A new four-part TELUS original docu-series premieres during Asian Heritage Month, celebrating untold stories of South Asians in Western Canada through the eyes of food and wine expert, Shiva Reddy.
This is Not Your Butter Chicken.
Directed by
Priyanka Desai &
Hosted by Shiva Reddy.
Watch on Telus Optik TV Channel 8.
Stream online here.
Available in BC & Alberta.
FOOD IS SEWA
Watch The Show
This episode interweaves Shiva’s profession of hospitality and her own mother’s commitment to the Indian concept of Sewa (being of service to others or the act of giving) with the deep historical roots of the Sikh Punjabi community in Kamloops. Shiva is welcomed by hometown hero and broadcast journalist Meera Bains, and a gathering of the elder sawmill and railway workers who helped build Kamloops. Shiva stops in on local farmers and jumps in to help prepare lunch as a volunteer at the city’s Gurudwara (place of worship).
Kamloops, BC
READY TO ROTI
This episode centers on the resilience of South Asian women throughout the hardships of migration. Shiva looks back on her hockey career, finding common ground with the past struggles of her mother and current challenges of immigrant women making a new life in Canada. She makes roti with Shweta, who left her life as a famous film star in India to join her husband in Fort McMurray. Shiva gets back on the ice after a long hiatus with pro player Dampy Brar, who is on a mission to teach the South Asian community the game he loves - and to teach the hockey world about his community.
Fort McMurray, Alberta
DARKNESS TO LIGHT
This episode, filmed during the festival of light known as Diwali, focuses on the new era of Indo-Canadians rewriting the script on family as they celebrate a fresh take on cultural traditions. Shiva meets up with a fascinating new generation including comedian Laksh Gill, scientist Dr. Harwinder Sidhu, Punjabi-Cree artist Madeson Singh and community builder Dr. Pardip Athwal. Back at home, Shiva’s mom is moved into long-term care. Now no longer living full time with her mom, Shiva faces the sudden reality of becoming an empty nester and finds joy in cooking her mom’s traditional Diwali recipe.
Lethbridge, Alberta
WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY?
This episode introduces Shiva’s incredible rise as one of Canada’s youngest female sommeliers and connects it to the world-famous farm to table and vineyard culture in Kelowna. Shiva looks inward and contemplates the impacts of living in fear of social judgment and a common reprimand of her childhood, "what will people say?” She reaches out to other trailblazers including the family-run Kalala Organic Winery, The Paisley Notebook's Aman Dosanj and Jennifer Deol of There and Back Again Farms. Shiva takes the wheel as she learns to drive and plans a special outing to surprise her mom.
Kelowna, BC
ROUNDTABLE
Roundtable discussion with Priyanka Desai (writer, director and producer), Shiva Reddy (host), Satwinder Bains (Author and Associate Professor at University of Fraser Valley), and Mannu Sandhu (Producer of South Asian Film Festival iSAFF).
Vancouver, BC
PRESS & MEDIA
Spice Radio
The Province
Vancouver Sun
Global News Morning BC
CTV News Vancouver
Georgia Straight
CBC Listen
VITA Magazine
Vancouver Magazine
Scout Magazine
Revelstoke Times Review
Kelowna Capital News
Similkameen Spotlight
Eagle Valley News
Golden Star
Keremeos Review
Salmon Arm Observer
Penticton Western News
Summerland Review
Cold Tea Collective
The Vernon Morning Star
West K News
Lake Country Calendar