Customer Reviews

American Chai

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a charming film in which cultural values clash within a family. Sureel is a young Indian-American senior in college, majoring in music. The only problem is that his very traditional parents, who are immigrants from India, believe that he is actually enrolled in a pre-med course of study, as they have decided that Sureel is to become a doctor. Sureel, a budding musician who is fearful of disappointing his parents, does not share their passion for such a career.

Unbeknownst to his parents, Sureel also plays guitar for a rock band, an outlet of which his parents are unaware, as Sureel keeps them blissfully ignorant. He maintains his deception through a series of maneuvers aimed at keeping his parents in the dark about his interests, which are decidedly not related to the medical field. Unfortunately, his efforts at leading a double life cause him to miss or be late for too many practice sessions with his band, and the band unceremoniously gives him the boot on the cusp of their hitting the big time. To his dismay, Sureel also loses his American girlfriend, as she was nothing more than a groupie.

Through his Indian-American friend, known as Engineering Sam, Sureel meets a beautiful Indian-American girl named Maya, who is also musically inclined, as she is interested in the art of traditional Indian dancing. When his parents discover his love interest, they are overjoyed and move to arrange his marriage to Maya in the traditional way, much to Sureel's consternation. Through his relationship with Maya, however, his own appreciation of Indian culture rises, and he finds himself melding Indian with American influences in his music, switching from guitar to sitar. Sureel ends up creating an interesting cultural blend of music, infusing American rock with traditional Indian inspired strains.

This film, with its excellent cast and storyline, charms the viewer as it alternates between American and Indian cultures and values, between the younger generation and the older, and between the traditional and the non-traditional. Somehow, the film ends up reconciling all these divergent interests. Those who enjoy Bollywood style films or films with Anglo-Indian themes will enjoy this charming film.

I loved this film, which would be of interest to anyone who ever came of age, regardless of ethnic background. Sureel, an Indian-American (Desi) college student with very strict parents who only want him to study medicine or pharmacy is living a double life at college, playing in a rock band and dating a white girl although the relationship is stalled because he won't introduce her to his parents. At an Indian cultural conference he meets a young Desi woman who is trying to synthesize an authentic Indian/American modern dance style. Sureel must come to terms with not rejecting everything good his parents stand for (desipte his father's active opposition)while finding his authentic path.

This movie is up there with the Debut. Great indie movie dealing with coming of age and finding your Asian American identity. It's a cute, feel-good date movie. Loved the actors. Never seen them before, but will be looking out for them. This is one of a handful of Asian American movies which mark its maturity from the early days of movies like American Adobo.

Folks who are looking for a gentle introduction to Bollywood might want to rent American Chai (2002) this weekend--an Indian-American version of Bend it Like Beckham or My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Sureel is a college senior (apparently at Rutgers) and son of Indian immigrants (a desi). While he's led his strict Father to believe that he's a monastic pre-med grind just waiting for an arranged marriage, Sureel is instead a music major, playing guitar in a rock band (the Fatheads), and dating an American girl. When his deceptions cause him to be late for one too many Fathead functions he gets the heave-ho and it turns out that his girlfriend was just a groupie, so she ditches him also.

With the help of his American roommate--who's dating a desi girl--and several desi friends--especially the very funny Engineering Sam--he takes this as an opportunity to explore new music that blends traditional Indian influences with American rock, and to check out the desi subculture on campus. There he meets and falls in love with Maya, who his overjoyed parents promptly inform him they're arranging to have him marry.

The rest of the plot is fairly predictable but the glimpse into this immigrant world is eye-opening. Engineering Sam has a couple of soliloquies that provide hilarious explanations of Indian culture and the tensions it creates for the younger generation. Though the older generation is distrustful of the effects of American culture on their children, everyone is openly and unabashedly appreciative of the unique opportunities that their new home has offered them. We get to see ourselves through their eyes and if it's occasionally a little uncomfortable-making, it ends up being quite heartening. Their struggles remind us that we too have to seek to conserve what is best about our culture even as we afford ourselves freedom to innovate and develop. The film will appall far Left and far Right as it leaves you feeling good both about immigrants and America. Everyone else will enjoy it immensely.

American Chai is a quaint romantic comedy that incorporates the issues faced by Indian families raising American children. It is a call for cultural amalgamation through the wide-reaching medium of the arts. Sureel is an Indian-American college student in NJ who is secretly majoring in music. He tells his parents that he is pre-med because his parents prefer him to pursue a solid profession like medicine, engineering, or economics. The obvious theme emerges of following ones heart and encouraging others to do so too. The acting is not amazing, but the music and the story make up for that shortcoming. Especially enjoyable are the little Bollywood-reference scenes. Definitely worth viewing.

AMERICAN CHAI is one of those sweet, little films made on a shoe string budget and which typically co-stars the filmmaker's families and friends. To go by the sheer volume of personal shout-outs given in the film commentary by Director Anurag Metha and leads Aalok Mehta and Sheetal Sheth, you'd think professional actor Josh Ackerman was the only one that actually got paid. The friends and families, of course, are guilted into doing it and then rewarded by being invited to the post filming cookout. Or it seems that way, anyway. It sometimes pays off, though, having your pals and parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on the set and rooting you on. This independent film exudes an air of wide eyed exuberance and off-the-cuff charm. I liked it very much.

Sureel (Aalok Mehta) was born and raised in New Jersey, in the U.S. of A. He is of Indian origin, his stern and traditional father (Paresh Rawal) having come here to seek a better life. Like others of ethnic-American background, Sureel has had to struggle to fit in. He's had to balance the traditions and restrictions of his native culture against the contemporary American ways and the inherent liberties which go with residing in America. From when he was very young, his religion and ethnicity have prompted questions from his peers ("I'm an Indian." "What tribe are you from?").

His father wants him in the medical field, although Sureel's passion strictly lies in music. Sureel goes off to college and opts to be a music major. However, his parents still believe he's studying to be a doctor. So, for years now, Sureel's gotten away with deceiving his parents. He's in a band, writing his own songs, partying, and even dating a white girl. But then he meets Maya, a beautiful Indian girl...

This was a lot of fun, watching AMERICAN CHAI. It's similar to BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, if not as good as. The cast and crew, mostly Indian, have obviously pooled their past experiences and put them in the film. This film is replete with what you'd expect: generation gap run-ins between the traditional parent and the rebellious offspring and, of course, the cultural and lifestyle clashes. There's even a heartbreaking subplot involving a Caucasian guy going out with an Indian girl. The stereotypes are certainly rolled out with tongue-in-cheek zeal. But AMERICAN CHAI, more than anything else, is a warm coming of age story, and heightened by a sweet romance between Sureel and Maya. Additionally, this film made me laugh with its spoofing of Bollywood musical numbers and its explanation of "the turnaway."

The actors are enthusiastic and pretty good. Aalok Mehta is the director's brother, but any thoughts of nepotism are discarded once you realize how ideal for the part Aalok is. Not to mention, the dude plays his own guitar and sitar and actually sings (the cool "Breathe" and "In Between Blue"). And not too shabbily, either. Sheetal Sheth, who plays the winsome Maya, is camera friendly and is very engaging, although I didn't care too much for her dance performance (sorry, but I've seen Aishwarya Rai). I wouldn't describe the synergy between Aalok and Sheetal as "sizzling heat"; it's more of an amicable relationship, fueled by genuine mutual respect, which then could potentially lead to something long lasting. Paresh Rawal deserves credit for jumping into the role of Sureel's dad cold, without much rehearsing, and then nailing it. The other standout is the hilarious Aasif Mandvi, who plays the coarse and misogynistic Engineering Sam. Sam provides some of the biggest laughs on screen and spouts my favorite line in the movie: "The country that brought you the Kama Sutra now brings you no kissing in their movies." If you've seen Bollywood cinema before, then you know what he's talking about.

The special features are notable for the droll film commentary done by Director Anurag Mehta and actors Aalok Mehta and Sheetal Sheth. It's definitely worth listening to them breezily chit chat and have fun with each other. There are even amusing insights into growing up Indian in America. There's also Aakol's music video "Breath" and the theatrical trailer.

Of course, there's a band competition to close things off. Does Sureel win? Or will it be his former band Fathead (a real band, by the way, although since broken up). Will his father come around? Will Sureel follow his dream or bow to tradition? Hell, does he even get the girl in the end? Finding out could be one of the more fun hour and a half you'll have.

This was a wonderfully funny, dramatic take on Indian Americans, also known as DESI's (see ABCD Sheetal Shal). It has great music, and actual plot, which was actually more entertaining, and thought provoking than I originally thought it would be. Introduced me to Aalok Mehta (great musician.. so-so learning developing actor) and FatHead (yeah that is a real band). Thoroughly enjoyable great date movie.
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Most def not to cheesy.

The seller made it very clear that this was a used video in good condition. The video showed up on time and in great condition. I appreciate honesty and quick delivery. Thank You!

I had added "Ball and Chain" ( PG) and "Dude, Where"s the Party? (PG) "to my collection some months back. Both featured the actor Kal Penn of Harold & Kummar . . . The recomendation off Amazon looked ok for "American Chai "(R) so I purchased it. Other than some R rated language it is about like a TV movie . After watching it I am glad 1.)I bought it used and 2.) cheap. It may have won an Audience Award at the Slamdance Film Festival but it is inferior to either of the two movies listed above. I would advise you to purchase either one before you watch this one. Rent it maybe but to me its not worth having in my collection.

Very entertaining coming of age movie that really captures the experience of the first generation Indian American... we loved it!