October 18, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Screened to packed houses at the Toronto and Los Angeles Film Festivals, Cooking With Stella has been receiving rave reviews from audiences and critics alike and the film has now been selected to be the closing night screening at the 10th Annual Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in New York this November.

This lighthearted, satirical, social comedy starring the versatile Seema Biswas, Lisa Ray, Don McKellar, and Shriya Saran, is about an unsuspecting couple who inherit a household of Indian servants when they are posted to New Delhi by the Canadian Diplomatic Service. The captain of this ship, Stella (Biswas) the head cook, is a wily and charming lady and an inspired cook, who is not only creative with her recipes, but also at padding her salary. The roller-coaster ride that is this delightful little film has viewers watering at the mouth for Stellas yummy food and Biswas (and the other artists) stellar performances.

Cooking With Stella has been the talk of the town in the festivals it has been to so far. In Los Angeles, the cast was literally mobbed by strangers after the screening with fans wanting to personally praise the director and actors. In Toronto, the crowd went wild seeing the team of the movie arriving in authentic rickshaws. We wonder what surprises the film and the cast and crew will have for viewers at the New York Premiere at MIAAC. Whatever it is, Cooking With Stella is sure to wow audiences yet again.

Anar Anand | Sampurn Wire