Born in 1969 in Dornach, a small town near Basel, Oliver Paulus studied film making in Germany’s Baden Wüttemberg and won several awards and worldwide acclaim for his earlier films like “When the right one comes along”, “So long, my heart” etc. Is there a common strain that runs in all of his movies? “There is,” he admits. “All my movies have as their leading character an underdog, who has a dream, wants to achieve something and has to fight for it. I find the subject emotionally touching, when there is someone on the fringes of society but is proud of himself, believes in himself and strives for something.” In Tandoori Love, Raaja, the cook, is such an underdog.

Is there a scope for more such films based on Bollywood themes? “I don’t see much space for that. But who knows, that might just happen.” He expects the film to strike a chord with the NRI populations worldwide as he thinks most NRIs may be able to relate to the clash of cultures as shown in the movie.

The film was screened in Zurich under the auspices of the Gruezi India festival organised by the Indian Association of Zurich to commemorate 60 years of Indo-Swiss Friendship Treaty. It is now slated for a screening at the Goa film festival in November which would be attended by the Swiss prime minister.