Hyderabad Blues

{{Infobox film

| name = Hyderabad Blues

| image = Hyderabad_Blues.jpg

| director = Nagesh Kukunoor

| writer = Nagesh Kukunoor

| starring = Nagesh Kukunoor
Rajashree
Elahe Hiptoola
Anoop Ratnaker Rao

| producer = Nagesh Kukunoor

| music = Bunty

| cinematography = C. Ramprasad

| editing = K. Ramesh

| distributor = Kukunoor Movies

| released = {{Film date|1998|07|17|df=yes}}

| runtime = 85 minutes

| country = India

| language = English

| budget = {{INR}}12 lakh{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/bollywood-features/nagesh-kukunoor-on-making-hyderabad-blues-with-rs-12-lakhs-and-untrained-actors/|title=Nagesh Kukunoor On Making Hyderabad Blues With Rs 12 Lakhs And Untrained Actors|first=Team|last=FC|date=16 July 2018}}

}}

Hyderabad Blues is a 1998 Indian drama film written, directed, and produced by Nagesh Kukunoor.{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/886474/its-going-to-be-a-total-failure-how-nagesh-kukunoor-proved-everyone-wrong-with-hyderabad-blues|title='It's going to be a total failure': How Nagesh Kukunoor proved everyone wrong with 'Hyderabad Blues'|first=Nandini|last=Ramnath|website=Scroll.in|date=14 July 2018 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b81243992|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723172530/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b81243992|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 July 2018|title=HYDERABAD BLUES (1998)|website=BFI}} Primarily shot in the English language, the film explores culture clash from an Indian American's perspective, vacationing back home in Hyderabad, India and finding himself a foreigner in his own land.

The film starred non-mainstream actors, including Kukunoor in his directorial and acting debut, as well as his family members and friends.{{cite news|author=IANS |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/20-years-on-hyderabad-blues-prequel-on-nagesh-kukunoor-s-mind-118071300410_1.html |title=20 years on, 'Hyderabad Blues' prequel on Nagesh Kukunoor's mind | Business Standard News |newspaper=Business Standard India |publisher=Business-standard.com |date= 13 July 2018|access-date=2019-11-29}} The film heralded new age Indian independent cinema.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiememe.org/dhanak|title=Dhanak | An Indie Meme Presentation|website=indiememe}}

Hyderabad Blues was premiered at the Eros International Mini Theatre, Mumbai; the Denver Film Festival, the "View From Abroad" section of the First MAMI Film Festival; as well as the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai.{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/bollywood-features/nagesh-kukunoor-on-making-hyderabad-blues-with-rs-12-lakhs-and-untrained-actors/|title=Nagesh Kukunoor On Making Hyderabad Blues With Rs 12 Lakhs And Untrained Actors|first=Team|last=FC|date=16 July 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/Z91zkiRWa8PEs5OOZfkr1N/When-movies-lose-money-I-dont-lose-any-sleep-over-it-Nage.html|title=When movies lose money, I don't lose any sleep over it: Nagesh Kukunoor|first=Sudhish|last=Kamath|date=14 July 2018|website=livemint}} It was premiered as a three part television series in Doordarshan.

Hyderabad Blues garnered the "Audience Award for best film" at the Peachtree International Film Festival in Atlanta, as well as the Rhode Island International Film Festival. In 2018, Hyderabad Blues, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special screening in Mumbai by "Drishyam Films" where it was featured in the "Indie Film Masters" edition. Hyderabad Blues was followed up by its direct sequel Hyderabad Blues 2 which was released in 2004.{{cite news |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july042004/mr2.asp |title=Hyderabad Blues 2 |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=4 July 2004 |access-date=5 Dec 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203900/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/july042004/mr2.asp |url-status=dead }}

Plot

The protagonist of Hyderabad Blues is Varun, played by the director, Nagesh Kukunoor. The movie revolves around his visit to his homeland after 12 years in the USA and his resulting culture shock. The movie is a romantic comedy, following Varun's attempts to romance an Indian doctor and balance the local customs of arranged marriage with the Western tradition of dating. The dialogue is primarily in English and Telugu, with some Hindi spoken as well.

Cast

Nagesh Kukunoor as Varun Naidu
Rajashree as Ashwini Rao
Elahe Hiptoola as Seema Rao
Vikram Inamdar as Sanjeev Rao
Anoop Ratnaker Rao as Harish Chandani
D V Ramana as Darshan Naidu
Revathi Alwar as Kusuma Naidu
Anne Chengappa as Shashi Naidu
Zain-Ul-Wara Zaheer as Sandhya
Vidhya Uthappa as Woman riding scooter

Production

In producing the movie, Nagesh Kukunoor invested the money he made from his engineering career in the United States. It was made on a shoe-string budget of Rs. 1.7 million (roughly equivalent to U.S. $ 40,000) and shot in 17 days entirely in Hyderabad, India.

Release

The film performed well commercially.{{cite web |url=http://tmcafe.com/interview/naser/nasser_interview.htm |title=Tamil Movie Cafe (Tmcafe.com) -Interview with Actor Naser |website=tmcafe.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010702185543/http://tmcafe.com/interview/naser/nasser_interview.htm |archive-date=2 July 2001 |url-status=dead}}