Synopsis
A fresh graduate from USC, Shalin Shah (Kapil Talwalkar) is ready to take on the world and make a difference. Being the only son to his Indian immigrant parents, Jay (Faran Tahir) and Reema (Meera Simhan), Shalin carries the burden of South Asian expectations. The only problem is, Shalin is headed off to Peru with the Peace Corps instead of med school, and his long time girlfriend, Fiona (Olivia Liang) is Taiwanese American, instead of a more “suitable” Indian American match. Shalin’s best friend, Milan (Karan Soni), is more than happy to watch his friend’s predicament, teasing him as “every Indian parent’s worst nightmare.”
Undeterred, Shalin sets off for Peru and finds even more than he was expecting — he finds a real purpose and meaning to his life. But before Shalin can embark on his newfound journey, a check up with a local Doctor for a lingering cough, reveals a much more troubling diagnosis. Returning prematurely to the US, Shalin is shocked to learn from Dr. Baxter (Tom Everett Scott) that he has a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Shalin’s life is completely upended in an instant, and a once bright future becomes dim. Through chemotherapy and self introspection, Shalin tumbles on a downward spiral, in spite of his family’s best efforts. But with the help of Fiona and her undying love for him, they pull out of the darkness together. As Shalin confronts mortality head-on, he realizes that even in the midst of death and a shortened life, he still has an opportunity to change the world — by living his life in the moment and sharing his experience with others through an inspiring manifesto that quickly goes viral.
PAPER FLOWERS is a journey of love and loss, tragedy and hope, and most of all, a roadmap for all of us living and breathing to not to take our moments for granted and to remember to stop and enjoy every sunset.