Karla Murthy's "The Gas Station Attendant" Premieres in Houston, Now Streaming on PBS
Karla Murthy's documentary, "The Gas Station Attendant," made its debut at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, with HTX MADE as a cohost. Currently available for streaming on PBS's POV, the film chronicles the life of Murthy's father, H. N. Shantha Murthy, who escaped poverty in India at the age of 10. He endured 18-hour workdays and relocated to the U.S. thanks to a Texan couple's assistance. After studying electrical engineering at UH, he found employment with Boeing and started several businesses. Murthy uses a model of the Taj Mahal from her home to symbolize grief while reflecting on her identity and her father's hardships. Li Lu, founder of HTX MADE, commended the film for honoring Murthy's parents and showcasing Houston's diversity.
Key facts
- "The Gas Station Attendant" premiered at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, cohosted by HTX MADE.
- The documentary is now streaming on POV on PBS.
- Filmmaker Karla Murthy is an award-winning director and Emmy-nominated producer.
- Murthy's father, H. N. Shantha Murthy, ran away from poverty in India at age 10 and later worked as a gas station attendant in Houston.
- He studied electrical engineering at UH and worked for Boeing in Seattle before being laid off.
- Murthy grew up in Missouri City, Texas, as part of one of the only Indian-Filipino families in her neighborhood.
- HTX MADE founder Li Lu described the Murthy family story as distinctly Houstonian.
- The film uses a model Taj Mahal from Murthy's family home as a metaphor for grief and memory.
Entities
Artists
- Karla Murthy
- H. N. Shantha Murthy
- Li Lu
- Pegah Pasalar
- Ashok Bhattarai
- Richard Linklater
- Avril Lavigne
- Mandrell Sisters
Institutions
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- HTX MADE
- PBS
- POV
- Boeing
- University of Houston
- McDonald's
- Wendy's
- IFC Center
- Glasstire
Locations
- Houston
- United States
- Missouri City
- Texas
- India
- Delhi
- Seattle
- New York City
- Ohio
- Sixth Street