Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Biryani's Calcutta Chronicle

It was 13th May, 1856. A steamer came ashore at Bichali Ghat near Metiabruz in Calcutta (present Kolkata) and landed the eleventh and the last King of Awadh, Abul-Mansur Mirza Wajid Ali Shah (also known as the Nawab of Awadh) along with his khansamas and bawarchis. He had fled from Lucknow after losing his Kingdom to the British. It is then that a distinctive style of biryani was introduced from the kitchen of this Lucknowi Nawab which eventually became famous as The Calcutta Biryani.

It is said that golden fried potatoes were used instead of meat as the poor couldn’t afford meat and still now potatoes are used giving it a unique flavour with infusion of light spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, mace along with cloves and cardamom in the curd-based marinade of the meat, which is cooked separately from rice. This combination of spices with a few strands of saffron and a dash of rose water not only gives it a distinct flavour but also a rich aroma compared to other styles of biryani.

Now coming to The Shiraz Golden Restaurant, mononymously known and famous as Shiraz was established in 1941 by Mohammed Arshad Ali and Ali Hussain at 56 Park Street. In 1972 one Shamshuddin Bawarchi had joined the restaurant as a cook, and introduced a new recipe of preparing biryani. One of the ancestors of Shamsuddin was a cook of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. It is said that since Shamshuddin Bawarchi’s joining, Shiraz has never looked back till date and now has quite a few outlets in Kolkata & around and also one in Dubai.

During my recent visit to Kolkata, I had made sure to not miss this vintage (to me atleast) restaurant and its famous Biryani and keeping the ongoing crisis (pandemic) in mind and maintaining all the precautions I finally managed to enjoy the scrumptious Biryani along with another delectable dish, the Rezala. Cheers.

(with inputs from Wikipedia and Ei Samay)



Chicken Biryani and Chicken Rezala


Chicken Biryani

                                                                           Chicken Rezala

Friday, September 25, 2020

Excerpts of Arin Paul's interview for Iran’s 16th Resistance International Film Festival, 2020

Excerpts of my interview for Iran’s 16th Resistance International Film Festival, 2020: http://moqavematfilmfest.ir/en/News/231/Indian-filmmaker:-Wear-Mask,-Wash-Hands,-Maintain-Social-Distancing .

Azaadi Virus Se (Freedom From Virus) selected as The Official Selection at The Festival, Tehran, Iran, 2020 in the “Health Defenders” section.

Watch Azaadi Virus Se on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KMJ1Rx49jFI .

INDIAN FILMMAKER: WEAR MASK, WASH HANDS, MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING

Monday 21st of September 2020 12:01 PM

Paul graduated from the Asian Academy of Film & Television (AAFT), Noida, India in the year 2002. He started his career as an assistant director in Delhi and has assisted many film-makers in Delhi and Kolkata. He debuted as a Feature Film Director in a Bengali movie in 2008. He was also responsible for the concept and the story of the film.

Iran’s 16th Resistance International Film Festival has held an interview with Arin Paul, an Indian filmmaker.  

The excerpt of the interview follows:

Paul graduated from the Asian Academy of Film & Television (AAFT), Noida, India in the year 2002. He started his career as an assistant director in Delhi and has assisted many film-makers in Delhi and Kolkata. He debuted as a Feature Film Director in a Bengali movie in 2008. He was also responsible for the concept and the story of the film.

He has been working on various projects such as web series, short films, documentaries, video documentation, corporate films, commercials (ad-films), television and others. He has made films for esteemed organizations such as Kolkata Traffic Police, Handi-Care International–Canada, Anandabazar Group (ABP Digital), Amar Seva Sangam, Development Action Society, TERI, USAID, Coca-Cola, TVS Credit, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Reliance Energy – Mumbai, FOSMI and others.

He was awarded the 'Rotary Youth Achiever of The Year (2008)'. His short film “Aehsaas” on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan won the “Certificate of Excellence” from National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Ministry of Information & BroadcastingGovernment of India in 2017. Quite a few films made by him have been screened at various film festivals all over the world.

Question: Please tell us about your film. How and why you made it?

Answer: “Will Power, Determination and Unity had led to our Independence. This Independence Day Let Us Once Again determine to unitedly defeat our enemy. Wear Mask, Wash Hands and Maintain Social Distancing. Let's Break the Chain... Not the Bond.” That’s the theme of our film, ‘Freedom From Virus (Azaadi Virus Se)’ which was an effort made for Indian’s Independence Day (which falls on 15th August every year) this year. We made the film to make our citizens aware of the usefulness of the guidelines to be followed for safety from the virus.


Q: Which fact was the primary motivation for you to make a film related to the Coronavirus pandemic and doctors' and nurses' efforts as pioneers in defending people's health?

A: India was in a state of lockdown from 25th March’20 and the country’s citizens went in to a state of shock and disbelief all this while as the virus was spreading all over. It was then that we all learnt to stay safe by wearing masks, using hand sanitizers and keeping maintaining social distancing. Though, sadly we found that as the lockdown was given severe relaxations people were not following the basic guidelines. Hence, we (specifically, Ananya Arin Paul) came up with the idea and the film was given a shape.


Q: What is the most noticeable or memorable thing regarding the process of making this film during a pandemic?

A: In this project the most memorable thing was the briefs to the sketch artist. The hours we spent over phone. He (Shiladitya Ghosh) was located some 2000 kms (in Kolkata) from us (Mumbai) and yet it was no hindrance in the process.


Q: What subject would you choose if you want to make another film about the pandemic after controlling this virus's spread?

A: India saw a wave of migrant laborers’ movement from big cities to their villages, towns amidst lockdown. We came across umpteen stories of humanity all this time. People walking in extreme heat for 900-1200 kilometers and yet happy. The struggle of all these children, women and men make for an intense humanitarian film which I would love to capture. One particular story that just came to mind is the journey of a young girl by a bicycle to bring her father back to village. She cycled almost 1000 kms. Incredible. There are so many more such incidents of joy and agony which can be brought forward.

Q: Let us be a little reminiscent as the last question; if you had a choice to choose only one person to watch your film in the cinema, who will be your choice? And who do you want to give your film as a gift?

A: None other than the master craftsman, legendary filmmaker, Late Shri Ritwik Ghatak.


 

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Brown Blistering Barnacles!!! The Case of Changed Sandal.

 

It was a perfect Monsoon Sunday morning with continuous down-pouring and as usual our society dog, Doosra (I call him by that name as he spends his day at our second floor) was lazily sleeping outside our door, perhaps inhaling the smell of the delicious breakfast, getting prepared in my kitchen.

My usual morning chore was to get the daily dose of the headlines from the newspaper, when I decided that it was the day, I am ought to complete a long pending task - cleaning the shoe rack. Thanks to the lock down, hardly any shoes were of use except one daily wear Sandal (chappal). Post my breakfast of, Aah!!! Some delicious Paratha with Egg – Potato special Tarkari (Dry Curry), and a cup of coffee, it was now time for some action.  I opened the shoe rack and slowly started dusting and arranging, and being carefully observed by Doosra, who in fact callously sat and enjoyed seeing me go through all this hardship, keeping a cautious distance from the dust. 

Anyway, to my relief the rack was done, clean and clear, shoes shining. Finally, the pending stuff was now complete. I was about to go for a bath when my eyes suddenly caught on an astonishing sight. To my utter shock I noticed that the left pair of my sandals (the regular wear one) looks different in the sense that its exactly identical to the right pair with the logo, design even the size intact but the colour. God knows how, the left pair has turned a darker BROWN while the right pair is still of the pastel shade of skin and I was damn sure it cannot be mine; it wasn’t mine of course.  

Now, had it been the second half of the day, I could have still justified a reason for my delusion (ahem! the weather definitely was promising for a peg or two but I was behaving myself). Poor me, this was some bizarre coincident! Seems, the saga of the conspiracy of my missing footwear continues.

It was one fine evening a few years back, after wrapping up my days’ work at Malad, I decided to seek blessings of the famous Lord Icchapurti Hanuman Ji. The temple was nearby only, just a few blocks away. So, I went inside, apprehensively slipping away my favourite shoes at the designated spot. Let me say, I am a bit picky about my footwear (everything actually, and I feel a lot pain to part way from them). For the past 10 years I had been accustomed to the comfort of a particular brand, which is a bit expensive but worth the money. A man was sitting nearby with a blank face, staring at everyone including me, as if he was in a trance. Trying to dismiss all the ominous warnings playing inside my mind with certainty that I have placed my shoes at the safest corner (according to me), I, even turned quite a few times to check on my shoes and was relieved to find them untouched. But by the time I returned, my shoes were gone and so was the man. And then the flower vendor showed me the WARNING NOTICE hanging on the gate, ‘Be careful of footwear as the Temple Management is not responsible for missing footwear’.

I was irritated and sad and moreover I will have to return all the way home either barefoot or buy a new pair.

Adding to my misery, my friend (whom I called up to share my pain) concluded the whole mishap to be rather a divine intervention, having my shoes being stolen from a religious place, indicating Good fortune was imminent.

Well, the only divine thing happened that I could remember was, I had to shed some bucks unnecessarily to get a new pair of shoes from a nearby store, which was obviously neither my brand nor my choice.

Coming back to my current misery, this time, my sandal was replaced from none other than my very own home, that too during the lockdown period when visitors were not even coming. I was determined to solve the mystery behind my misery this time. So, like ‘Chase the Virus’ agenda, I started ‘contact tracing’ in my mind.

Well, I had gone to the market yesterday.  But of course, I didn’t slip the left sandal out of my feet and exchanged with a stranger on the road, neither did I enter any sanctuary to get it misplaced with the exact same one with a different colour.

A divine intervention indeed again, I felt for sure, when suddenly I recalled of the two engineers who had visited my place a day before to repair my internet connection. Is it one of the guys, who by mistake slipped into one of my pairs, leaving his behind? Both me and Ananya were sure that the goof up happened by one of them only, though it was weird that he had exactly identical pair like mine but the colour. Happy and confident with my deduction, I immediately called up one of them to find out if that’s the case. But no, not at all. Alas, again, another missing footwear, ‘Blistering Barnacles’!

But wait, that was not the end of my ordeal!

After three days, I was supposed to go out for some reason when to my surprise, I found my good old pair was there! It was puzzling... shocking... how was it even possible?

Well, after a few moments of blankness, a thought suddenly struck me and well yeah, I solved the case instantly. On Saturday, I had gone to the market and somehow the left pair of my sandal got wet. I didn’t notice that. The soft velvety texture turned dark due to water and it was not dry by next day, thus reflecting a BROWN colour. And thus, the whole confusion of the misplaced sandal and the reason of my silly agony.  Now, after three days, the sandal was completely dry and to my delight had gone back to its usual colour. Eureka!!!

Thank God!!! I had not thrown them away immediately!!!

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

HANSESWARI TEMPLE


I visited this beautiful, alchemical, castle-like temple in the Hoogly District of Bengal, India a few years back. The story, legend, the folklore and architecture related to the temple is fascinating. A King named Raja Nrisingha Deb Roy Mahasay’s dream made this temple a reality.


The Hanseshwari Temple situated at Bansberia near Kolkata is called the abode of “Our Lady of the Cosmic Goose” by scholars aware of the alchemical significance. This name combines alchemically with the Black Virgin in the Western Tradition, as well as the alchemical immortals of diverse traditions. This temple is a true example of “Tantrik Satchakrabhed" or the “sat-chakra-bhed or piercing of the chakra nerve plexuses.” This is sacred Tantrik architecture expressing the microcosm in the temple's structure, which is symbolic of the Human Body.


The temple has 13 lotus petaled, conical sikharas (spires) and has five stories representing the five parts of our Human body: Bajraksha, Ira, Chitrini, Pingala and Sushumna.

According to the folklore, the King was a deep student of kundalini yoga and six chakra, and the Goddess Hanseswari came to him in a dream. Hanseswari is worshipped as a form of Maa Kali as Rani Hanseswari was the mother of Raja Nrisingha Deb Roy, Kali is worshipped as Maa Hanseswari.


King Nrisinhadeb Roy Mahasay, who erected several other temples, unfortunately died mid-construction in 1802, with his wife finishing this project in 1814. He was an avid Tantrik practitioner and spent the last years of his life devoted to Tantra. This temple is dedicated to these principles expressed in the sacred Tantrik architecture and symbolism and in the sanctum are the supreme two deities Lord Shiva and goddess Shakti. The Shakti is named as “Hanseswari” and an image of white “Lord Shiva” is found to be lying on six triangular marbles. The idol of goddess Shakti is in blue color and carved in wood derived from “Neem tree.” The idol of Lord Shiva is made in white marble. This is beautiful alchemical symbolism of the different polarities reconciled, inverted and reflecting the core aspect of its opposite.



Thursday, April 9, 2020

Apsara Hotel atop Malanggad Hills at Kalyan, Maharashtra


When you trek for 4-5 hours and finally get to eat some delicious food you do feel special. One such occasion was this at Apsara Hotel atop Malanggad Hills at Kalyan. We had been there today in 2016 and it was one memorable trek. The Dal Fry and Roti at Apsara was such a relief for the tummy and tasty for the soul. Thought of sharing. #ApsaraHotel #Malanggad #Kalyan











Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Sarvi Restaurant, Nagpada, Byculla, Mumbai.

In 2016, I happened to visit, what was once referred to as 'the den of the dons', Nagpada. Surrounded by the dreaded areas of Pakmodia Street, Dagdi Chawl, Jairaj Gully, Shuklaji Street and the by lanes of Kamathipura, I was thrilled, I must say. Nagpada has literally witnessed the transformation of Bombay to Mumbai with the infamous Gangsters, Gang lords, Gang wars, street fights, shootouts, encounters so has ‘Sarvi’. Standing tall opposite to The Nagpada Police Station in Byculla, this Restaurant without a Signboard was established in 1914 by an Iranian Shia gentleman. History says, the Iranian Cafés in Mumbai were mostly founded by the Zoroastrian and Shia immigrants from Iran, who, during the early 19th century had walked all the way from Iran through Quetta, Karachi, Lahore, before reaching Bombay, Poona, Hyderabad for a better life. Sarvi speaks about that bygone era and served whom not – the Godfathers and The Godmothers, the intelligence, the spies, the informers. With spacious sitting arrangements and later a part upgraded to an air-conditioned section, Sarvi is a Kebab Lover’s Fantasy. The Finest, The Tastiest and The Softest Kebab’s, which simply melt in the mouth are served here. Apart from the Kebab’s, I was also bowled over by taste of their ‘Chelo Kebab’ which still lingers in my mouth and I crave for more which reminds me, I should be visit, soon.


A Friend at Sarvi.


Chelo Kebab and Kebabs


Chelo Kebab


Kebabs


Kebabs

Monday, March 16, 2020

Radio Restaurant, Musafir Khana, Mumbai

Overcrowded with people and garment stalls, as we pass through the dingy Musafir Khana Road, a small lane near Crawford Market, Mumbai, we look for and finally find a go-down hidden behind the garment stalls with a small entrance. As we enter, we see huge shabby walls and sprawling sitting arrangements which remind us as rumoured, that from the 60’s to early 90’s this was one of the places for sumptuous meals for the ‘gang lords’ and ‘crime lords’ of Dongri, Dockyard and so. We are at the ‘Radio Restaurant’ established in 1935 with a present footfall of over 8000 daily. As we settle down with these thoughts and concentrate on the menu, we have again triggered our anxiety (maybe); Murg Taliban (Chicken), Kheema Ghotala, India-Pakistan (Rice Dish. It serves four people) to name a few. We start with some kebabs which are truly awesome. Then as we order “Mutton Taliban” and “Roti” we also think of having some “Gurda Fry” but wait, the waiter warns us that we will not be able to eat so much. Surprised by the caution we do not order and wait for what we have already ordered. After a while as we start eating, we realize that it is something we have never tasted before. A taste so different and mouth-watering. The meat is so soft. Post the meal the ‘Caramel Custard’ is also a must try something like a perfect dessert. Going by the goodwill of the place, you will simply be surprised by the superb taste of food. It’s delicious. Not to mention the quantity or the super reasonable pricing. One visit is never enough and do plan to go in numbers because you alone may not be able to finish off the serving. It is difficult to locate but do try your map or ask locals around Crawford Market to guide you to this Classic. Cheers.







Mutton Kebab


Mutton Taliban


Caramel Custard


Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Saraswati Puja at School.. Nostalgia


#SaraswatiPuja #SchoolDays
After we left school the craze and attraction for the Saraswati Puja at school craved for more. It was then we realized how important part of our lives this particular day was. After leaving school, I was back on Saraswati Puja every year maybe for the next 4-5 years. That day was a so-called unannounced Reunion Day. But with time it faded away into memories of a lifetime. I, particularly was never associated with the intricacies of the Puja at school maybe because there was always Saraswati Puja happening back home including today. But the fun and nostalgia associated with the school is unforgettable. What actually we did when we visited was boss around because we had found this new title, Seniors or Ex-Students. We would visit the store room which was our Sanctum Sanctorum. This room would usually be locked as fresh vegetables, sweets (particularly umpteen Rasogulla’s) and cooked food were kept inside. And we would somehow sneak in every year and vanish with a bucket full of Rasogolla’s. Yes.. Bucket.. And eating those stolen Rasogolla’s were something I can never explain. And each one of us would eat maybe 10-20 pieces. At any other given time, even today I cannot eat more than 3-4 Rasogolla’s at one go. But this day and at that time anything was possible. It was Joy, Satisfaction, Happiness and what not. But how long does these stay for? Not for long. It happened so in my last visit during Saraswati Puja. As we entered and bossed around, a teacher spotted us and asked us to follow him (For my class-mates it was Ranjan Sir). We followed thinking what he was upto. He straight took us to the locked store room. I was thinking that is he going to let us guard a room which is most vulnerable to us only? Nah, nothing such happened. He unlocked the door and went in as we waited outside. In sometime he was back with a bucket full of Rasogolla’s and handing it over to me he said, every year you all do it secretly, this year I am giving you, have it openly. I, rather we all were awestruck. He handed over, smiled and left with the store room open. We initially surprised with what just happened started gulping down but after a piece or two I realized I was not enjoying it anymore. The fun, the joy, the happiness, the satisfaction had suddenly disappeared. I could not eat a piece more. Strangely that year for some reasons I had missed the lunch also. That was the last time I had visited school during Saraswati Puja. It has been long, very long. The school is also not the same as it used to be. Quite a few years back the school buildings were redeveloped and now it doesn’t look a place where we grew up. But these stories will never fade away.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Meetha Pan

#MeethaPan
I suddenly wanted to have a 'Meetha Pan (Sweet Betel Leaf)' and so I stopped by a road side Pan Shop. As the Panwala started preparing my Pan some wonderful daily life activities were going on which I feel like sharing. As the Panwala prepared my Pan, two people (probably daily customers) were chatting with him. One of the customer was proudly showing a few photos of his new family member, a puppy which he has bought for ₹15000. They all were engrossed how good and cute the puppy was. As I glanced, I too liked it. Meanwhile, a hurried customer came and asked for something and hurriedly left. Then came a teenager who bought a cigarette. Behind him was his girlfriend (am sure about this). The girlfriend was unhappy about him smoking and the way he smoked he looked foolishly immature showoff'ing something which he could've done without. By the way, my pan was still in the making with all those silly ingredients that make it difficult to put it inside the mouth at once (because it becomes so huge). The love and hate of the couple continued a few metres away below a tree when finally I get my silly pan which I couldn't put inside my mouth at once and had to take three bites while spilling some masala. Oh.. What trouble.. And I walked away chewing.. Life goes on.. ðŸ˜Š

Kissa Wallet Ka

#KissaWalletKa
Well, have you ever lost something and found it back again? Particularly your wallet. I have, twice. Here is the first incident which occurred a few years back. I was travelling to Mumbai from Kolkata in Duronto Express. I have a habit of keeping my wallet in the back pocket and when sleeping in the train I keep it in the front pocket. And when travelling alone I prefer the upper berth. The upper berth is a kingdom on its own. 😉 Anyway, so when going to sleep what I did was I kept my wallet on the upper berth and started climbing up and would take it once I am up. That’s my usual behavior. The scene happened next morning. I woke up to find my wallet missing. A sense of extreme panic engrossed me. My kingdom was at stake as I couldn’t find my wallet anywhere. I came down and asked people around (maximum were still asleep). The train was at Igatpuri, I remember. Those days the stoppage at Igatpuri was a technical stop as a for addition of a second engine due to the ghats. I boarded at the station and looked for the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) who was stationed in his cabin near the pantry car. I hurried to his kingdom in order to file an First Information Report (FIR) as someone told me that’s the norm. I had also managed to write the complaint on a blank sheet of white paper as per suggestions from the people around. I reached but he refused to take it. What he suggested was that when I de-board at CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, it wasn’t CSMT then) I should file the FIR with Government Railway Police (GRP) at the station. An amused me, hopelessly started back to my seat as the train was also about to leave. Suddenly it clicked my mind that my debit cards should be immediately blocked and as a responsible person I hurriedly called up the bank 24/7 helplines and blocked all my cards. I wondered how will I reach home as I didn’t have cash or card. I called up a friend who was unavailable. My wife was out of town and I didn’t want to bother her. Finally, a dejected me came and sat with gallons of thought in my mind. I searched the place once again to no avail. Meanwhile a person who was sleeping in the side lower berth woke up and seeing me searching he suddenly asked, have you lost your wallet? I was like, yes, Thank God I have found it. But no, he informed that late night a wallet was found and it was with the person in the next coupe as he asked around but didn’t find the owner. I found a ray of hope as I went to check but he was sleeping. Now every minute was like an hour to me. I kept waiting for him to wake up impatiently. Meanwhile breakfast and all that was served which I could hardly eat but gulped down. Finally, after an hour and a half or so, he woke up. And I approached him asking if it was my wallet. He was an elderly man travelling to Mumbai with his daughter. He asked me my name and verification. I said my verification is inside that wallet if he may check my PAN and cards were available. He did and after an eternal morning I got my wallet back all safe and sound but, but the story doesn’t end here. The next few hours till CST the elderly man kept giving me advice on safety and life and youth and what not, which I had listened patiently without uttering much words. I was thankful then and even now. It was an incident and a journey I would never forget. 😊
*N.B.: Will share the 2nd Lost and Found Wallet Incident soon.