Tag: American Desi

  • East meets west in ‘Where’s the party yaar’

    East meets west in ‘Where’s the party yaar’

    MUMBAI: Ever wondered what a mother of a meeting it would make when an American desi jams with someone who’s ‘fresh off the boat’ (FOB). Well that’s exactly what Where’s the party yaar , entails. Add to that an American desi (AD) producer, director and star cast and what you get is an Indo-American crossover flick. The film essentially targeting the American audience, producer Sunil Thakkar was on the look out for an American distributor for over a year. Unfortunate on that front, his good destiny led him to Sunil Mutreja, managing director of Channel Nine entertainment bagging himself a distributor in India.

    The fun filled party flick, set in America is scheduled for a nation-wide release on 28 May. Kakkar says ” It’s a weird, funny and fresh mix and tells a tale of an individual who is awkward and does not funny. The movie is not to be taken seriously.” Following a storyline focusing on Hari Patel, a villager who visits an astrologer before his first trip to America. The astrologer, an outlandishly dramatic character, makes several puzzling predictions about Hari’s future. “In America you will meet the woman of your dreams. It will be a full moon night. There will be lightninga fever, and then she will fall madly in love with you. Her name will start with a “P”.” Throughout the film, Hari seeks to make sense of these bizarre revelations.

    Upon his arrival in America, Hari stays with the Bakshi family where he meets his Americanized counterpart, Mohan Bakshi (Mo). Mo is spoiled, rich, popular, yet a likeable character. Mo helps promote Indian parties on the campus. Ray, the party thrower, is on a mission to keep the FOB’s (Fresh Off the Boat) out of the party to maintain a cool image for his events. However, as the astrologer’s revelations begin to materialize, Hari realizes that he must go the party to get the girl of his dreams. This sends Hari and his FOB friends on a relentless search to find out “where is the Party yaar?”

    From their part -time jobs at an Indian restaurant to college life with the dueling cliques, Mo and Hari’s crazy antics lead the audience on a pursuit for their true loves and the big party. Cultural conflicts, romantic adventures, and family struggles arise in the comedic twists and turns of this movie. From the unforgettable boy- band dance routine in the rain to the climatic party at the end, this movie sure promises to be one not to be taken seriously.

    The main lead Kal penn originally Kalpen Patil also has an interesting history. A crossover artist Kal penn has television credits that include Spin City, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sabrina-The teenage witch, ER and The Steve. Penn is currently talking his first lead as Kumar in Harold and Kumar go to white castle. Also up his sleeve is Mask 2, and come September and Penn takes on a new NBC series Homeland Security .

    Technically, Benny Mathews (director) and Sunil Thakkar (producer) debut as director and producer with the launch of this motion picture. Although what one is not aware of is that this duo had made a flick earlier too titled Thanks for a lovely dinner. Essentially an experimental movie, the duo decided to get serious and get into the movie making business with a bang. Infused by the party scene in America, Thakkar has invested $ 250000 dollars into this flick.

    Hopefully this not to be taken serious movie will make some serious waves in both the east and west.

  • US-based Channel Nine bags India C&S rights for movie ‘American Desi’

    US-based Channel Nine bags India C&S rights for movie ‘American Desi’

    MUMBAI: Channel Nine Entertainment, the US based production house, has bagged the Indian theatrical, satellite and video rights of the Hollywood blockbuster American Desi. 

    The film is slated for a simultaneous release in India, Australia and South Africa following its release in the US, Canada and UK markets. Films like Monsoon Wedding and Bend It Like Beckham have paved the way for audience appreciating films in the same genre as “American Desi”, says a company spokesperson. Audiences identify with contemporary films and style of film making that are close to reality unlike the melodramas of yesteryears.”

    American Desi, directed by Piyush Dinker Pandya is a romantic comedy reminiscent of the great teen films of the eighties like 16 Candles and Pretty in Pink, mixed with the fresh hip-hop style of House Party with a uniquely Indian flavour. From Kris, an All-American boy from India, to Ajay, an Afro-Centric Hindu homeboy, to Farah, a devoutly religious but modern Muslim girl, American Desi tells the story of a unique set of characters and their culture from a decidedly hip and youthful point of view.

    The Indian-American comedy has become one of the top-grossing limited-release films in the UK market, says the company, with several multiplexes reporting that American Desi was their biggest picture on the weekend of 28 September 2001, trailing only Steven Spielberg’s A.I. which was the nation’s number one film during that period. Channel Nine Entertainment which debuted in the Hollywood film distribution business with American Desi, plans to release more Hollywood films.