India-West Staff Reporter

SAN JOSE, CA – A new documentary premiering this month here, aims to shake South Asian communities out of complacency when it comes to one of the deadliest—and most under-acknowledged—health risks they face: heart disease.

On April 16, at 6:00 p.m., the South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Health will host the exclusive premiere of The Brown Heart at the San José State University Student Union Theatre. The feature-length film, created by Central Pennsylvania-based physicians Drs. Nirmal and Renu Joshi, is a deeply personal and wide-ranging look at the alarming rates of early and severe heart disease disproportionately affecting South Asians.

Drawing on real-life stories from the U.S., India, and the U.K., the documentary paints a troubling picture of a hidden epidemic. South Asians—whether from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, or Sri Lanka—are two to four times more likely to suffer a heart attack than people of other ethnicities. The film underscores that this is not just a concern for the elderly. Increasingly, young South Asians are facing major cardiac events, often without the traditional warning signs.

Through over 40 interviews with cardiologists, public health leaders, and experts, the film delves into how heart attack symptoms may differ between South Asians and others, and even vary by gender.

Despite the risks, awareness remains low. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among South Asians, but preventive action is still far too rare.”

That’s where the Joshis’ mission comes in. Practicing under the banner of the Joshi Health Foundation, the duo runs a free health clinic in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, serving anyone in need. Their work, both on-screen and off, is driven by a belief that information can save lives.

Nirmal Joshi has said, “Knowledge is power. And with the right tools, South Asians can change the course of their health.”

With its mix of celebrity voices, intimate patient narratives, and urgent medical insights, The Brown Heart hopes to do more than raise awareness—it seeks to ignite a movement around preventive care in South Asian communities worldwide.

Admission to the premiere is free, but seating is limited.
To RSVP, visit: www.tugoz.com/thebrownheart