How Cinema Doughs It

“JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD”

We all could not help but relate with Joey from Friends because no one comes between us and our significant other! Those bright, close up shots of a camera panning across the scene, the mere sight of something roasting and sizzling has always been able to distract us from films into making that rather dreaded walk to the kitchen only to hop back in with a packet of chips. Be it the bowls of ramen that our favourite Korean drama characters slurp up or the soothing and colourful anime shots, food in films has always stirred our interest and left us with rather insufferable cravings. As aesthetically pleasing and highly gustatory it might be, it has also proven itself as a potent device of powerful storytelling by often being attached with notions of class, social hierarchy, emotions and carnal appeasement. Or just gluttony.

Our earliest memory of food in films comes from following the chocolatey wafts coming from Willy Wonka's factory and being as delighted and tempted by it as little Charlie was. I bet we were not the only ones who went on gobbling chocolates after watching it. And when Remy flattered us with his culinary flair in Ratatouille, we wished for nothing more than a friend like him to pop up in our lives and treat us to generous portions of happiness every day.

Food is also an important ingredient in the tricky recipe of love; the ability of humans to bond over food is one of our favourite tropes in cinema. An imperfect Hyderabadi zafrani pulao from a grumpy Amitabh Bachchan can surely elevate the Cheeni Kum in our lives to something sweet and lovely, coupled with someone as perfect as Tabu. In an exquisitely beautiful scene, Lunchbox warmed us when Ila made malai koftas to make that sweet way into Sajan’s as well as our hearts while also reminding you of the highly instrumental role that Mumbai’s dabbawalas play in knotting the heartstrings of a rather busy city with love and joy. Too wholesome to handle actually.

Through various dishes and forms of cooking, cinema makes effective use of food as a symbolic element - associated metaphorically with feelings of anger, desire, catharsis and patience. In Naseeruddin shah’s Rogan Josh, one sees the parallel between the preparation of a mutton dish and the eventuality of a mishap, leaving us in complete awe of such connections. While in Tisca Chopra’s Chutney, the overpowering condiments of dark intentions mixed with a sly (creepy) narrative made us feel a multitude of emotions very similar to the one felt on the first lick of spicy, flavourful chutney. Definitely makes us crave for more.

Directors even employ food to pack in layers of meaning in bite-sized formats. While milk becomes the object of social manipulation within Inglorious Basterds, food talk between Mia and Vince reflects what Pulp Fiction stands for - that there is more value in consuming ‘low-brow’ material than people give it credit for. And even though people remember Goodfellas for its fights and gunfire, we sure had some hunger pangs from seeing all that Italian home cooking.

Some stories use food as an essential character detail, making it an additive in the journey of self-discovery and empowerment. What first comes to mind is a subtle yet chilling Shefali Shah, intruding the centre of power and challenging male authority just by sipping Juice. Also, remember that moment when Rani sold golgappas in Amsterdam? Not only were we yearning for the spicy street food, but we cheered for our Queen too. When it comes to English Vinglish, laddoos become the communicative component in focus through which Shashi connects with others and gains their affection.

A manifestation of art itself, food in cinema has always held a very special spot by either guiding the narrative or being the cream in the bun for us. So much for blabbering about food, it's time you do some visual feasting yourself!