American Chai

American Chai
Directed by	Anurag Mehta
Written by	Anurag Mehta
Starring	Aalok Mehta; ; Aasif Mandvi; Paresh Rawal; Sheetal Sheth
Distributed by	Dream Merchant Pictures Fusion Films
Release date	January 25, 2001 (Slamdance Film Festival); April 5, 2002; ; ; ;
Running time	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

American Chai is a 2001 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.

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).

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".

Summary

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 America 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.