MELBOURNE, 26 June, 2023: We all know Tarla Dalal cook books which were once a rage in middle class India. ‘Tarla’ is her biopic starring Huma Qureshi (she plays Tarla) and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitish Tiwari.
This 2-hour 6 minutes movie step by stem traces Tarla’s struggle to become India’s famous cookbook writer, starting from her marriage to Nalin Dalal (played by Sharib Hashmi), having three kids, facing enormous family and society difficulties. It was not easy for a housewife to step outside home and chart out a career on unknown territory. Tradition and cultural taboos were a big hindrance.
The narrative takes the viewer to the spate of incidents that push a housewife becoming a well-known cook book writer and later TV show host tutoring how to cook her recipes. Hubby Nalin is an engineer in a textile mill in Mumbai. Industrial action shuts the mill and he is without work. Tarla’s cooking skills come to the fore and she starts cooking tuitions for upcoming brides at home, resented by the housing society residents, the attempt collapses. Luckily, Nalin is supportive. And, ideas start floating step by step.
There is no looking back as the couple decide to print a cookbook. Nalin types Tarla’s many recipes and a publisher is found, but he rejects the move saying the subject won’t make money. Another publisher agrees and the first ‘The Pleasures of Vegetarian Cooking’ is in the market. But not many copies are sold and the bundles are sold off as ‘raddi’ (old publications) to ‘Gafoor Bhai’.
The dream seems to be ending when at a restaurant they realise the snack the family is eating is from her recipe. The chef discloses he got it from a cook book (Tarla’s cook book). They rush back to ‘Gafoor bhai’ and try to buy back the cook books. ‘Gafoor bhai’ smells the rat and becomes the distributer for the cook book to support them.
The ‘raddi wala’ when visiting homes to buy old newspapers, sells copies of Tarla’s cook book. The cook book catches up and a TV production company decides to try out a cooking show (Cook with Tarla Dalal) where Tarla teaches cooking her recipes on TV.
Director Piyush Gupta, successfully delves deep into the Indian situation when the housewife Tarla grapples with husband, children, mother-in-law, and friends. Gender bias and family blues are big hurdles for a housewife at the cusp of a successful career. The skilful sober and supportive husband, despite facing his own issues, makes what Tarla finally becomes.
Yes, the real Tarla Dalal, wrote over 100 books, selling millions of copies. She wrote in many magazines. She became the most read cooking writer & popular TV host and won laurels overseas. Her books were translated in many languages across the world. She became a household name. The movie is a fitting tribute to her and the fighting spirit overcoming an adverse situation.
Humma Qureshi (as Tarla) and Sharib Hashmi (Tarla’s hubby) give stellar performances. No doubt, other actors also add to the strength of the movie. Watching this movie can be a good confidence building exercise for anyone struggling in a situation. The script is handled skilfully by the director, who has created a biopic which can inspire many.
Tarla’s days were not internet days. Otherwise, she would have started a YouTube channel. It is said behind every man’s success there is a woman. In Tarla, behind a woman’s success was a story (or a man). Feminists can disagree. Talking to South Asia Times (SAT), Huma said, Tarla’s story in the movie is not told with toxic feminism, but in a smooth way as to how she did her work.
The movie starts streaming at ZEE5 Global from 7 July, 2023.
I give the movie 4 stars out of five.
