AMERICAN MASALA

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American Masala depicts the lives of Indians and Pakistanis that have migrated from their countries to the United States in search of a better future. The focus of the show is one individual per episode: An Indian or Pakistani who has struggled his or her way to success in America. There are a number of issues we address in American Masala from the problems of first arriving to finding a job to worrying about children being too influenced by American culture. We interview the individual’s friends, family, and former employers. The questions include the effects of 9/11 and their struggle with profiling as well as how they worked their way through lacking fluency with the English language.

The pilot of American Masala is about a man named Saeed Sabooni who was involved in a street gang before he left Bombay, India in 1987. Due to Saeed’s participation in a gang, his brother was stabbed numerous times which terrified Saeed and played a pivotal role in his departure for the United States. Saeed landed in New York with hardly enough money to eat a single meal. He walks us through his fears, his hardships, and his struggle with the weather in New York. We learn what it took for Saeed to obtain great wealth and become a successful businessman. Saeed discloses the secret behind his success to the viewers.

American Masala is not just about the lives of those who achieved tremendous success, but also those who are still struggling each day to make ends meet. There will be episodes which focus on such individuals who are not able to obtain what they dreamed of, but in spite of their failures continue working hard.