Legend of Fry Roti: Rise of the dough

Short Film | family | 8 min 38 sec

Logline: A Navajo/Bengali niece kneads to find dough-mestic harmony when her aunties burst into a frybread vs. roti showdown. With all the ingredients of her culture, she must cook up her own recipe for belonging.

My mom is Navajo, my dad is Bengali, and thanks to that confused colonizer in 1492 who got lost at sea, I’ve spent my life hearing every “both Indian” joke in the (cook)book.

Through the metaphor of bread, this film serves up a take on colonization and stereotypes while also celebrating what both of my cultures have in common: the best breads and the dough-lightful Auntie energy.

A true loaf affair, LEGEND OF FRY-ROTI: RISE OF THE DOUGH brings "the greatest thing since sliced bread" to the next level—NDN/Indian style

I wrote this story because i was kneading a film that felt like my family. as my directorial debut, it's my love letter to my cultures, my love of puns and the dough-slinging chaos that raised me.

this is just the first bite... the best is yet to crumb!

Official Selections & Awards (2025–2026)

deadCenter Film Festival (Audience Award for Best Short)
Santa Fe International Film Festival (Best New Mexico Short Jury Award)
LA Skins Film Festival (Achievement in Acting – Best Actor)
NewFilmmakersLA (Best Comedy Short Film Nomination)
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology (Silver Award for Best Comedic Short)

REGARD – Festival international du court métrage au Saguenay
HollyShorts Film Festival
New York International Children’s Film Festival
Māoriland Film Festival
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Whistler Film Festival
Tallgrass Film Festival
The Montreal First Peoples’ Festival
Skábmagovat Film Festival
Phoenix Film Festival
Portland Film Festival
Durango Independent Film Festival
Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
McMinnville Film Festival
Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
NatiVisions Film Festival
Indian Territory Film Festival