Shikhar Kapadia Thesis Film

Hello, my name is Shikhar Kapadia. I am a film student at Syracuse University in my final year and am currently working on my thesis film, “Undhiyu”. I am an Indian living in Thailand and dream of one day living in America. I am now facing the struggles of the US immigration process, and I want this film to capture this reality. I want to convey the burning desire of people worldwide to "make it" in America and how far they will go to make this dream come true. I also want to explore the internal conflict many Indian-Americans face and how that impacts their identity. Through "Undhiyu", I want to examine the irony of the two contrasting narratives.

This film follows Amar, a lonely chef living in upstate New York who is struggling to find a new dish for his menu. After speaking to his mother, he hesitantly calls his Indian cousin Samar to stay with him for a week to learn how to make the traditional Gujarati dish Undhiyu. Soon Amar learns of Samar’s desire to chase the American dream and open his own restaurant in the US. Threatened by the presence of an authentic cook who knows India better than him, Amar seeks to prove to him how “Indian” he is. Samar uses this as an opportunity to observe and mimic him, soon using the dish to poison Amar and steal his identity.

The funding we receive will be allocated towards hiring actors and paying for their accommodation, purchasing props and furniture for set design, equipment, renting locations and hiring caterers for the cast and crew.