Raja Krishna Menon’s Chef , which turned 7 on October 6, teases our appetite for cinema. It’s a delight to watch— warm, inviting, and appetizing – served up in a dainty dish with a dash of debonair but played-down like a master chef at work, who is shy to show off his skills but cannot help it. Food, as a cultural binder, is a far more vital metaphor in India than in America. Instinctively, Menon understands the deep and indelible connection between food and family in our culture. Much in the same way that music binds human relationships, food is a great unifier. The narrative teases the cooking and food into human relationships without making culinary conceits a fetish in the plot. Food is vital but not in-your-face in Menon’s Chef. The director understands the difference between appetites and feelings.
As the film clocks 7 years, Zoom caught up with Raja Krishna Menon exclusively. Here is what the director had to say.
Raja Krishna Menon Speaks On 7 Years Of Chef
What was it like cooking up this delectable dish?
I had the greatest time making Chef. Saif was a dream to work with, as were Padmapriya and Svar Kamble who played his son, Dinesh Chandan, and all the rest of them . It was an exploration of a father-son relationship for me loosely based on the original rather than a remake.
Did you dig into your own feelings to make Chef?
In many ways, it was introspection on my own relationship with my son. I’ve had so many people, surprisingly a lot of young people reach out to tell me how much the film meant to them, so it’s been very gratifying.
How much did you deviate from the original French Jon Faveau film?
Quite a bit actually. We used the structure, being estranged, and food, especially what that means to us as people but we approached the script from an Indian family point of view rather than the slightly colder American approach to a father-son relationship.
Why aren’t there more films on food and cooking in India?
That’s food for thought. There have been a few beautiful films especially in regional. It doesn’t make sense that there aren’t more.
ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE! Director Raja Menon Opens Up On Genesis of Pippa, Casting Ishaan Khatter
How was Saif Ali Khan to work with?
He’s wonderful with kids and Svar and he really bonded with the boy. We spent some time in prep together and they built a relationship from there. Svar is also a very interesting kid with a very grounded background so they had a lot to learn from each other. He went to film school so he’s going to be a part of our industry but I’m not sure which dept that would be. He’ll be a great asset and is an exciting talent so I’m looking forward to seeing what his future holds
Why didn’t Chef work at the box office?
I think we got the marketing wrong for one and, maybe audiences weren’t looking for that genre of film seven years ago. The film has garnered quite an audience online so I like to think the film resonated with a lot of people. I don’t generally dwell on the films I’ve made because they are an expression of a time and space that all of us were living in at that point.
Your next film?
It’s a great time to be writing interesting new and very different material so that’s what I’m doing right now. I am using the general slowdown in our industry is facing to rethink the stories I’m telling. Be really true to myself and try and get rid of the cynicism that tends to set in after so many years in the industry.