Jul. 07, 2023|India|127 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Biography;Bollywood;Comedy;Drama
Description: “Tarla” (2023) is a Hindi biographical film that tells the story of a legendary home chef renowned for simplifying vegetarian cooking and inspiring countless kitchens worldwide. Surprisingly, the film lacks the typical food-centric scenes where dishes are showcased in a way that evokes sensory pleasure.
The narrative follows Tarla, a young woman married off early, who is told, like many Indian girls of her time, to pursue her dreams after marriage. When Nalin Dalal meets her, Tarla serves him halwa spiked with red pepper, yet he proves to be a good sport. Their married life falls into a routine, with Nalin working at a factory and Tarla managing household chores and raising their three children.
Everything changes when Tarla discovers her talent for teaching cooking skills to brides-to-be. The film, though straightforward, is saved from monotony by Sharib Hashmi’s portrayal of Nalin, a traditional yet seemingly progressive husband who expects constant gratitude. Huma Qureshi’s performance as Tarla is efficient but lacks the depth and flavor the character deserves, making the film feel somewhat formulaic.
While the movie effectively highlights Tarla’s journey and the importance of women carving their own paths, its heavy-handed approach to this message becomes repetitive and tiresome.
Cast director: Piyush Gupta
Cast actor: Huma Qureshi, Sharib Hashmi, Bharati Achrekar, Amarjeet Singh, Rajeev Pandey, Purnendu Bhattacharya, Veena Nair
Original name: तरला