About Me

Chavadi Chronicles
My childhood was divided between the bustling streets of Mumbai and the tranquil serenity of my maternal grandparents’ home in Bejai, Mangalore. Every school vacation was an escape to this haven. Most days, I would either daydream or quietly observe from the jaali (courtyard) as guests conversed with my Mallapapa (grandpa) on the chavadi (porch), often over bonda (tender coconut) and kadoli parndh (dwarf bananas). This was followed by cha (tea) or badaam milk (sweetened almond milk) with biscuit rotti or goli bajes. Seeing the smiles spread as snacks got passed around, little me figured food was like a big hug that brought everyone together

Illadha Vanas
My real fascination was in the Atil Kone (kitchen), where my Amma (grandmother), Krishnabai Bangera, created her culinary magic. She was known across our extended family and neighborhood for her delectable cooking, feeding an army of people almost every day. My mom doesn’t remember days when it was just her parents and siblings at home. There were cousins, friends, uncles, and aunts who came and went, and a few who even camped over for days. My superwoman Amma was always ready to feed them all. Her touch made the simplest saar, gassis, and kajipus taste heavenly. My mum, Nishi Salian’s food, is a blend of the same flavor and love from Amma’s kitchen, and she is my primary source for documenting recipes. Every home or illa has slightly tweaked versions. Hence, rather than calling this the quintessential Mangalorean recipes website, I call it a Mangalorean home recipe collection dedicated to the two culinary magicians, Amma and Mom, who have passed down this priceless treasure-box of recipes.

My love for photography blossomed quietly, almost imperceptibly. It was my first film camera, Nikon FM10 with a 50mm f/1.8 lens, that made me see the world differently. Film cameras make you think, pause, and then shoot. I found my favorite subjects in real people and real food—capturing them just as they are, with all their imperfections and scars. Armed with a good prime lens, which I believe is a game-changer, I began the journey one photo at a time. From film cameras to digital to iPhoneography and everything in between.

I constantly look for details that can be celebrated in the ordinary. When shopping at sabzi mandis, a wonky-looking badane (eggplant) ‘speaks’ to me. I ask the bhaiya to pack it along with the rest of the purchases, excited to make it my muse of the day or when the bella-tarai mix topped with ghee gleams in the morning sun, I run to grab my camera! Perhaps all this is poetic, but photography makes you romanticize the most mundane subjects.