Abhishek Srivastava's review of Born Hungry, released on November 28, 2025, presents a compelling look at this documentary drama produced by global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The film has received a 3.0 rating from both critics and users, indicating a solid, well-received production that resonates with audiences.
From Chennai Streets to Culinary Success
The documentary traces the remarkable journey of chef Sash Simpson, who survived childhood hunger on the streets of Chennai before finding redemption through food and family. The narrative begins with fragments from his difficult childhood—marked by hardship, hunger, and fleeting comforts—before transitioning to his present life as an established chef who has rebuilt his world far from where it began.
What makes Born Hungry particularly effective is its measured approach. The film never raises its voice or resorts to melodrama. Instead, it observes Simpson's life with a steady gaze, allowing memory, movement, and food to exist on equal ground. This restraint becomes the documentary's quiet strength, with the rhythm allowing moments to breathe and settle naturally.
The Human Story Behind the Chef
The film reveals how Sash was left alone as a child in Chennai before his life transformed when he was adopted by the Canadian owner of an orphanage. Born Hungry moves seamlessly between his early memories and his years growing up in the orphanage, eventually leading to his relocation to a new country.
While the life story is undeniably compelling, the review notes the documentary occasionally loses momentum. Some portions feel slow, and certain emotional moments fail to create their intended impact. However, what consistently holds the film together is Sash Simpson himself—at times reserved, at other times quietly expressive, he becomes the undeniable heart of the production.
Through his story, we understand how growing up without steady food or family shaped his concepts of care and survival. His longing to belong manifests in simple acts: making a meal, walking through familiar streets, or indulging in memories from the past. The film finds its most powerful moments in these quiet, personal revelations.
Technical Execution and Lasting Impact
In terms of technique, Born Hungry remains assured and observant. The camera lingers effectively on surfaces and spaces—fingers slicing ingredients, steam rising from cooking pots, crowds moving through narrow streets, and the steady hum of professional kitchens. The transitions between past and present are generally smooth, though the narrative occasionally slips into familiar emotional patterns that soften its edge of surprise.
The music sometimes underlines feelings more than necessary, though it does help guide viewers who might not typically gravitate toward quieter storytelling. Where the film truly excels is in how it connects one individual's life to broader themes of care, loss, and chance.
Born Hungry avoids making grand statements about systems or inequality. Instead, it lets daily experience speak for itself. Through cooking, teaching, and returning to places once marked by fear, Sash's journey becomes a reflection on how compassion can redirect a life. The moments where food becomes a bridge between people feel particularly alive and meaningful.
The documentary ultimately stays with viewers more for its human presence than for any formal boldness. It offers a clear, approachable story of survival, memory, and the persistent pull of unfinished belonging. While those seeking formal innovation or deeper structural examination might find it restrained, Sash Simpson's steady warmth—resilient, grounded, and quietly searching—carries the film effectively. It doesn't try to shock audiences, but it remains with them quietly long after the credits roll.
