January 7, 2005
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Movie Review:
Summary
American Chai is a funny, heartfelt, coming-of-age story about SUREEL, a first generation Indian-American college boy who can’t tell his parents he wants to be a musician, not a doctor.
Growing up, Sureel just wanted to be like his American friends, but his strict, immigrant parents kept a tight rein on his life. No dating, no staying out late, no music, no R rate moves, no prime time TV, etc. The traditional Indian upbringing at home, coupled with the progressive American world around him, made for a life of duality and deception.
Now, in his senior year at college, Sureel’s deceptive ways have reached an all-time low. His parents think he’s graduating pre-med, but in reality he’s a music major, following his rock and roll dreams.
As the story unfolds, Sureel must discover who he really is and what he really wants. Does he pay the price for following his dreams? Does he reveal his scret life to his parents and risk their rejection? In AMERICAN CHAI, Sureel falls in love, faces the music, and discover his destiny.
My Opinion
Growing up in a very traditional family myself, I found so many aspects of the movie I could relate to. I’ve seen many of the people of my generation and culture become fine doctors & lawyers…..but is that all there is to life? Too many times we’ve let our parents dictate how our futures will turn out, what careers we end up choosing, and what kind of lives we live.
Are your parents trying to control you too?
Being happy doesn’t necessarilly mean driving that Mercedes, having that big office, or the title on that little piece of metal on your desk. Some of the happiest people I’ve met in my life are those who get to fully explore their talents. I have a friend who gets paid very little teaching html & piano to kids as a side jobs, yet he’s utterly content with his life.
Each of us is Vietnamese, Chinese, Hispanic, Black, White not because of where we were born but because the culture that arose around us & made us who we are today. We as a community need more scholars, musicians, & artists. The need to reconnect to our roots and at the same time integrate into our new rolls as Americans, is strong.
As long as we realize that there are other futures for us besides being another pharamcist I think we’lll do ok.
Watch the Trailer —-> Click Me
My Grade for the Movie - A
Comments (17)
What a thought provoking entry. You make me want to watch the movie. Naked.
I feel ‘pimp’
cool! now i know someone that seen it too! good film isn’t it. i like you even more now!
heheh you know i’ve always liked you. *hug* good choice in film. now you gotta see motorcycle diaries. beautiful film.
LAN!!!!!!
long time no see. guess waT? im not going to davis anymore…. =D cuz i left that retarded school. hahah…also my computer is finally fixed but it sometimes lags so iono. hopefully ill be getting a new computer real soon. =D yay!!! heh..anyways how ya been? good, i hope. i started school at Foothill. its like a small college near my house. so far its ok…met a few good ppl but im sure things will come around. anyways, u shud have my number. if not its 650 856 0373. thats my home line since i no longer have a cell cuz some DUDE STOLE IT wen i was at the mall in Sacramento. ahahha oh wellz, aww i need a new Phone too!!! =( yeah hit me up sometime! we’ll have a nice chat. hahah well anyways, umm..i have some studying to do cuz exams are comig up next week. so i shall talk to u later! bye hon. talk to u soon! and sTAy out of trouble. ahahah U know waat im talking about! ;D peace easy*
is Rashmi in it?
hey, sounds like a real good movie. yeah i feel the same way about my mom trying to make me a doctor, my dad a politician, my cousin a lawyer, when what i want to be is a teacher. a high school u.s history teacher. i developed this method, called the “fuck it” method, where anything they say tries to dissuade me into another path, i’ll be like, “fuck it” and step into another room.
works too, and sooner or later they’ll shut up! =D
Is Chitra in it?
i hear ya. my little sister is only 9 and alreayd thinks that she is gonna be a pharmacist.. cause that’s what my dad wants. hop[e she changes her mind before she gets to college. we will see. aitte, peace
im diggin’ your new layout…
This is random, and you don’t know me. But I saw that movie and I hated it. It was the biggest waste of time ever! The message of the movie was overplayed and the main character/director/producer/singer tried to do too much with it. This sounded like some whiny little kid complaining about how his parents won’t let him enter american culture. Anyway, no hard feelings.
i love indian movies..over the break i was addicted to watching them. of course it sucked that i had to read the subtitles, but i didn’t care..they were awesome! i’m sure this one is in english though, huh? i can’t wait to be able to watch it!
btw, love the haiku. haha.
lan, you make me all hot and bothered…esp w/ that haiku of yours…the next time i see you, i will give you the bestest ball tap you’ll ever gonna git.
Random props for a well written entry. I’ll have to keep an eye out for that movie.
i love chai. but the title instantly reminded me of ‘american adobo.’
I’m glad I was born into a considerably lenient household (at least i think so). Thank God my parents came to America at an early age.
hey its jojo. nice recommendation, i’ll have to check it out!
Fantastic post! You made some really valid points, too. Thanks so much for the kind words of empathy that you posted on my site. Take care!
Robin
haha darrell..ur dumb…am in the movie? yaahhh riight.. and lan ur a whore! haha..stop dissin my baby picture, haha
cooooomeeeeeee viiiiiiissssssiiiiiiit sooooooooooooooooon..i need to give you ur xmas gift still! haha