Identity Crisis Among Hindus in American Desi

Released in 2001, American Desi deals with the issue of cultural identity among
young Indian-Americans. While some of them try to adhere to their traditional Indian cultural
values and norms, others strive to leave their culture behind and fully embrace American
culture. In covering the issue of maintaining one’s cultural identity in a foreign land, the
movie deals with many other related issues, such as generational expectations, gender roles,
and identity crisis. These issues are brought out by the film’s four main characters: Kris,
Khan, Ajay, and Jagjit.

The movie’s main star, Krishnagopal Reddy, brings out the identity crisis that many
young Indian Americans face. Sometimes they find that their desire to embrace American
culture and be identified as Americans conflicts with their Indian identity. Therefore, they
have to choose between fully embracing their American culture and turning their backs on
their Indian heritage. In the movie, Krishnagopal chooses to fully embrace the American
culture and turn his back on his Indian culture. Even though he was raised in a household that
practiced Hindu rituals, he is deeply embarrassed by anything associated with his
Hindu/Indian heritage. That embarrassment can be seen in the way that he prefers to be called
and the people he befriends. He prefers to be called the Western-sounding name, Kris, and
often shuns socializing with Indian Americans (Pandya).

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When Kris joins university, he becomes a roommate to a young Indian American who
also prefers American culture, especially African American culture, to his Indian culture. He
is Ajay Pandya. He is so obsessed with African American culture that he tries to act like he is
an African American rather than an Indian American (Pandya). The kind of Americanization
shown by Ajay and Kris is a major concern for many Indian parents (Palmer 105). Such is the
strength of the concern that some Indian families choose to leave the U.S. and raise their
children in India where they are less likely to be influenced by non-Indian cultures (Palmer
105).

Unlike Kris and Ajay, their third roommate, Salim Ali Khan, fully embraces his
Indian culture and abhors American culture. Even though he lives in the U.S., Salim holds
strong traditional Indian values. For example, he believes that any Indian woman who has
been Americanized cannot be a good wife (Pandya). Therefore, Kris, Ajay, and Salim
represent the two main ways that Indians in diaspora deal with their culture. Some like Salim
embrace their Indian culture while others like Kris and Ajay shun it and try to adopt the
culture of their new home.

Apart from the issue of cultural identity, the movie also deals with the issue of
generational expectations. Unlike Western culture, Indian cultures allow parents to play a
major role in their children’s lives, including the career that they choose. Thus, young Indian
Americans are often conflicted between following their desires or following the desires of
their parents. This conflict is best shown by Jagjit Singh. He is also a roommate of Kris. Jagjit
is passionate about art. He wants to be a great artist. However, his father wants him to
become an engineer. Forced to study engineering, a field he has no passion in, Jagjit lives a
miserable life.

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The movie also deals with some aspects of Hindu religion and folklore. While at
university, Kris falls in love with an Indian American girl named Nina Shah who fully
embraces her Indian heritage. To win her heart, Kris starts embracing various aspects of his
Indian identity. One aspect of Hindu religion/folklore that he has to learn to win Nina is the
Dandiya Raas dance. This is a dance that symbolizes the victory of good over evil through
the victory of Goddess Durga against Mahishasur.

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Works Cited

Palmer, Norris W. “Negotiating Hindu identity in an American landscape.” Nova Religio 10.1
(2006): 96-108.

Pandya, Piyush, director. American Desi. Eros Entertainment, 2001.