Bengali Chef Films Find Niche Amid Food Blogging Frenzy
Image Source: Internet
Kolkata, West Bengal - As his latest Bengali film 'Ranna Baati' garners attention, filmmaker Pratim D Gupta believes the growing influence of food bloggers and social media influencers can pave the way for the wider acceptance of chef-themed Bengali films. The film explores the world of professional kitchens, celebrity chefs, and culinary ambitions, but at its core, it's about the emotional connection people have with food - how it connects us to memories, love, and loss. Gupta, a journalist-turned-filmmaker, says the title 'Ranna Baati' was chosen to evoke the warmth and homeliness of Bengali cuisine. The film marks his return to food-based storytelling after 'Maacher Jhol' and is part of a growing 'Chef Universe' genre in Bengali cinema. Gupta believes that the popularity of food reels and chef vlogs on social media shows that people are emotionally hungry for stories about food. He thinks that cinema can tap into this emotion with sincerity and that chef-themed films can explore identity, ambition, and healing, going beyond just recipes. 'Ranna Baati' tells the story of a widowed father and his teenage daughter, who find common ground in cooking. The film is about rebuilding relationships through food and is a departure from 'Maacher Jhol', which was about rediscovering one's roots through food. Gupta is optimistic about the future of food-themed cinema in Bengali and believes that the city of Kolkata is emerging as a culinary capital, with a rich and layered culinary identity that blends British, Mughlai, Chinese, Armenian, and purely Bengali influences. The film features Ritwik Chakraborty and Sohini Sarkar, who bring an organic chemistry to the screen. Gupta plans to take the film to both mainstream and food-themed festivals, hoping to share the aroma of Kolkata's kitchens with a wider audience.
