By Subhash K Jha

Mumbai, March 15 (IANS) You may think that the hardcore desi small-town ambience of this season's surprise hit "Tanu Weds Manu" is unlikely to go down well with foreign audiences. But hang on. Now there will be a dubbed German version of the romantic comedy.

A delegation from Germany landed in Mumbai last week with the express purpose of seeing the new festive hit of Bollywood. So bowled over were the Germans by the unabashed celebration of colour and gaiety in "Tanu Weds Manu" that now a German version of the film is being prepared.

"It was a group of students of Comparative Cinema from the University of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany. My colleague fellow-filmmaker Hansal Mehta sent these students to me. I was surprised that they wanted to see 'Tanu Weds Manu', and even more surprised at the way they responded to the film," said director Aanand Rai.

The film stars R. Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut as two people who are poles apart but still they fall in love.

Apparently the German students were keenly curious about the most minute nuances in the film.

"They asked questions about the wedding proceedings that even I had never asked myself. It was just so reassuring to know that my film about small town culture connected so deeply with them," said Rai.

The German delegation has returned home and has immediately initiated plans to release "Tanu Weds Manu" in a dubbed German version.

"'Tanu Weds Manu' is making inroads in places where Bollywood cinema is not a priority. I suppose my honesty of purpose showed up on screen," said the excited director.