Breaking Barriers: ZEE5 Global’s ‘Tarla’ Shatters Gender Stereotypes in a …tale

Tarla, a ZEE5 Original movie directed by Piyush Gupta revolves around the journey of an ambitious woman who defies societal norms to pursue her passion for cooking. Starring Huma Qureshi and Sharib Hashmi the film follows the journey of India’s iconic home chef, Tarla Dalal. The movie captures the critical role she played in empowering women and helping them realize their dreams through food.

ZEE5 Global has developed as an influential platform highlighting extraordinary stories of women who challenge social norms, break through boundaries, and inspire millions around the world in a society where women are still cast into traditional gender roles. The platform’s ground-breaking women-led storytelling highlights the unstoppable energy and boundless potential of women by featuring strong-willed businesswomen, trailblazing athletes, gutsy campaigners, and resilient leaders.

Here are some gender stereotypes that Tarla breaks through its story:

Women must be proficient at cooking in order to get married

Tarla, the movie is set to present how women do not need to know how to cook well in order to get married, in a world where a woman’s worth for marriage is measured through whether she knows how to cook, Tarla shows that women do not need to be master chefs in order to have a happy marriage.

Khana banana kaam nahi (Cooking is not a job)

Tarla as a movie breaks stereotypes to deliver a strong message about cooking as a profession. Taking it beyond the act of merely feeding the family, it focuses on how it can also be seen as a career. Through Tarla’s story, the film powerfully challenges societal norms during the 1980s when cooking was perceived as a simple daily chore and not to be taken seriously.

If a woman is the head chef, she cannot have a male sous chef

Gender bias has no place in a kitchen. Tarla firmly opposes the concept of gender-based hierarchy in a professional kitchen. A talented woman with the right culinary skills and capability, regardless of her gender, should have every opportunity to lead a kitchen team of male sous chefs.

Roti gol kyu hoti hai? (why can’t we try something different with food)

A strong believer of questioning and defying set norms, Tarla very poignantly asks ‘why roti always has to be round?’. Showing her creative curiosity, she depicts why cooking should never be restricted to set rules, rather, it is a fertile ground for experimentation.

Women cannot balance work and family together

The notion that women cannot successfully balance work and family is an outdated stereotype that fails to recognize the countless women who are excelling in both realms. ‘Tarla’ beautifully depicts a real story of an inspiring woman who handled not only family but also her passion for cooking as a job and establishes the unbreakable strength that women have. It further showcases the significance of a partner who is supportive of his wife’s dreams and career, inherently contributing to her success and empowering her to break free from societal stereotypes and reach for her aspirations.

If the male breadwinner of the household is unemployed, a woman cannot seek work

The notion that a woman cannot seek work or continue working if her husband is unemployed is an outdated stereotype that undermines the independence and capabilities of women. Today, both men and women have the right to pursue their professional aspirations regardless of their partner’s employment status. Tarla shows the beauty of understanding and respecting the autonomy of a working wife and cherishes the contribution that the woman brings into the family regardless of the job status of her husband.

Viewers can catch ZEE5 Global’s unmissable slate of 111 titles and stock up on their yearlong entertainment by subscribing to the Annual pack and grabbing the limited-time special offer price.

Users can download the ZEE5 Global app from Google Play Store / iOS App Store. It is available on Roku devices, Apple TVs, Android TVs, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung Smart TVs. Users can also access ZEE5 Global on www.ZEE5.com