Born Hungry Review: Sash Simpson’s Biopic Inspires But Fails to Impress on JioHotstar

‘Born Hungry’, now streaming on JioHotstar, attempts to trace the extraordinary life story of chef Sash Simpson—from being abandoned on the streets of Chennai to becoming a celebrated restaurateur in Toronto. Directed by Barry Avrich and co-produced by Priyanka Chopra, the documentary sets out to explore identity, loss, belonging and a search for origins. But despite its powerful premise, the film falls short of delivering a compelling emotional experience.

Sash, who was discovered as a child living on Chennai’s streets and later adopted by the Canadian owner of a local orphanage, recounts his early struggles and fragmented memories. He then grew up in a large adoptive family with 22 children in Canada before building a successful culinary career. Over its 1 hour 18 minute runtime, the film follows him as he confronts painful recollections, visits the orphanage that sheltered him, and tries to trace the truth about his biological parents.

While the story’s real-life arc is undeniably moving, the documentary fails to translate its emotional weight to screen. Scenes intended to evoke empathy appear rushed, lacking the kind of detailed storytelling that connects viewers to Sash’s inner world. The open-ended conclusion, instead of provoking reflection, leaves the narrative feeling incomplete.

Surprisingly, for a film centred on a chef acclaimed for his eclectic cooking, Born Hungry also misses the opportunity to showcase his culinary brilliance. Viewers expecting rich visuals of food preparation, kitchen craft or gastronomic philosophy will be disappointed, as the documentary offers very little in this space.

Despite strong production credentials, Born Hungry struggles to find its flavour. While Sash Simpson’s resilience is inspiring, the documentary’s execution feels flat and unsatisfying. Unless you have a specific interest in his life story, you may find more engaging options among the new titles streaming across platforms this week.