaginative film". Firstpost. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Middle Class Abbayi review: Sai Pallavi-Nani chemistry is the highlight". Sify. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Middle Class Abbayi Review {2.5/5}: MCA is good enough for a one-time watch, especially if you're a Nani fan", The Times of India, retrieved 18 May 2022
- ^ "MCA movie review: Nani-Sai Pallavi's chemistry salvages Middle Class Abbayi". The Indian Express. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "'Middle Class Abbayi' Review: This action drama is a squandered opportunity". The News Minute. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (21 December 2017). "Middle Class Abbayi review: For want of the zing factor". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "REVEALED: Abhimanyu Dassani's character in Nikamma has an Ajay Devgn connection". Bollywood Hungama. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Abhimanyu Dassani, Shirley Setia and Shilpa Shetty starrer Nikamma to release on June 17, 2022". Bollywood Hungama. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "All you need to know about 'Nikamma' debutant Shirley Setia". The Times of India.