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American Chai

Play trailer American Chai R Released Apr 5, 2002 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
College senior Sureel (Aalok Mehta) has always deceived his strict Indian parents in order to fit into American society. When his father (Paresh Rawal) finds out he is studying music and playing in a band rather than getting his pre-med degree, he is furious. After getting kicked out of the band, Sureel breaks up with his white girlfriend and starts dating Maya (Sheetal Sheth), another Indian-American -- but both are alarmed when his parents instantly start planning their wedding.

Critics Reviews

View All (21) Critics Reviews
Desson Thomson Washington Post 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. Nov 14, 2003 Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune By now, I've seen far too many American indie movies with similar semi-autobiographical subjects. Rated: 2/4 Jul 20, 2002 Full Review John Monaghan Detroit Free Press [It's] difficult to get beyond the overall blandness of American Chai, despite its likable performances and refreshingly naive point of view. Rated: 2/4 Jun 7, 2002 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 4/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Merle Bertrand Film Threat The funniest, most unabashadly goofy indie film to come out in quite some time. Rated: 4/5 Dec 8, 2002 Full Review Mark Olsen L.A. Weekly Chai's structure and pacing are disconcertingly slack. Oct 7, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (12) audience reviews
Audience Member An excellent movie about the struggles of Indian kid growing up with interest outside of the culture's norm...This movie has some great memorable moments, like the cut to song/dance routines, hilarious "rational" explanations by Aasif Mandvi, and that gangster Raju...Definitely worth watching by everyone... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Cool, captures tension and hybridity of being second generation in US Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Cute, but pretty predictable story of children of immigrants struggling with their parents' expectations. The main character is really a talented singer/songwriter though. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Proof that it does not matter where you come from, your parents still have a set of plans for you that are ot exactly what you want Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member I thought this movie was AMAZING - it truly describes many of the ABCD/IBCD struggles with parents and with society Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member the first NRI film i ever watched. i think the genre is now passe , but i loved this movie! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
American Chai

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Movie Info

Synopsis College senior Sureel (Aalok Mehta) has always deceived his strict Indian parents in order to fit into American society. When his father (Paresh Rawal) finds out he is studying music and playing in a band rather than getting his pre-med degree, he is furious. After getting kicked out of the band, Sureel breaks up with his white girlfriend and starts dating Maya (Sheetal Sheth), another Indian-American -- but both are alarmed when his parents instantly start planning their wedding.
Director
Anurag Mehta
Producer
Taylor MacCrae
Screenwriter
Anurag Mehta
Production Co
Dream Merchants Pictures
Rating
R (Some Sexual Dialogue)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2002, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$126.0K
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Mono