ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi

Two rich, spoiled youths born in the United States—Johns Isaac [Dulquer Salmaan], and his cousin Korah Murikken [Jacob Gregory]—live a life of luxury in New York, cruising in expensive cars, flitting between pubs and nightclubs, and turning public pranks into moments of spectacle. Their father, Isaac John [Lalu Alex], a billionaire based in the city, decides to send them on a temporary “vacation” to India before Johns heads to Melbourne for an MBA, then bluntly blocks their credit cards once they touch Indian soil.

What begins as a small wake‑up call quickly spirals. The two discover that their once‑reliable finances vanish the moment they land; the plush hotel suite becomes a cramped apartment with water drawn from a nearby community well and shared facilities. Their attempts to hustle up quick cash fail, and they’re duped as their money dries up. With nowhere else to turn, they enroll in an MBA program arranged by their father, receiving a modest stipend of ₹5000 per month for living costs on the condition that they attend classes.

Around campus, they encounter Madhumitha, a determined student and social worker. Johns’s growing romantic interest pulls him into Madhumitha’s world of community service and protests, where he begins to see a different side of life beyond wealth. Madhumita’s circle includes Seenamol, a journalist who becomes a crucial catalyst. Seenamol, [Surabhi Lakshmi], publishes a fabricated piece about Johns and Korah’s humble beginnings and their ability to survive on a mere ₹83 per day, a story that explodes into public discussion and thrusts the pair into the limelight.

The sudden attention stirs Akhilesh Varma, the ambitious son of the late minister K. P. Ravi Varma, whose government once claimed that ₹28 per day was enough to survive in the economy. Akhilesh [Tovino Thomas] is not pleased with the rising popularity of two non‑citizens who challenge the political narrative. The contest for Youth Icon of the Year becomes their unlikely vehicle to regain normalcy, with a cash prize of ₹100,000 offering what seems like a route back to the U.S. A protest they join leads to a police baton charge, boosting their fame and ballots in the competition, much to Akhilesh’s chagrin.

As events unfold, Naxalite representatives approach them, offering a handgun to secure their future influence—an ominous turn that makes Johns and Korah realize they’re stepping into something far bigger than a publicity stunt. Fearing the consequences, they go AWOL and hide out at Madhumita’s home. Madhumita lends them money to return to the United States, but Akhilesh tracks them down, confiscates their passports, and a confrontation with the authorities ensues. Johns resists but ultimately surrenders; the ministry announces that they are not Indian citizens and therefore cannot engage in India’s sociopolitical affairs, resulting in their deportation.

Back in America, Johns and Korah repay Madhumita’s loan as they begin adjusting to life stateside again, and Johns makes his romantic interest in Madhumita clear. Yet Madhumita has other plans, and the movie shifts toward a quiet, unresolved tension behind the family prayer at their home. In a final twist, an anonymous figure arrives seeking revenge for one of Johns’s earlier pranks, and the duo flee through the back door, leaving the door open to interpretation and a sense that their misadventure is far from over.

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:47