
Varsha Bharath's ‘Bad Girl', co-produced by Vetrimaaran, set for theatrical release
Written and directed by debutante Varsha Bharath, and produced by acclaimed filmmaker Vetri Maaran, the film is presented by Anurag Kashyap under the banner of Grass Root Film Company. Bad Girl has garnered widespread critical acclaim and accolades on the international film festival circuit: The movie will hit the screens on September 05, 2025.
It won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). The movie also clinched Young Jury Award for Best Feature Film at the 40th Cinema Jove - Valencia International Film Festival (Spain). A Jury Mention for Music for Amit Trivedi at Cinema Jove and a Student Choice Award at the Indian Film Festival of Toulouse (France) are the other accolades won by the movie.
Additionally, the film has been officially selected and screened at prestigious festivals, including the Shanghai International Film Festival, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and more.
ALSO READ: Tamil film 'Bad Girl' wins NETPAC Award at International Film Festival of Rotterdam
Touted to be a powerful narrative rooted in identity, freedom, and resistance, Bad Girl features an ensemble cast including Anjali Sivaraman, Shanthi Priya, Hridhu Haroon, TeeJay Arunasalam, Sashank Bommireddipalli, and Saranya Ravichandran.
Preetha Jayaraman (ISC), Jagadeesh Ravi, and Prince Anderson are the cinematographers. Radha Sridhar is the editor, and Amit Trivedi is the music composer. V Shanmugaraja has handled the production design.
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India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Is Eurasian cuisine finally ready for its spotlight?
In a world where culinary boundaries are being redrawn by globalisation, Eurasian cuisine remains one of the most underappreciated legacies of our interconnected past. Nestled in the heart of Delhi's vibrant food scene is The Piano Man, where Chef Manoj Pandey, Partner Chef at the restaurant, is quietly leading a delicious revolution, one plate of Eurasian food at a caught up with Chef Pandey to understand what defines this culinary genre, why it has remained largely in the shadows, and what it will take for it to finally be recognised as a global food movement. Why Eurasian cuisine is finally ready for its spotlight advertisementA CUISINE BORN OF COLONISATION AND CULTURE'Eurasian cuisine is not just fusion, it's a story of centuries of survival, trade, colonisation and adaptation,' says Chef Pandey, as he reflects on the evolution of this rich, layered culinary tradition. Indeed, Eurasian cuisine is a melting pot of European and Asian influences. It emerged from the 16th century onwards, when Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonisers settled across Asia, bringing their ingredients, culinary techniques, and sometimes entire food cultures along with them. In turn, they adopted local spices, produce and preferences. Chef Manoj Pandey 'From Portuguese-Malay and Dutch-Indian to British-Chinese fusions, every region has its own take on Eurasian food,' Chef Pandey notes. 'There's no one-size-fits-all approach. It's adaptive, deeply regional and born out of necessity.'The result? Dishes like Goan vindaloo, which began as a Portuguese stew flavoured with wine and garlic but evolved in India with vinegar, palm toddy and local masalas. Or Macanese minchi, a stir-fry of minced meat with potatoes and soy sauce, seasoned with Worcestershire, a true blend of East and West on the same plate. Why Eurasian cuisine is finally ready for its spotlight MORE THAN JUST FUSION: WHAT MAKES EUROASIAN FOOD UNIQUESo what sets Eurasian cuisine apart from modern fusion food that merely mixes flavours for novelty?'Depth,' Pandey says simply. 'Other fusion cuisines are often about creating something new. Eurasian cuisine is about preserving something old. It respects both sides of the fusion, it's not just gimmick, it's history.'According to Chef Pandey, the secret lies in its bold and balanced flavour profiles.'You'll find fermented shrimp paste or belachan in many Eurasian recipes,' he says. 'It's that funky, umami-rich backbone. Then there's tamarind, lime juice or vinegar to cut through the richness, and coconut milk that brings creaminess without relying on dairy.'advertisementAromatics are also key, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, onions, ingredients that tie Asian and European dishes together seamlessly. 'It's common to find European techniques like braising or roasting being used on meats marinated in soy, chillies, cloves and cinnamon,' Chef Pandey explains. 'That's what makes Eurasian food unique, it's a real bridge between cooking philosophies.' Why Eurasian cuisine is finally ready for its spotlight WHY ISN'T IT MORE POPULAR?Despite being centuries old, Eurasian cuisine has yet to break into the mainstream global food scene the way Japanese, Korean or even Thai food have. Chef Pandey is frank about why.'There's no unified identity,' he says. 'It's not a single cuisine, it's a collection of microcultures. People don't immediately know what 'Eurasian' food means unless they've lived in places like Goa, Macau or Malaysia.'He adds that smaller Eurasian communities have preserved this heritage mostly within homes, through oral recipes passed down from grandmothers to grandchildren. 'There's little documentation. These recipes don't always make it into books or TV shows.'advertisementAnother reason? 'In multicultural countries, Eurasian food is often overshadowed by bigger players. In Singapore, for instance, Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines dominate. Eurasian dishes are there, but you need to look for them,' Pandey adds. Why Eurasian cuisine is finally ready for its spotlight THE MOVEMEMNT TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTEThat said, momentum is building. According to Pandey, tourism has played a big role in reigniting interest in these forgotten flavours.'In Goa, tourists come looking for vindaloo, but we try to show them that there's more, like sorpotel or bebinca,' he says. 'Macau is doing something similar with minchi, and both cuisines are being pitched for UNESCO cultural heritage recognition.'He also points to the growing number of modern chefs, like himself, who are reimagining Eurasian classics in contemporary formats.'At The Piano Man, we're experimenting with Eurasian dishes in a new context. For instance, pairing braised meats with Asian glazes but plating them like French fare. It sparks curiosity.'Meanwhile, digital platforms are helping in ways traditional publishing couldn't. 'We're seeing families record their recipes on YouTube, food historians documenting oral traditions, and even chefs on Instagram explaining the backstories behind these dishes. That's powerful.' Why Eurasian cuisine is finally ready for its spotlight advertisementWHERE EUROASIAN CUISINE GOES FROM HEREWith diners increasingly seeking out 'authentic yet new' experiences, Eurasian food may finally be ready for the limelight. The challenge, Chef Pandey believes, is to tell the story with respect and detail.'Food is culture. Eurasian food is proof that borders may have been drawn by colonisers, but flavour doesn't follow rules. It evolves, adapts, and lives on,' he perhaps that's the ultimate appeal of Eurasian cuisine, it isn't just about the plate. It's about a people, a history, and a beautifully tangled narrative of human the hands of chefs like Manoj Pandey, that story is being retold, one beautifully balanced dish at a time.- Ends


Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Divya Deshmukh, 19, crowned FIDE Women's World Cup winner
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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Vindu Dara Singh on tensions between India and Pakistan: "Neighbouring state needs to realise..."
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