Seeking to dispel common stereotypes around food and identity placed upon South Asian communities, a new TELUS Original, Not Your Butter Chicken,follows food and wine expert Shiva Reddy as she reconnects with her own culture and copes with her mother’s gradual loss of memory due to dementia.
As Reddy processes this stage in her own life, she embarks on a journey across Western Canada to meet with other South Asians with compelling food histories, in turn spurring a process of self-discovery and reclamation.
It was a curious process to film this particular part of her life’s story, Reddy says. But there was beauty in holding all the complexities that came along with the process.
“It just happened to be one of the hardest moments of my life, we didn’t know if she would make it at times…” she said. “But also just seeing the sweetness of it, these communities are just so welcoming—it was like a breath of fresh air.”
Documenting fleeting memories
In the opening scenes of the first episode, we see Reddy warmly caring for her mother. We watch as she combs her hair, organizes her medications, and gently pieces together old photographs and memories. It’s a sweet and tender introduction to the series. This show immediately makes the audience aware that it’s so much more than simply the recipes we follow or the food we eat. It’s about how our food, humanity, and relationships are connected—how we relate to our identities.
Priyanka Desai, a Vancouver-based content producer from Mumbai and the director of this series, said that besides the food theme, the show was a way to document Shiva’s journey with her mother.
“When a close one is losing their memory, it’s like you’re losing them even before you lose them. So how do you try to capture and hold on to what is present?” Desai said.
As Reddy’s mother’s condition unfolds, she said documentation feels even more precious. While some stigmatize capturing every last memory on your phone, she explained how this was instrumental in helping her feel connected to the memories she and her mother have left together.
“I remember there was a distinct moment where I realized, if she’s forgetting where she came from and who she is, then I’m definitely going to forget, too,” Reddy explained. “And the way to hold on is to capture these moments that I’m never going to have again with her, and that was a really big reason for doing this at all.”
In addition, they explored the challenging dynamics of supporting her mother in a healthcare system that can feel isolating.
“We captured a journey where it’s me on my own going against the health system and feeling so alone in that process,” she said. “But also having these moments through food and cooking where I’m able to have her there for that moment with me.”
Challenging narratives
Desai, like countless South Asians, is tired of being asked time and time again about butter chicken.
“I, as a new immigrant in Canada, always faced this question about butter chicken. I thought, one day we’ll have a show that tells everyone [our culture] is not just that,” she said.
Like many other cultures, food is a huge part of how South Asian communities build and connect with each other. When words so often fail us, making a meal for your loved ones is an act of service and a direct display of care. Reddy and Desai say food is the ultimate equalizer. Regardless of the subject’s seriousness, something about sharing a conversation over a good meal makes navigating tough topics more palatable.
In exploring the long history of South Asian migration in Canada and Reddy’s family history, Not Your Butter Chicken is complicating and challenging the reductive stereotypes that so often plague their communities in a way that extends beyond food.
“As South Asian women, we’re told you have to be perfect, be polite, be a certain way,” Reddy said. “For me, so much of this is about getting to step into your power and live it out loud despite the notions you’ve grown up with.”
Uncovering South Asian food histories across Western Canada
In four episodes, Reddy tackles this all—taking her from Kamloops and Kelowna B.C, to Fort McMurray and Lethbridge, Alberta. Joined by local experts and community members, the show provides a fresh and insightful perspective on identity, family, and food while deconstructing narratives and exploring counter-histories.
“Shiva’s story actually gave us the tools to express that, and also what a privilege it was to just see her in her own personal life, to be able to share that space and understand her story,” Desai said. “It actually resonates with so many people across immigrant communities, not just South Asian communities, but a lot of immigrant communities.”
All four episodes of Not Your Butter Chicken are streaming now and follow @notyourbutterchicken on Instagram for updates on screenings near you.
See also: Making It: South Asian creative Harpo Mander on joy and creativity as forms of resistance
