How I got introduced to Raja Rasoi and Anya Kahaniyan
Netflix was new in those days. Circa 2014. I came across the show – Raja, Rasoi, aur Anya Kahaniyaan, while flocking to Netflix a few years ago. Despite of not being a foodie, I love watching all kinds of food shows – Masterchefs, Chefs on Food Journeys (Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsay, Rick Stein et al), and shows detailing food science (The Twin Experiment, Salt Fat Acid Heat etc). Due to my Varanasi connection, I began the show by watching the episode about Banaras. I got hooked. I recall binge-watching five of them in a row.
Connection with a friend
I have known Aishwarya Lahiri Khanna for a decade. Aishwarya and I were fellow bloggers back in the day. Once I was visiting India and some of us, the blogger divas (Indiblogeshwaris), decided to meet. When we met at Indian Coffee House in Delhi (with a few other passionate bloggers), Aishwarya bought home baked cake for me (us). Her Instagram handle is full of beautiful pictures of food. Do try out some of her recipes, they are amazing (the mango cake is my favourite, considering the season, I would highly recommend it). Anyway, I digress but who can stop me from talking about my friends? Raja, Rasoi, aur Anya Kahaniyan is a creation of Raghav Khanna, who happens to be Aish’s husband. Written by Raghav Khanna (Season 1 & 2) and Vivek Singh (Season 3 & 4), and directed by Akshar Pillai (Season 1), Gaurav Mehra (Season 2, 3 & 4), Raghav Khanna (Creative Director Season 1, 2), voiced over by Manvendra Singh.
Why I love the show
Raja, Rasoi, aur Anya Kahaniyan is a series based on the culinary cuisines of different cities within India. While quite a few are metropolitans, the show takes us to the bylanes of Coorg, Murshidabad, and Jambughoda amongst others.
Amidst the plethora of recipe contests, the show stands out due to its storytelling. The research behind every dish is thorough. The excellent camerawork, flawless Hindi narration, and rich geographical and historical information make this a standout. While the focus is on regional cuisines, the intriguing history behind some of them adds an extra layer of interest. The voiceover by Manvendra Singh makes the show truly stand out.
There are four seasons – Season 1 with 11 episodes, season 2 with 24 episodes, season 3 and 4, and season 4 with 5 episodes. Each episode is enriched by historians like the renowned Pushpesh Pant, who provide context on why and how certain dishes originated and persisted over time. Featuring members of once-royal families, whose kitchens birthed these dishes, alongside contemporary restaurant owners celebrated for their mastery of the same recipes, the show offers viewers a seamless progression of how cuisine has evolved from the past to the present.
Why should you watch the show?
Watch the show to know the history of India and its diverse culture, the diverse cuisines that bind us all together. Watch Seasons 1 and 2 on Amazon Prime and Seasons 3 and 4 on Epic Channel.
Are there any shows that you would recommend?
This post has been written as part of #BlogchatterFoodFest organised by Blogchatter