This Ramadan is extra special for young actor Shane Nigam as he is still basking in the amazing success of his movie Kumbalangi Nights and is busy with a handful interesting projects as well. Shane shares some of his most beautiful memories of family gatherings and mouth watering iftar delicacies.
His mother's ancestral home is at the heritage city of Mattancherry in Fort Kochi while his father, late actor and mimicry artist Abi hailed from Muvattupuzha. On the day of the Eid, he would attend the special prayers at the Perumattam mosque in Muvattupuzha. After that the family would head to Shane's mother's house in Mattancherry to enjoy the scrumptious meal prepared by his grandmother with so much love. Shane’s maternal grandfather had died when he was a kid. His uncle, who works in Kuwait, would be home every year to celebrate Eid and he would gift toys to all the kids in the family.
Shane says that he would never forget to visit his relatives' homes to collect his share of ‘padi’ (monetary gifts given to kids by elders). “I still fast as much as I can. There are two major mosques close to my grandmother's house. The Pattalam mosque was built for the soldiers who came from Hyderabad during the days of the World war. From there you could walk to the Kalvathy mosque. My grandfather was buried here. It is one of the oldest mosques in Fort Kochi. The mosque, built in 1384, still stays the same. I used to pray at his tomb before every exam and on the day of Eid,” recalls Shane.
Shane has no qualms to declare that his grandmother prepares the most delicious food. He is particularly drawn to the mouth watering biryani and the special meat rice. “My grandmother would ask our preferences in advance and prepare everything for us. Meat rice is my favourite while my father loved tapioca and meat. I have always loved to hang around Fort Kochi. Masala tea is sold from autos parked in the beach. The special tea brewed with a mix of spices costs just Rs 5. I still can taste the incredible flavour of that masala tea. I am not finicky when it comes to food. However, I want to enjoy seeing lots of food on the table. I usually order lots of dishes whenever I go out to eat with my friends. But I wouldn’t be able to finish everything. I am regularly scolded for wasting food. However, I haven’t been able to change that habit,” admits the actor.
At his father’s ancestral home, Eid is the occasion when the entire family gathers to have an amazing time. Shane has three uncles and an aunt from his father's side and he loved to have a blast with his cousins. The kids' gang would be in the upper storey of the house where they played cricket and often smashed the windows. “We wouldn’t care even if we are scolded. One day, while in college, I heard that the ancestral house was sold. I and my father’s brother’s son Masahir headed to Muvattupuzah on a bike. We wanted to be inside the house where we had grown up and played so much, for one last time. By the grace of God, the back door of the house wasn’t locked. We got inside the house and clicked many pictures as well. Even now, when I pass through Muvattupuzha, I just go and take a glance at the house,” reveals Shane.
