I’m The Most Racist Person I Know

By: Malasha Parker

Writer/Director Leela Varghese’s I’m The Most Racist Person I Know lets brown girls know that they don’t have to assimilate to a standard to find love. This short film explores the topics of  race, love and self love. Uniting two young women after an embarrassing moment, it turns out to be one of the best days of Lali’s (Shabana Azeez) life. 

Lali decides the best way to share her feelings with the girl she’s in love with is by walking up to her, acknowledging a shirt she remembers her lover likes and then singing a song to confess her feelings to said love. Against the advice of her friend, she sings the song she wrote anyway and is embarrassed when she learns the shirt actually belong to Hailey’s girlfriend. Saved by another person working at the bar, Ani (Kavitha Anandasivam), Lali decides to escape from further embarrassment and leave with her instead. Unexpectedly, these two go on an impromptu date and begin to learn more about their dating preferences than they realized before. After chatting at dinner, Lali and Ani realize that maybe this embarrassing day can turn out to be alright after all.

The short film is a natural and beautiful moment in time of two young women deciding they can be and do more than what they’ve subconsciously limited themselves to in the past. Lali and Ana have a chemistry that is subtle and not overtly expressed throughout the film. Though it is obvious where their interaction is going to lead, the direction from Varghese allows space for each character to gradually show themselves. Varghese sees the beauty in the simplicity. The intimate close up shots give the characters of Lali and Ani a chance to be seen from the eyes of the other. 

Leela didn’t consider Ani as a potential partner because she was surrounded by mixed race couples. She saw white women as her inevitable love interests in every scenario without realizing that made her prejudiced to her own race and ethnicity. Once Leela starts to understand that she can date more than what she’s known, she starts to relate more to Ani. I’m The Most Racist Person I Know is the awkward moment turned best moment of your life film that will have audiences smiling widely by the end. It’s predictable and a touch cheesy in places, but the main message gives it the unique aspect needed to make audiences want to continue to watch. I recommend viewing this movie as it will help you realize how simple it is to meet someone and fall in love if you just learn to have a conversation.

Covered at SXSW 2025