The flick ‘Hridayam’, directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, and its central characters, Arun and Nithya, have left a lasting impression on the minds of Malayalis. What equally impressed them was a particular scene in the film that unfolds in a culinary crescendo. The hero and the heroine find themselves in a quaint little eatery. Before them, a platter adorned with bun porotta, succulent beef, and a generous serving of sambar sadam materializes. The allure was so profound that several foodies found themselves on a quest in search of Ayyappetan’s shop to taste the bun porotta and beef.
The film was received well by the audience in neighbouring Tamil Nadu as well. The proof of this is a local restaurant in Chennai adorning walls with the porotta scene from the movie. Now a movie buff, who goes by the name Karthik D P, has taken to ‘X’ and posted the image of actors Kalyani and Pranav from the movie, dining at the eatery. The actress was delighted and shared the image on her social media platform as well with a ‘thank you’ note.
The ‘Parotta Date’ restaurant located in Velachery has adorned the walls with various porotta references in movies on its walls. Hridayam’s porotta reference, the only one from a Malayalam film, is also painted on the wall. “It’s fascinating how a small 2-minute scene impacted the lives of many,” wonders Karthick in his post. Kalyani shared the image on her social media account, reflecting that the same is “totally unexpected and a wonderful gift”.
“This is proof that the movie is much loved by many even after three years of its release,” reads a comment below the image. Another one opinioned that the movie tops the best in the list of feel-good cinemas in Malayalam. Similarly, numerous fans have commented on the picture posted by Kalyani as well.
The eatery visited by Pranav and Kalyani
Kollengode in Palakkad district has been witnessing an influx of visitors ever since it found a place on the list of India’s top ten most beautiful villages a few months ago. However, Ayyappetan’s restaurant began to witness a heavy rush even before that. Driven by a desire to translate the cinematic experience into a tangible culinary adventure, many began to stop by the eatery where Pranav and Kalyani savour the bun porotta and beef in the movie Hridayam. The buzz only got louder as Vineeth Sreenivasan praised the dexterous culinary skills of Ayyappetan on his social media handle. The eatery has earned its reputation as a local treasure, drawing food enthusiasts and curious palates alike with its delightful array of dishes that pay homage to the rich tapestry of flavours unique to the area.
Ayyappetan’s shop is located at Edachira in Kollengode. The sumptuous meal, which includes pappad and kheer, served during the noon hours, is quite popular among the foodies. Even before it became famous through the cinema, many film personalities had dined here. It was through them that Vineeth Sreenivasan learned about the gastronomic haven. At the heart of the morning menu are the iconic dosa and porotta, served along with delicious side dishes like kuruma, sambar, chutney, and chilli chammanthi. The lunch menu unfolds from 11.30 onwards, with fish, chicken, and beef specials ensuring a fine dining experience for the food lovers.
While the hero Arun in Hridayam has popularized the bun porotta through his description, the same is not usually served in Ayyappetan’s shop. Instead, what he prepares is soft, fluffy porotta expertly roasted in the stone oven. But if one insists on bun porotta, the same is offered, the only thing is that they have to wait for some time. A tasty beef curry is served as an accompaniment. Since the commitment to regional flavor is a cornerstone of Ayyapettan’s kitchen, each bite is an invitation to savour the essence of a homemade meal, prepared with love, care, and an unwavering commitment to showcasing the authentic taste of the community. Along with steaming rice, one is treated to flavourful sambar, thoran, avial, pickles, and pappad, besides the delicious kheer. There will be changes in the side dishes on each day.
