Delhi Delight

All know that Delhi is the capital of India. But it is also the capital of tongue tingling, tasty food that you will find nowhere. And trust me on that one. Delhi is home to the mouth watering chaats (fruit chat, in particular!) samosas, kachoris and a special array of sweets. But the ever-so-yummy “chole” takes the cake. You got to taste it, to believe it! Not that I have traveled a lot, but I have never, tasted such delicious chole in my entire life! Though almost all cities in India dish up so called “Delhi chaat”, they have never been able to accomplish that extraordinary flavor that Delhi provides.
And this time while I was in Delhi, I just simply had to visit THE place for chaats and chole bature- Roshan di Kulfi in Karol Bagh. What surprised me was that even after so many years, it continues to retain the exact same taste in its dishes. It’s a small place, specializing in chaats and kulfi (and hence the name) and usually crowded with its regulars. As you enter the eatery, the aroma of the dishes cooked right outside lures you almost hypnotically. And you are left wondering which dish to select and what to taste because each one of them look absolutely finger licking! But you have to consider the capacity of your stomach and the aftermath of hogging onto such food (many wouldn’t mind, I know!) and that’s exactly where the tragedy of this whole thing is. To even think of letting a few items go untested is devastating. The only solace here is that you can always come back and taste the rest of the stuff whenever you want to.
So now, whenever I’m in Delhi, I know that I can go to this one place where I get to taste the authentic Delhi flavor and satisfy my taste buds to the utmost delight each and every time. And I also know that I’ll never be wrong!

A genius called Sreenivasan

If someone were to talk about the superstars of Malayalam cinema, only two big names come to mind. Mohanlal and Mammootty. But there is another actor who may not be as glamorous as these two, and yet a superstar in his own right. He is short, dark, does not look anything like someone who should be in front of the camera. Apart from being a brilliant actor, he is also an amazing story writer, screenwriter producer and director. And when you see his movies, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

He is Sreenivasan.

The supporting actor or the comedian or the funny con man, whichever role he plays, he is impressive. Sometimes he is right there getting punched, embarrassed, making silly faces and dancing with his two left feet. And sometimes he just touches the heart with his deep, thought provoking movies and stories that are unforgettable. What amazes me most is the way he humors himself. Several movies written and acted by Sreenivasan are masterpieces but I cannot resist mentioning two particular movies that showcase his witty side. One is Vadakku Noki Yanthram in which he plays a husband who is so conscious of his average looks that he suspects his wife of having an affair and how he ends up looking totally idiotic in front of his wife and family. This movie won him the state award. Another movie worth mentioning is Paavam Paavam Rajakumaran- my personal favorite. This movie is about a simple, stingy bachelor –played by Sreenivasan, who shares his rented house with 3 other guys and how these guys cheat him into falling in love with a girl. Hilarious and at the same time a powerful performance by Sreenivasan. He doesn’t mind debasing and humiliating himself on screen to get his thoughts through. Which actor would risk that these days?

A serious comedian and film maker who is not here for glamour and not here for minting money. He is here for a sole and a responsible purpose- to entertain. And he is a genius at it.