Komal Surani

M.F.A. Dramatic Writing, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts

B.A. Writing and Literature, University of California, Santa Barbara

B.A. Film and Media Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • About me

    I am a second generation Pakistani-American writer who grew up in Southern California.

    My work goes across genre and medium, but mainly focuses on what it means to come of age as a Pakistani/ Indian-American woman.

    I am mainly a film and TV writer, but have also published poetry, written articles, and continue to work on short fiction and creative nonfiction essays.

Half Hour Dramedies

  • Friends and lovers

    A twenty five year old woman who’s never been in love or had sex becomes tired of supporting her friends' constant romantic failures, and resolves to go after the love she deserves.

  • All You need is love

    Syra is broken hearted and angry at every God out there. She belongs with Ayush, but he doesn’t see it that way. Aphrodite hears her and gives her her powers for a day. If she’s so much smarter, she can fix her own love life.

  • Love Marriage

    Eshaal, a Muslim woman, and Levi, a Jewish man, decide to get married. The stress of the wedding and their unhappy parents reveals buried expectations in their relationship. Limited series.

Hour Long pilots

  • Motherland

    Afsana works for the magical police department and is investigating a series of cases where illegal witches are being killed. She is determined to find out who’s killing them, and not just because her fiance was one of the victims. Hour long drama.

  • Chandni Hughes' house for wayward women

    Chandni, a 20 something, childfree, ex-foster kid has her life upended when she’s transported back in time to 1870s New York and discovers she’s pregnant.

  • The Tree Remembers

    In a house with an abusive parent, everyone reacts differently. Sanam wishes she was enough, Imad wishes everyone else was, and Aysha just wants everyone to be happy.

Screenplays

  • I Don't Date Brown Boys

    Isha doesn't date brown boys. Then she meets Amaar. He turns her world upside down and forces her to reexamine the long held convictions she's held about her dating life and her work life. Romantic-Comedy.

  • Immaculate

    Immaculate is a reimagining of the story of the Virgin Mary. Mary is Miriam, a young Jewish woman living in a conservative town who has sex, gets pregnant, and has to concoct a lie about her child being the son of God. Drama-Comedy.

  • Happenstance

    Kauser, the editor in chief, of a university news division, is determined to go after a blackface story even as Tessa,  the deputy editor and her best friend, is convinced that there's nothing to investigate. Drama.

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