https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=American_ChaiAmerican Chai - Revision history2026-07-29T21:56:24ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=American_Chai&diff=465819&oldid=prevEmanuelNathan at 00:01, 19 February 20262026-02-19T00:01:57Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|2001 film by Anurag Mehta}}<br />
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}<br />
{{more citations needed|date=April 2019}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}<br />
{{Infobox film<br />
| name = American Chai<br />
| image = File:American_Chai_2001_Movie_Poster.jpg<br />
| writer = Anurag Mehta<br />
| screenplay = Anurag Mehta<br />
| starring = Aalok Mehta<br>[[Aasif Mandvi]]<br>[[Paresh Rawal]]<br>[[Sheetal Sheth]]<br />
| director = Anurag Mehta<br />
| distributor = Dream Merchant Pictures Fusion Films<br />
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2001|01|25|Slamdance Film Festival|2002|04|05}}<br />
| runtime = 92 minutes<br />
| country = United States<br />
| language = English<br />
}}<br />
'''''American Chai''''' is a 2001 [[comedy-drama]] 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 also had a minor role played by [[Paresh Rawal]].<br />
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The film deals with an [[Indian American]] student who wants to pursue his love of music over the more "typical" academic endeavors of Indian Americans (e.g., medicine, engineering, and law).<br />
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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".<br />
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==Premise==<br />
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Sureel is a first generation Indian American college graduating senior music major whose controlling father still believes that he is pre-med. His desires in life conflict with both his family's traditional values, and the usual Indian way of assimilating into the United States by becoming a doctor or engineer. As graduation approaches, he has an opportunity to be nationally recognized for his music which will simplify telling his father the truth.<br />
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==Cast==<br />
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*Aalok Mehta – Sureel<br />
*[[Sheetal Sheth]] – Maya<br />
*[[Aasif Mandvi]] – Engineering Sam<br />
*Josh Ackrman – Toby<br />
*[[Ajay Naidu]] – Hari<br />
*[[Paresh Rawal]] - Sureel's Dad<br />
*Bharti Desai - Sureel's Mom<br />
*[[Akshay Oberoi]] – Neel<br />
*Rajiv Reddy – Young Sureel<br />
*Jamie Hurley - Jen<br />
*Reena Shah – Sejal<br />
*Anand Chulani – Raju<br />
*Jill Anderson – Lisa<br />
*Kyle Koehl – Young Boy<br />
*Marlee Kattler – Young Girl<br />
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The [[Philadelphia]]-based hip-hop band [[Fathead (band)|Fathead]] also appears in the film.<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
{{wikiquote}}<br />
* {{IMDb title|264355|American Chai}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:2001 American films]]<br />
[[Category:2001 English-language films]]<br />
[[Category:2001 comedy-drama films]]<br />
[[Category:2001 directorial debut films]]<br />
[[Category:2001 films]]<br />
[[Category:Comedy-drama films about Asian Americans]]<br />
[[Category:English-language comedy-drama films]]<br />
[[Category:Films about Indian Americans]]<br />
[[Category:Films by Desi directors]]<br />
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