Omid Abtahi in Ocean of Pearls
Sarab Singh Neelam's Ocean of Pearls, a drama about traditional (Sikh) values coming into conflict with life in 21st-century North America, opens exclusively in the Los Angeles area on Friday, December 18, at the Laemmle Sunset 5 in West Hollywood. Director Neelam will take part in a q&a following the 7pm shows on Friday, December 18, and Saturday, December 19.
According to the Ocean of Pearls press release, Neelam is the first Sikh director in American Cinema to make a film with Sikh lead actors.
Written by Neelam and V. Prasad, Ocean of Pearls follows a young Toronto-based Sikh doctor — turban and long hair and all — whose life is upended following a career-driven move to Detroit. The film stars Omid Abtahi, Heather McComb, Brenda Strong, Navi Rawat, and Ajay Mehta.
Last year, Ocean of Pearls won audience awards at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific and Toronto ReelWorld film festivals.