American Chai

Infobox Film | name = American Chai


writer = Story:
Anurag Mehta
Screenplay:
Anurag Mehta
starring = Aalok Mehta
Sheetal Sheth
Paresh Rawal
Aasif Mandvi
director = Anurag Mehta
distributor = Dream Merchant Pictures
released = April 5, 2002 (USA)
runtime = 92 min.
language = English
imdb_id = 264355

"American Chai" is a 2002 film written and directed by Indian American director Anurag Mehta. His brother, Aalok Mehta, played the starring role opposite Sheetal Sheth, who had previously starred in the similar genre film ABCD. The film was also notable for a minor role played by Paresh Rawal, the legendary Bollywood actor.cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264355/|title=Internet Movie Database Info Page for 'American Chai|date=2001]

The film dealt with an Indian American student who wanted to pursue his love of music over the more 'typical' academic endeavors of Indian Americans (e.g., medicine, engineering, law, and business). [cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_34/b3948426.htm|title=Expert Roundtable 6: Chinese and Indian Youth|author=Manoj Singh|date=August 22, 2005]

The film won the Audience Award at the 2001 Slamdance Film Festival, with the New York Post describing it as a "slight but sweet film". [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/american_chai/|title=Rotten Tomatoes - American Chai Movie Review|date=2002] The movie was Mehta's directorial debut and his only film to date.

The Philadelphia-based hip-hop band Fathead also appears in the movie.

References