Movies

Lately, I saw Aarya-2, a telugu film starring Allu Arjun and Kajal Agarwal. The movie was bad and yet again, I had struggle discussing the movie with some of my film buff friends, who think that this is good and much entertaining.

The term ‘ Entertainment’ has taken a different shape in the telugu film industry altogether these days. If any conversation or situation brings the slightest possible smile on the face, it is being called entertainment. The broader the smile, the bigger is the entertainment. A protagonist who can marry a girl to hand over her to his friend to keep up the friendship is quite something. And yet, it is entertainment to the people. It is us, the viewers whose values have degraded. We are amused by the character of such heroes.

There were days, when people used to make films like Shankarabharanam. Also films like ‘ Miss Pamela’ starring Silk Smitha hit the screens, but everyone knows which one is made of what material and especially for whom! Pathetically, the standards went too low, that the audience is unable to see the difference of the material anymore! Yet, we believe that quality of the art is increasing just like the quality of infrastructure.

Film making is just like any other art. In fact greater than all the arts, as it is a cumulative product of all the arts. But, how good are today’s films to the society? Had a character like Shah Rukh's in Darr not there, the youth probably won't be so possessive about it's so called lovers. The incident at Virginia Tech University was inspired by a Korean film called Oldboy. I personally know a 26 year old man who started smoking after watching Mahesh babu enjoying a puff in the movie Okkadu. And still movie analysts praise these products as art. If someone questions the impact on the society, they are eventually called orthodox and low in taste.

Personally, I am not against the themes of the above mentioned films. But there has to be some kind of differentiation that has to be pumped into the character. For example, the Joker from The Dark Knight is culmination of evil and it was portrayed so. The dialogue refers to this fact throughout the film. This leaves a bad taste towards the character in one's mind and it is less likely that we accept the deeds and less likely to follow them in real life. But, how good are films with Shah Rukh Khan playing a baddie when he is a hero personified to crores of people around the globe?

We give so much importance to various factors like taste, ambiance, hospitality etc., when we visit a restaurant. If any of the above factors fail to impress, we vow to ourselves not to return to the restaurant ever again. If such importance is given exercising our choice for food for the body, what should be the importance that has to be given to the food for thought? One has to understand the impact of a film on the society before praising it and giving it a thumbs up. This will change the overview of the creators of so called art and helps increasing the quality of a dying art.

Sangham Saranam Gachami

Hyderabadi Biryani

What's the fun in talking about Hyderabad and its culture without the taste of Biryani. Biryani was brought to Hyderabad by the invading Mughal army of Aurangazeb under the command of Khaja Abid, the father of the first Nizam of Hyderabad. The time taken for the preparation of Biryani is less compared to that of traditional food like Rotis and /or Rice cooked in steam. This became an excuse to use Biryani as the food for the soldiers in times of war. The rich ingredients like all the masalas(Spices) and meats along with Basmati Rice cooked in Ghee were perfect for energizing the soldiers in comparatively less amount of time.

The Nizams of Hyderabad perfected the recipe with the spices available in South India, placing the Hyderabadi Biryani in the top of the list. Biryani made in Hyderabad is far better than its variants available through the corners of the world as it is more spicy and rich in taste.

Ingredients

• 1 kg: Meat
• 750 gm: Semi cooked rice
• Sautéed brown onions to taste
• 1 tbsp: Ginger garlic paste
• 1 tbsp: Red chilli paste
• 1 tbsp: Green chilli paste
• ½ tbsp: Cardamom powder
• 3-4 sticks:
• Cinnamon
• 1 tbsp: Cumin seeds
• 4-5: Cloves
• 2 tbsp: Lemon juice
• 250 gm: Curd
• 4 tbsp: Clarified butter
• A pinch: Mace
• Mint leaves to taste
• 1 tsp: Saffron
• ½ cup: Water
• 1 tbsp: Salt
• ½ cup: Oil

Preparation

Hyderabadi biryani is of two types, the Kacchi(raw) Biryani and the Pakki biryani. Kacchi biryani is prepared with raw meat, which is marinated in curd and then cooked along with the rice by sealing the handi (vessel) with a layer of dough, and is cooked on dum - steaming over coals. This is a challenging process as it requires meticulous attention to time and temperature to avoid overcooking or under-cooking the meat.

In Pakki biryani, the meat marinating time is shorter, and the meat is cooked before being layered with the rice and cooked in a dough-sealed vessel. In Pakki Yakhni (with cooked gravy), the ingredients are already cooked before baking. The gravy is redolent of mace, ittar and kewra. Saffron and cardamom are also used.
There is also a vegetarian version of the biryani, which is made from vegetables such as carrots, peas, cauliflower and potato.

Biryani is best served along with Mirchi Ka Salan and Raita. A soda like coke or Pepsi will add to the taste of Biryani.

Hyderabad features many restaurants which are famous all over the world. Some of them are Bawarchi, located at RTC ‘X’ roads, Paradise Hotel in Paradise circle, Secunderabad, Bahar in Bashirbagh. If you are looking for a late night Biryani, Al-hum-Dulillah in Mallepally is the place. Personally, I like Hyderabad House’s Biryani.

Enjoy your Biryani.