American Chai

I loved watching this film because, being Indian, i felt that i could really relate to it. It was amazing to see how the main character interacted with his parents, because it was the same way that i did with my own.

Also, i thought that the quality of the acting was brilliant. The actors portrayed their characters effectively, really giving a true idea of Indian teens in college and the challenges that they face when it comes to the divide between the modern day mix of cultures and tradition.

As an Indian, I found this movie almost rather disappointing in the fact that nothing in it was interesting besides some of the side humor. Though well acted and written, it seemed to be following the standard Indian movie where son wants to do something his father and family has forbidden. Son questions himself, challenges his family, and struggles with love. Eventually, he finds his dream as well as acceptance from his family.

These are okay stories, but they grow rather predictable. When will Indians movie talk about other such problems then the usual family issues, or forbidden love? Bend It Like Beckham came close and while it was a good movie, it also still was the typical Indian movie.

I would recommend American Chai, though I am still waiting for an Indian movie that will be something instead of the usual.

This movie was not that bad. However, from the trailors I was expecting more of a comedy like American Desi. American Desi still easily dominates this newly founded genre of Indian-American movies. Paresh Rawal's comedy is of course brilliant. Most of the movie focuses on the lead's relationship as oppose to second generation Indian life in America.

I thought this was a sweet, endearing portrayal of a classic immigrants` dilemma: the struggle to balance assimilation and alienation. The performances and direction were very good; what bothered me most about it was the over-reliance on cliched formulae: boy-gets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-almost-gets-girl, a la Woody Allen`s Manhattan; outrage at arranged marriage, a la a range of British south-asian flicks, not to mention Fiddler on the Roof; and pure Capracorn. i know that the American dream is a motivating force of great power, but this movie embodies a go-go 90s blind optimism, which borders on the cloying. Character motivation for the finale is completely unconvincing, nearing deus-ex-machina levels of ineffability. Yet, as a clever and highly commercializable ethnic formula-pic, it is a hit. The blandness and conformity of the engineers and doctors, which the film so openly derides, has seeped into this project as well. But this is the kind of treacle which will probably make a small wave. At least the director`s brother and lead male, Mr. Mehta, will! But, tell me, how is this different from the stories of immigrants from dozens of other cultures? I beg other readers to name some. Finally, and most disappointingly, I learned little about India or Indians from this movie. So, though i applaud the effort to tell the American uber-tale from yet another angle, I found myself wishing it weren`t so predictable and cliched.

I felt those moments of discovery watching "American Chai" like I did when I first saw "Greetings" by Brian DePalma, Cameron Crowe's "Say Anything," and Edward Burns' "Brothers McMullen" -- here's a major new talent.

Yeah it's yet another son-of-immigrants story, but the dialog is fresh, funny, tender and frank, the conflicts real and contemporary, the characters a rich and rounded variety of personalities and social types reflecting the titular mixed blend tea.

Anurag Mehta writes and directs an impassioned movie from the heart, and probably his experiences as an Indian-American artist wannabe growing up in NJ and going to Rutgers. Covering the college years before the young professionals in "ABCD," Mehta managed with no budget and a mostly young, multi-talented cast that's barely gotten their SAG cards, yet sings and writes music (appealing lead Aalok Mehta) and dances (captivating Sheetal Sheth, who was also in "ABCD"), including in funny satires of Bollywood conventions.

Like in Burns' own "Sidewalks of New York," the scene and symbolism setting World Trade Center-dominated background skyline will always let us know what day it was filmed before.

(originally written 4/20/2002)