South Indian movies, eateries making good biz

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 23

If the Carnival Cinemas in the city screens four movies a week, two of these have to be South Indian, those, too, in Telugu and Malayalam. And the shows go packed at least three days a week.

The growing number of South Indian population, especially in private universities, colleges, Jalandhar Cantonment, branches of Karnataka Bank and Catholic Syrian Bank, Christian schools, hospitals and churches, has led to the developing of business related to the community.

This week, the theatre is showing three shows a day of Telugu film MCA, Malayalam film Masterpiece is also getting a good response.

Earlier, this month, the theatre screened two Telugu movies — Jawaan Intikokkadu and Oxygen.

Prateek Kaushik of Big Cinemas, says, “Since our multiplex falls in-between cantonment and Lovely Professional University (LPU), most people are coming here are from either side.”

The popularity of the community can be gauged from the fact that there are at least 12-odd restaurants in the city that exclusively serve South Indian food and all have been doing a good business.

While Vrindavan on Cool Road and Sagar Ratna near GNM Chowk have already been drawing big crowds, Vanakkam that opened in Model Town and Eden, that serves authentic Keralite food, including roti made of rice flour, on Garha Road, too, have been big attractions.

A recently-opened South Indian store in Gurjaipal Nagar is catering to the tastes of the community, with the products coming from Kerala.

Special South Indian food and ingredients like masala rice, pure coconut oil used in South India only, banana chips, huge Tamilian ginger and vegetables including zimikand are finding many takers.

Binoi , the owner of the store, says , “Almost 3,000 South Indian population, residing in the city didn’t used to get regular South Indian ingredients , but with the opening of this store, all community people are frequently visiting their store and asking for more such products. Most of their customers include Bishop House staff, sisters from the nearby convent schools, staff from Sacred Heart Hospital. The South Indian students, too, are now elated getting home-made spices available at our outlet”.