Remembering Anthony Bourdain

He was a chef, a traveller, and a writer- a rare combination of talent. I don't recall how I first got to know him, but I think it was while browsing TV channels on an idle evening. Some cookery shows in the past few years have caught the fancy of a lot of us, and his might have been one of those. But his good looks and personality made his show different, and also the way he introduced local culture, street food etc. to you. It seemed like the next best thing to travelling there.

I remember reading a regular who-dun-it penned by him, though I forget its title (Maybe it was Gone Bamboo). It was not bad at all, for someone who was not a regular in that genre. But he seemed to enjoy trying different things. Apparently he did write columns and articles, starting with The New Yorker, no less.

It is surprising though, that (it seems) he killed himself by hanging. Why, one wonders.

Chef- Film Review

This is the one starring Saif Ali Khan and Padmapriya. My major motivation was to watch the latter in action (she was my student at KIAMS), and I came away impressed. There is a simplicity to the plot (it is not original, but a remake of an English film), that makes it an easy and enjoyable watch.

The parts of Kerala you glimpse in various shots add to the charm. At one level, you could call it a story about Father-son bonding. It is also about a relationship gone sour but one that both partners are dealing with to the best of their ability, putting the son first when they can, while pursuing their own dreams.

The film picks up steam once the food truck/bus comes in, and becomes a kind of road trip which gives some scope to introduce Goa and Raghu Dixit into the script. The song that results is fun ( a lungi song?) and natural.

Having lived in Calicut, I was able to connect to the Labour Union demands and the toddy shop (yes, I have visited one). Must mention Milind Soman, and the actor who acted as the kid. Both were very good. There is situational comedy, and understated acting in general, a welcome change from the over-the-top stuff we get from Bollywood.