America America (1995 film)

America! America!!
Directed by	Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar
Produced by	G. Nandakumar
Written by	Nagathihalli Chandrashekar
Starring	Ramesh Aravind Akshay Anand Hema
Music by	Mano Murthy
Cinematography	Sunny Joseph
Edited by	Basavaraj Urs
Release dates	1996
Running time	153 minutes
Language	Kannada

America! America!! is a 1996 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar starring Ramesh Aravind, Akshay Anand and Hema in lead roles. Ninety percent of shooting was done in the US and remaining in coastal of Kundapura, Udupi District and Chikmagalur District of Karnataka in India.^[1] The movie won National Award for Best film in Regional category and also a box office success. It is the debut movie of music director Mano Murthy.

Story

The movie is about three friends: Soorya (Ramesh Aravind), Shashank (Akshay Anand) and Bhoomi (Hema Panchamukhi). After finishing their undergraduate studies, Shashank goes to the US for further studies. Soorya is extremely patriotic about India and doesn't want to go anywhere and starts his business in his hometown, and Bhoomi stays at home. After three years, Shashank comes back to India. He starts going off on India on his way from the airport, saying how much greater America is. While in India, his family arranges his marriage to Bhoomi. Soorya, on the other hand, is the one who truly loves Bhoomi and tries to tell her using recorded audio tape and plants it in Bhoomi's room having no idea that she is to be married to Shashank.

That evening Soorya learns of the marriage plans. Confused, he rushes to Bhoomi's house to take the tape back. Before he could get there, someone who was cleaning Bhoomi's room accidentally replaces it with another cassette. Soorya, thus unknowingly, grabs wrong tape and throws it into a nearby river.

After the marriage ceremony, Shashank and Bhoomi leave for the US.

Everything goes well till Shashank loses his job and starts to drink. Soorya, in the meantime, surprises Bhoomi and Shashank and goes to the US for business, but egotistical Shashank does not come to pick him up at the airport. Soorya ends up taking a cab to Shashank's house. Bhoomi and Shashank drive Soorya to a lot of places around. After a few days, Bhoomi and Shashank realize that Soorya has come to the US on a business visit and has a very good business running back in India. Bhoomi feels very happy with Soorya's achievement. On Bhoomi's and Shashank's anniversary, Soorya throws them a surprise and gifts them a rabbit. Next day, they all go to a party hosted by Indians in the US. In the party, a man foul mouths India. Soorya hits him, angering Shashank. Shashank leaves Soorya behind at the party, forcing him to walk all the way back home.

On the way back, Bhoomi plays a tape in car, the same tape Soorya had recorded in India, conveying his love for her. It had come with Bhoomi's bag from India. Shashank asks Soorya to get out of their house and blames India and Indian culture. After Soorya leaves their house, he starts suspecting Bhoomi.

One day, Bhoomi searches for her rabbit (Minchu), but cannot find her, and Shashank tells her he already ate it, later he tells bhoomi that he donated the rabbit to a humane society , as it reminded him of soorya. They both start arguing, then Bhoomi starts living separately from Shashank. Shanshank finds a new job and later learns that Soorya has helped him get that job. Alone, Shashank realizes his mistake and feels guilty. He calls Soorya and apologizes. Soorya forgives him and learns that Bhoomi has separated from him. He tells Shashank not to take any steps until he returns to US, and Soorya leaves for US.

From San Francisco Airport, Soorya calls Shashank, who is drunk. This time around, Shashank promises to pick him up from the airport. On the way he meets with horrific accident and Soorya is informed by airport authorities and he rushes to the hospital. Meanwhile, Bhoomi also get the news about Shashank and she too rushes to hospital. In hospital they meet Shashank and he apologizes to them and tells that he is going to die. Doctor takes him to ICU and he passes away.

Soorya manages all legal formalities around Shashank's funeral, making Bhoomi feel proud of him. Soorya asks Bhoomi to return to India but she declines. By mistake he tells that he loves her, but Bhoomi tells him she cannot love or marry him, because he is her best friend and she would like him to remain so for her lifetime. Soorya insists she come back to India and gives her a return ticket telling her that he would wait for her in the airport. Finally Bhoomi relents and joins him in the plane. However she tells him that she will not marry him and suggests that they be friends forever.

Cast

• Ramesh Aravind as Surya
• Akshay Anand as Shashank
• Hema Panchamukhi as Bhoomi
• H. G. Dattatreya
• Vaishali Kasaravalli
• C. R. Simha
• Nagathihalli Chandrashekar in a guest appearance
• sowmaya in a guest appearance

Music

The music was composed by Mano Murthy while lyrics were written by Nagathihalli. However, the song "Yava Mohna Murali Kareyitho..." is written by Gopalkrishna Adiga, a famous Kannada poet.

Tracklist

Box office

The movie ran for 365 days in many centers of Karnataka and it was the first Kannada movie to be released in United States. The movie was dubbed to Telugu and was released in Andhra Pradesh.

Awards

• Karnataka State Award Best Actor Ramesh Aravind
• Screen Videocon Award Best Actor
• Best film of the year in Karnataka State film awards
• National Film Award for best regional film^[2]

See also

• Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar
• Mano Murthy

References

External links

• America America at the Internet Movie Database