• The story behind Jayaflava; a documentary on travel in the tropics 

Travelling is a dream for many. Yet for cookbook author Tasha Marrikar, this dream is now a reality. Marrikar combined her love for food and finding the unknown in a six-part travel and food series which will air on National Geographic South Asia. 

“Jayaflava began as a book because I wanted to create the Sri Lankan cookbook I wish existed when I was growing up,” Marrikar said at a press conference held on the 17th of February. 

Her documentary will air across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives on the 20th of February with a repeat every Sunday. 

A love for food 

What motivates Marrikar the most is her love for the authentic and oftentimes unknown versions of Sri Lankan food and her passion to take that food into the world. 

“I wanted the flavors that felt real, not diluted, not apologetic and definitely not written for someone who thought murunga was a trend,” she said. 

She stated that who better to bring Sri Lanka food into the world than a Sri Lankan. 

“I wanted my cookbook to represent Sri Lanka as I know it; multi-ethnic, modern, chaotic, generous, opinionated and absolutely obsessed with flavor,” she said. 

Sri Lankan food has already had some recognition over the years with food bloggers and internationally renowned chefs such as Peter Kuruvita popularising it over the years. 

However, Marrikar quickly realised that if she was going to make Sri Lanka stand out on the world stage, she needed something unique and utterly irresistible. This was the reason she combined her love of food with her journeys. 

Adding authenticity 

Marrikar doesn’t just want to showcase Sri Lanka, she wants people to understand the nature, history and culture that makes the island so unique. 

“Sri Lanka is often represented as one of two things; a postcard or a tragedy,” she said. “What is usually missing is the truth that we are a country full of humour, talent, creativity, contradiction and a very strong opinion on food.” 

Marrikar said that she looks forward to showing every side of Sri Lanka in Jayaflava from people fighting in the kitchen to creative bars and restaurants all across the island. 

One of the plus points about a series like Jayaflava is the tourism potential it could bring to this country. Every year tourists flock to Sri Lanka to witness the natural, historic and cultural wonders that are unique to our country. 

“When tourists do come we need to showcase the best we can showcase about Sri Lanka,” at Cinnamon Hotels Senior Vice President Kamal Munasinghe, said. 

And more often than not, many of our visitors are curious about the unique and diverse cuisine of our country. 

“Our food became the way it is because food carries everything from history,identity, migration, community and resilience,” Marrikar said. “Every dish tells a story and if you slow down long enough to listen, you hear it.” 

Marrikar said that while intriguing Jayaflava is not for the faint of heart. 

“This was never meant to be a slow, polite travel show,” she said. “Sri Lanka is not polite; it’s funny, it’s loud and it’s dramatic. I wanted to capture the jokes, the energy, the nightlife and the modern atmosphere of Sri Lanka that I actually live in.” 

Jayaflava to the world 

Marrikar hopes that Jayaflava will not only entertain audiences but also change how Sri Lanka is perceived globally.

“I hope people see Sri Lanka as a living, evolving place,” she said. “Not just somewhere to visit but somewhere that creates, experiments and inspires.”

She also hopes Sri Lankans themselves will see their own food differently.

“I want Sri Lankans to feel proud,” she said. “Our food deserves to be taken seriously because it reflects who we are.”

With its mix of travel, storytelling and food, Jayaflava promises to offer a perspective that goes beyond the surface. Instead of presenting a curated version of the island, Marrikar’s goal is simple.

She wants to show Sri Lanka as it truly is.