{{Short description|2017 film directed by Venu Sriram}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = Middle Class Abbayi | image = Middle Class Abbayi poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Venu Sriram | producer = Dil Raju | writer = Venu Sriram | starring = Nani<br />Sai Pallavi<br />Bhumika Chawla<br />Vijay Varma | music = Devi Sri Prasad | cinematography = Sameer Reddy | editing = Prawin Pudi | distributor = Sri Venkateswara Creations | studio = Sri Venkateswara Creations | released = {{Film date|df=y|2017|12|21}} | country = India | runtime = 144 mins. | language = Telugu | budget = {{INR}}25 crore<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/box-office/mca-box-office-collections-day-12-nani-sai-pallavi-and-bhumika-starrer-rakes-in-rs-60-cr-gross-worldwide/articleshow/62383068.cms | title='MCA' Box Office Collections Day 12: Nani, Sai Pallavi and Bhumika starrer rakes in Rs 60 Cr gross worldwide | website=The Times of India | last1=Nyayapati | first1=Neeshita }}</ref> | gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR}}70 crore<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/mca-movie-total-box-office-collection-middle-class-abbayi-turns-another-super-hit-nani-dil-raju-2017-758930|work=International Business Times|title=MCA movie total box office collection:Middle Class Abbayi turns another hit for Nani, Dil Raju in 2017|author=Shekhar H Hooli|date=31 January 2018|accessdate=2018-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-25 |title=MCA box office: Nani-Sai Pallavi film earns over Rs 10 crore |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/mca-box-office-nani-sai-pallavi-film-collects-earns-over-rs-35-crore4998358/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> }}
'''''Middle Class Abbayi''''' ({{translation|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, Sai Pallavi, Bhumika Chawla and Vijay Varma in the lead roles.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Scroll Staff |title=Watch: Nani is a middle class hero who no one (except his family) can mess with in 'MCA' trailer |url=https://scroll.in/reel/861225/watch-nani-is-a-middle-class-hero-who-no-one-except-his-family-can-mess-with-in-mca-trailer |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pic.twitter.com/AWUaf4m8VV|title=#MCA #Nani20 Shooting in progress |last=Nani|publisher=|accessdate=10 October 2017}}</ref> Devi Sri Prasad composed the soundtrack and score, while Sameer Reddy and Prawin Pudi handled the cinematography and editing.
''Middle Class Abbayi'' was released theatrically on 21 December 2017 and received mixed reviews from critics, but became a commercial success.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adivi |first=Sashidhar |date=2017-12-26 |title=Nani, Sai Pallavi starrer MCA takes a great opening at the box office |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/261217/nani-sitting-pretty.html |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Back to |url=http://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/mca-vs-hello-nani-and-akhil-akkinenis-films-all-set-to-clash-at-telugu-box-office-this-week-4269149.html |title=MCA vs Hello: Nani and Akhil Akkineni's films all set to clash at Telugu box office this week |publisher=Firstpost.com |date= 21 December 2017|accessdate=2018-01-30}}</ref> It was remade in Hindi as ''Nikamma'' (2022).
== Plot == Nani, 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 one of the bus, which she seized earlier. Nani asks 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 == {{colbegin}} * Nani as Nani * Sai Pallavi as Pallavi "Chinni", Jyothi's sister * Bhumika Chawla as Jyothi, Nani's sister-in-law * Vijay Varma as Shiva Shakti alias "Warangal" Shiva * 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 * Rupa Lakshmi {{colend}}
== Music == The music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad and was distributed by Aditya Music.
{{Infobox album | name = Middle Class Abbayi | type = Soundtrack | artist = Devi Sri Prasad | cover = | alt = | released = 11 December 2017 | recorded = 2017 | venue = | studio = | genre = Soundtrack | length = 19:14 | label = Aditya Music | producer = Devi Sri Prasad | prev_title = Vunnadhi Okate Zindagi | prev_year = 2017 | next_title = Rangasthalam | next_year = 2018 }}
{{track listing | all_writing = | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = MCA Title Song | length1 = 3:41 | lyrics1 = Chandrabose | extra1 = Nakash Aziz | title2 = Kothaga | length2 = 4:38 | lyrics2 = Sri Mani | extra2 = Sagar, Priya Hemesh | title3 = Yemaindho Teliyadu Naaku | length3 = 4:10 | lyrics3 = Sri Mani | extra3 = Karthik, Deepika V | title4 = Family Party | length4 = 4:01 | lyrics4 = Sri Mani | extra4 = Jaspreet Jasz | title5 = Yevandoi Nani Garu | length5 = 4:30 | lyrics5 = Balaji | extra5 = Divya Kumar, Sravana Bhargavi | total_length = 19:14 }}
==Release== The film was released on 21 December 2017. ''The Times of India'' reported that the film was released in over 900 screens.<ref>{{Cite news |title='MCA' Box Office Collections Day 12: Nani, Sai Pallavi and Bhumika starrer rakes in Rs 60 Cr gross worldwide |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/box-office/mca-box-office-collections-day-12-nani-sai-pallavi-and-bhumika-starrer-rakes-in-rs-60-cr-gross-worldwide/articleshow/62383068.cms |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=The Times of India |language=en|last1=Nyayapati |first1=Neeshita }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-21 |title=Middle Class Abbayi Box Office Collections From US Premieres Phenomenal |url=https://english.sakshi.com/middle-class-abbayi-box-office-collections-from-us-premieres-phenomenal |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Sakshi Post |language=en}}</ref>
The film was also dubbed and released in Tamil as ''Middle Class Aambala''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCA came to Tamil as Middle Class Aambala |url=http://www.indiaherald.com/Movies/Read/291950/-MCA-came-to-Tamil-as-Middle-Class-Aambala- |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=indiaherald.com |language=en}}</ref> It was also dubbed in Kannada as ''Middle Class Huduga''.
== Reception == === Box office === On its opening day, the film collected a total gross of ₹28 crore worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-23 |title=Nani's MCA takes exceptional opening, mints over Rs 15 crore on first day |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/nani-s-mca-takes-exceptional-opening-mints-over-rs-15-crore-on-first-day/story-tPiV987rM45ivcVME7p4BI.html |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> As of 8 January 2018, the film grossed US$1.07 million (₹6.85 crore) at the United States box office.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-09 |title=Middle Class Abbayi Total US Box office collections |url=https://english.sakshi.com/middle-class-abbayi-total-us-box-office-collections |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Sakshi Post |language=en}}</ref> By the end of its theatrical run, ''Middle Class Abbayi'' grossed ₹150 crore worldwide, with the distributors' share of ₹40 crore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hooli |first=Shekhar H. |date=2018-01-31 |title=MCA movie total box office collection: Middle Class Abbayi turns another hit for Nani, Dil Raju in 2017 |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/mca-movie-total-box-office-collection-middle-class-abbayi-turns-another-hit-nani-dil-raju-2017-758930 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.ibtimes.co.in |language=en}}</ref>
=== Critical response === {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=60|count=5|average=5|ref=yes}}
Hemanth 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-21 |title=MCA movie review: Nani, Bhumika, Sai Pallavi breathe life into an unimaginative film |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/mca-movie-review-nani-bhumika-sai-pallavi-breathe-life-into-an-unimaginative-film-4269501.html |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref> ''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".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Middle Class Abbayi review: Sai Pallavi-Nani chemistry is the highlight |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/middle-class-abbayi-review-sai-pallavi-nani-chemistry-is-the-highlight-review-telugu-rmvpc5eadgabf.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222000335/http://www.sify.com/movies/middle-class-abbayi-review-sai-pallavi-nani-chemistry-is-the-highlight-review-telugu-rmvpc5eadgabf.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 December 2017 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Sify |language=en}}</ref>
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".<ref>{{Citation |title=Middle Class Abbayi Review {2.5/5}: MCA is good enough for a one-time watch, especially if you're a Nani fan |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/mca/movie-review/62191764.cms |access-date=2022-05-18}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-23 |title=MCA movie review: Nani-Sai Pallavi's chemistry salvages Middle Class Abbayi |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/mca-middle-class-abbayi-movie-review-nani-sai-pallavi-film-star-rating-4992339/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
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".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-21 |title='Middle Class Abbayi' Review: This action drama is a squandered opportunity |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/middle-class-abbayi-review-action-drama-squandered-opportunity-73518 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of ''The Hindu'' wrote "Three versatile performers are the saving grace in this partly entertaining and partly middling film".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=2017-12-21 |title=Middle Class Abbayi review: For want of the zing factor |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/middle-class-abbayi-review-for-want-of-the-zing-factor/article22122973.ece |access-date=2022-05-18 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
== Remake == The 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.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 May 2022 |title=REVEALED: Abhimanyu Dassani's character in Nikamma has an Ajay Devgn connection |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/revealed-abhimanyu-dassanis-character-nikamma-ajay-devgn-connection/ |access-date=16 May 2022 |work=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=31 March 2022 |title=Abhimanyu Dassani, Shirley Setia and Shilpa Shetty starrer Nikamma to release on June 17, 2022 |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/abhimanyu-dassani-shirley-setia-shilpa-shetty-starrer-nikamma-release-june-17-2022/ |access-date=31 March 2022 |work=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=All you need to know about 'Nikamma' debutant Shirley Setia |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-nikamma-debutant-shirley-setia/articleshow/70750364.cms |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|2}}
== External links == *{{IMDb title|7516778}}
Category:2017 films Category:2017 Telugu-language films Category:2017 Indian films Category:Films shot in Warangal Category:Films set in Telangana Category:2017 action comedy films Category:Indian action comedy films Category:Midlife crisis films Category:Indian family films Category:2017 masala films Category:2017 comedy films Category:Sri Venkateswara Creations films Category:Films scored by Devi Sri Prasad Category:Telugu films remade in other languages Category:Films about memory Category:Films set in Warangal