Paratha Club

Picture this - you roll into Peckham at 7pm and the air is warm with the scent of sweet incense and the soft glow of diyas flickers along the bar. At the bar, you are offered stuffed parathas – served with butter, yogurt and a selection of indian pickles. You tuck in, catching up with friends as the food fills you with comfort. Once you’ve eaten, a steaming cup of masala chai and a sweet treat are offered to you. You settle in together, chai and treat in hand, to watch a film – the perfect end to a soul-nourishing meal.

This month's paratha stuffing: Tofu Scramble Bengali Style

This month's films: A love supreme, Body of Our Own, TBA

A bit about the movies —
(1) A Love Supreme - Nilesh Patel’s short film is about a mother creating a samosa. It’s shot beautifully and feels like I’m watching someone’s memory rather than a narrative. It finds beauty in the everyday - almost feels like something shot by Satyajit Ray with an incredible score that accompanies it by the iconic Lata Mangeshkar. It’s a really special short that I’m excited to show you at Paratha Club.

(2) Body of our Own - Rahemur Rahman’s + Lily Vetch’s short film follows 3 Hijra’s - Momo, Neshi and Jannat and explores their friendship, freedom and self-expression in a world that seeks to erase them. It’s incredibly intimate and almost feels like you’re being let in on a secret. It’s one of those films that lingers with your soul after you’ve watched it. This feels incredibly important to watch at a time like today, when trans communities are being erased in South Asia. It's shot beautifully and has a score that matches it perfectly.

(3) TBA

This will be the first time Paratha Club will be showing a series of short films by independent directors. It will also be the first time we’ll be gettting a short intro by directors aswell. I’m incredibly excited to show you these stories which beautifully capture the divine feminine energy - in all it's forms.

Timetable

7-7.45pm - Paratha time

7.45-8pm - Time to get some chai and a sweet treat and a chance to go to the restroom before the film starts

8-8.15pm - Intro from Director Nilesh Patel

8.15pm - A Love Supreme starts

8.30-8.45 - Intro from Directors Rahemur + Lily

8.45 - Body of Our Own starts

9.05-9.15 - Short break

9.15 - Final film starts

11pm - End of event

All items are 100% plant-based.

Allergen Info

Paratha - Gluten, Soy

Sweet Treat - Soy, Tree Nuts, Sesame, Gluten

Masala Chai - Oat milk
A bit about Tava Rakh - Tava Rakh is a plant-based food business run by me, Mala Lal. Tava Rakh means ‘put the hot plate on’ in Punjabi. It’s a phrase my mum has said while growing up and signals the start of cooking (which means there’ll be tasty food I’ll be eating). Growing up in a Punjabi household meant I was constantly surrounded by rich Indian comfort food that was always indulgent and full of flavour.

Food has always been a big part of who I am – I always turn to cooking when I want to unwind and relax after a big day. There’s nothing more perfect to me than a good playlist and cooking with all my favourite veggies. The nostalgia and warmth I feel from having a crispy pronta with yogurt, pickle, butter, and a cup of masala chai to finish the meal is unmatched. It’s a feeling I’d like to share with you.

Insta: @tava.rakh

Website: www.tavarakh.com

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