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American Chai (2002)
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Reviews Counted:21
Fresh:11
Rotten:10
Average Rating:5.6/10
Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: An Indian-American college kid, Sureel (Aalok Mehta), is pressured by his parents to be a doctor, though he dreams of becoming a musician. He has obvious musical talent. He sings, composes, and... An Indian-American college kid, Sureel (Aalok Mehta), is pressured by his parents to be a doctor, though he dreams of becoming a musician. He has obvious musical talent. He sings, composes, and plays many instruments, but he hides his passion from his family because he's afraid they won't accept him. When his band kicks him out for always showing up late, and his girlfriend dumps him, Sureel has to reevaluate his priorities. He meets a beautiful Indian-American dancer, Maya (Sheetal Sheth), who's proud of her Indian heritage. Through her dance, she shows him that her dance style has a unique creative flair that fuses both Indian and American cultural dance traditions to wonderful and beautiful effect. As Sureel becomes more in touch with his identity and prepares to enter the adult world, he realizes that he must stand up for his interests and follow his dreams, no matter what the cost. Paresh Rawal, who plays Sureel's father, is a famous actor in the cinema of Bombay, India (known as Bollywood) and the scenes between him and Sureel are some of the best in the film. For his debut feature, Anurag Mehta directs his brother Aalok Mehta, who also wrote some of the music. [More]
Starring: Aalok Mehta, Sheetal Sheth, Aasif Mandvi, Josh Ackerman
Starring: Aalok Mehta, Sheetal Sheth, Aasif Mandvi, Josh Ackerman, Ajay Naidu, Paresh Rawal
Director: Anurag Mehta
Director: Anurag Mehta
Screenwriter: Anurag Mehta
Producer: Taylor MacCrae
Studio: Wildcard Releasing
Reviews for American Chai
This ethnic family sitcom thing is rapidly turning into wearisome cliche, and American Chai doesn't hold a candle to either Beckham or Greek Wedding.
The funniest, most unabashadly goofy indie film to come out in quite some time.
By now, I've seen far too many American indie movies with similar semi-autobiographical subjects.
[It's] difficult to get beyond the overall blandness of American Chai, despite its likable performances and refreshingly naive point of view.
Plays like a toddler running along a lumpy field, stumbling every few feet but always getting back up and eventually reaching his destination, unharmed and happy.
American Chai encourages rueful laughter at stereotypes only an Indian-American would recognize. And the lesson, in the end, is nothing new.
Due to some script weaknesses and the casting of the director's brother, the film trails off into inconsequentiality.
The picture uses humor and a heartfelt conviction to tell a story about discovering your destination in life, but also acknowledging the places, and the people, from whence you came.
It is too bad that this likable movie isn't more accomplished. The actors try hard but come off too amateurish and awkward.
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