The Gas Station Attendant | POV The Gas Station Attendant – POV

The Gas Station Attendant

about

Using intimately recorded phone calls and home movies, a daughter reflects on her father’s life and their complex relationship — weaving the story of his miraculous journey from the streets of India with the realities of life in America. Co-presented with CAAM.

Behind the Lens: The Gas Station Attendant

season 3990 minpremiere 08.03.2026

Filmmakers

Karla Murthy

Rajal Pitroda

Critical Acclaim

Karla’s sensitive portrait of her Indian migrant father, HN Shantha Murthy, and his lifelong chase of the American dream, arrives at a time when the immigrant issue has turned extremely fractious and distressing in the USA, threatening to rip apart the social fabric, making the film gain relevance (...) The migrant experience is central to Karla’s film but she frames it within the context of a family saga, more so a father-daughter dialogue of sorts. (...) Karla’s is a compassionate, caring and intimate look back at him, in which Shantha comes across as an extremely affectionate, warm, understanding and loving father. An admirable man that few in the wide world would have known but for his daughter’s film on him.

The Gas Station Attendant

about

Filmmakers

Karla Murthy

Rajal Pitroda

Film Resources

Critical Acclaim

Cinema Express