The story, in the studio's words
The immigrant who broke the ceiling, and the family who paid for it
Kanwal Rekhi left post-independence India with a suitcase and an engineering degree, and in 1987 became the first Indian American founder and chief executive to take a venture-backed company public on NASDAQ. He rubbed shoulders with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, then turned around and built the network that carried a generation of Indian founders behind him, which is why Silicon Valley calls him the godfather of its Indian tech wave.
His son, the filmmaker Ben Rekhi, tells it from inside the house. Shot largely in the register of home video and co-directed with Swetlana, the film moves between the boardroom story everyone knows and the one the family kept: his mother Ann's illness, her depression, and the cost of a life spent proving a point.
It premiered at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles in April 2026, where it won the Audience Choice Award, and played CAAMFest in San Francisco in May. Concourse Media and Matter Entertainment are handling worldwide sales.
A first that opened a door
Kanwal Rekhi founded Excelan and took it public on NASDAQ in 1987, the first Indian American founder and chief executive to do so. He later helped start TiE, the network that mentored and funded a generation of Indian founders in the Valley and in India.
A son behind the camera
Ben Rekhi directed The Ashram and Watchlist before turning the camera on his own father. He co-directs with the mononymic Swetlana, and Guneet Monga, the Oscar-winning producer of The Elephant Whisperers, executive produces.
Audience Choice at IFFLA
The film opened the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles on April 23 2026 at the Harmony Gold Theater and won the festival's Audience Choice Award. It played CAAMFest at the AMC Kabuki in San Francisco on May 9.
Reactions on Reactr
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FAQ
Breaking the Code: quick answers
How do I record a Breaking the Code trailer reaction?
Open the reaction recorder on your phone at reactr.film/studio/breaking-the-code, choose camera or voice only, and press record while the trailer plays. Reactr captures your reaction and gives you a share-ready clip when the trailer ends. It is free.
What is Breaking the Code about?
Before the internet changed the world, a radical outsider changed the internet. Filmmaker Ben Rekhi turns the camera on his father, Kanwal Rekhi, the first Indian American to take a venture-backed company public on NASDAQ, and finds a family reckoning behind the success story.
Who directed Breaking the Code?
Breaking the Code is directed by Ben Rekhi, director, with co-director Swetlana. Earlier films include Watchlist (2019) and The Ashram (2018).
When does Breaking the Code come out?
Breaking the Code premiered at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles in United States on April 23, 2026. A wider release has not been announced.
Can I use the Breaking the Code stills and logo in my reaction video?
No press kit has been supplied for this title. The trailer plays through YouTube's own player, as it does everywhere on Reactr, and reaction videos are yours to post on your own channels under YouTube's rules. Reactr will post written clearance here if the filmmakers send one. The full press kit is linked from the creator asset kit on this page.
Do I have to be on camera?
No. Voice Reaction mode records your commentary with the microphone only: the camera stays off, no face is recorded, and you still get a share-ready clip for your channel.
Is Reactr free?
Yes. Recording reaction clips on Reactr is free, with no paywall on the finished clip. You own your clip and can post it to TikTok, Reels, Shorts, or anywhere else. Reactr makes money from studios and sponsors, not from creators.
