SAN JOSE, Calif. (Diya TV) — A powerful new documentary premiering this month in San Jose aims to shed light on one of the most urgent—and under-recognized—health threats facing South Asian communities: heart disease.

The Brown Heart, a feature-length film created by Central Pennsylvania-based physicians Drs. Nirmal and Renu Joshi, will debut on April 16 at 6 p.m. at the San José State University Student Union Theatre. The event is hosted by the South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Health, and admission is free, though seating is limited.

Drawing from more than 40 interviews with cardiologists, public health leaders, and experts from across the U.S., India, and the U.K., the film takes a deep dive into the disproportionately high rates of heart disease among South Asians—those with roots in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. According to the film, South Asians are two to four times more likely to experience a heart attack than other ethnic groups, a risk that begins at younger ages and often without the usual warning signs.

“This isn’t just a problem for older adults,” said Dr. Nirmal Joshi in an interview with El Camino Health. “We’re seeing people in their 30s and 40s having major cardiac events, and many of them had no idea they were at risk.”

That risk isn’t widely acknowledged. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for South Asians, yet many remain unaware of the danger, and preventive care is still rare. The documentary explores how typical symptoms of heart disease can manifest differently in South Asians—sometimes showing up as fatigue, jaw pain, or indigestion—and how those symptoms can differ further between men and women.

The Joshi couple, who also run a free health clinic in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, under the Joshi Health Foundation, say they were driven to create the film after seeing countless patients—many of them South Asian—suffer severe outcomes that might have been avoided with earlier intervention.

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

In addition to medical insights, The Brown Heart features candid patient stories and appearances by well-known South Asian voices advocating for greater health literacy. The filmmakers hope the blend of emotional storytelling and clinical data will spark a movement toward prevention and lifestyle changes within a community often overlooked in mainstream health campaigns.

The timing of the film comes as health professionals continue sounding the alarm. The South Asian Heart Center, which is co-hosting the premiere, has long focused on raising awareness about these heightened risks. In its outreach, the Center emphasizes that traditional cholesterol checks and weight monitoring may not be enough to catch risk factors early in South Asians. Genetic predispositions, diet, and stress levels can all play a role.

“The Brown Heart” adds a personal dimension to these statistics—illustrating not just what the problem is, but who it affects and how lives can be saved through awareness and action.

“This is more than a film,” Dr. Renu Joshi said. “It’s a wake-up call.”