Tarla Dalal, India’s original home chef, authored over 100 cookbooks and her website features more than 15,000 recipes. She even hosted her own shows, titled “The Tarla Dalal Show” and “Cook It Up With Tarla Dalal.” Many of us grew up watching popular cooking shows like “Masterchef” on Star Plus since 2010, Sanjeev Kapoor’s renowned show “Khana Khazaana” and Harpal Singh Sokhi in his famous show “Turban Tadka” on Food Food TV, where his memorable quote “Namak shamak, Namak shamak, daal dete hai” became the highlight of every episode. However, it was Tarla who pioneered India’s first cookery show long before them.
In this remarkable biopic about the legendary cook, we witness her journey from a place of uncertainty, with the belief that she must do something meaningful in life, but unsure of what that might be. In the first thirty minutes of the film, Tarla (portrayed by Huma Qureshi) is married and has three children (two sons and a daughter), still searching for her true passion. There’s a poignant moment when Tarla lights candles on their wedding anniversary cake, and as she counts them, her smile fades away, realizing that 12 years have passed since her marriage and she still hasn’t discovered her calling. Many of us can easily relate to this scene, as we, too, have spent years searching for the right opportunity to pursue our dreams.
Tarla’s days are spent cooking in the kitchen and teaching her children. Her husband Nalin (played by Sharib Hashmi) is supportive in every way. The film showcases endearing moments between them that will be cherished. However, Nalin’s habit of consuming meat during work deeply disturbs the vegetarian in Tarla. Her reaction mirrors that of a woman who has discovered her husband’s affair. Eventually, she creates recipes that replace meat with vegetables without compromising the delightful blend of spices. Huma and Sharib shine well as this lovely couple, giving up their best shots in every frame.
One day, Tarla’s neighbor asks her to teach her daughter how to cook for her upcoming marriage. This eventually turns into a business opportunity. Tarla Dalal becomes a household name in the locality, as everyone who wants their daughters to get married sends them to “Tarla’s Cooking Classes.” Later, she successfully launches her first book on vegetarian cooking.
Debutante director Piyush Gupta, known for his previous writing credits in films like “Dangal” (2016) and “Chhichhore” (2019), covers the most significant events in Tarla’s life. While we may have seen the late author on television, her personal journey remained largely unknown. Transporting us back to the 1950s before her marriage, he provides a completely different experience.
The entire plot is filled with life lessons and inspiration, but the screenplay, written by Piyush and Gautam Ved, feels loosely tied. It tells a simple story of a supportive husband and an ambitious woman. However, what we crave for, (scenes showcasing Tarla’s mouth-watering culinary creations) fails to be adequately presented within the two-hour plot. There is only one scene where Tarla prepares “Batata Mussalam” replacing meat (Murgh) with potatoes. In the remaining few scenes, we only get a fleeting glimpse of her delicacies. Dialogues such as “Bhichari ladkiyon ko choice deta bhi kaun hai” or “Shaadi ke baad jo karna hai karlo” challenge societal norms, akin to the 2021 Malayalam film “The Great Indian Kitchen.“
A decade has passed since Tarla left this world, yet she and her recipes have never left our hearts.
“Tarla” is now streaming on Zee5.
