Ashwiny Iyer: I wanted 'Tarla' to reach every household irrespective of the social background & income

The captivating ZEE5 Original film 'Tarla' chronicles the life and legacy of India's iconic home chef, Tarla Dalal. Through her culinary expertise, she empowered women, inspiring them to fulfill their aspirations through food. Recently India Forums got in a candid conversation with the film's producer Ashwini Iyer. When asked, "How involved were you in the writing, casting, and filming process?"

She said,

 "I was involved in the writing process only after it was done, to give my feedback if something could be changed, but again, it was up to the director if he wanted to take my feedback or leave it. In terms of casting, yes, I was a very integral part of it, but still, it is Piyush's process because I could only recommend, but it was his choice at the end if he wanted to go ahead with the options. So, I only helped my director lead towards his goal and assist him in the best possible way to set up all the things that would be required in the process of directing and telling the story that meets his vision."

We further questioned, "Now that the film has been released, how do you think that the direct-to-OTT release has further benefited the film?

She expressed, 

"We always wanted to release the film directly on OTT, and I am glad that ZEE5 came onboard as partners. We have always had a great relationship with ZEE5, and I am full of gratitude as they made Tarla their own film and ensured that our vision is aligned. The number of meetings we had, the marketing strategies discussed, and the insights we got from them are pure gold. I express my deep gratitude to them. I wanted Tarla to reach every household, no matter their social background and income, because food and dreams are for all, and no one can tell you that you don't have the right to dream, no matter who you are or where you come from. ZEE5 ensured that Tarla reaches every kind of audience, who then had their own interpretation of the story."

She further added, 

"For example, my house help asked me, ""Why is the roti round?"" because that stood out for her, and maybe it evoked certain emotions in her to help her realize that things can be changed. Similarly, someone in the office who saw the movie suddenly understood that he needs to help his wife at home just as Nalin does in the film. So, I think whether I showed it to someone from a higher-income society or to women who have grown up watching Tarla ji’s show or reading her books, the impact on people have been different as emotions aren't the same. But ZEE5 has ensured that we reach our audience out there, and that's why the film is getting good numbers."

The stellar cast includes Huma Qureshi, Sharib Hashmi, Bharati Achrekar, Amarjeet Singh, Rajeev Pandey, Purnendu Bhattacharya, and Veenah Naair. Released on 7th July, the film celebrates Tarla Dalal's remarkable journey.