Sometime in the 1970's Lucknow, a Bengali young man Ranajoy Roychoudhury (Sudip Sarkar) falls in love with Afreen (Anuradha Mukherjee), who is his best friend Mansoor Ali Khan's sister. Ranajoy's very first gift to Afreen is a recipe book from Nawab Wajid Ali Shah's kitchen, containing a secret recipe to the most delectable Biriyani, fit for the royals. Afreen hails from a rich family that also runs a restaurant Durbar-e-Afreen that serves Biriyani to the less fortunate every day and Afreen immerses herself in the newly acquired recipe, now appreciated widely among the restaurant's patrons as well as those in the family. In those conservative times, the love between a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy was considered a social disaster, and hence Ranajoy and Afreen elope, heading to Kolkata, their relationship disapproved by Afreen's family, whilst Mansoor is away for his higher studies in London. In the hurry to run, Afreen tucks the recipe book safely in her room, and forgets to take it along.
Fifty years have passed by since then. Ranajoy (Chiranjit) lives with Afreen (Suhasini Mulay) in Kolkata now, but yearning for the taste of the legendary Biriyani that Afreen hasn't been able to cook ever since she left Lucknow. It's a must for Afreen to access the recipe book from her brother's home from where she stands banished. Her granddaughter Panchali (Sauraseni Maitra) will have to act as a bridge now for forging a potential reconciliation between the old friends, between the brother and sister who haven't met in over 50 years, and extract the recipe book. Panchali decides to travel to Lucknow, cooking up a facade of researching old family cooking traditions and finds a shelter in Mansoor's (Jayant Kripalani) home. The rest of the story is about Panchali's search for the book, reinvigorating the lost relationships and retrieval of the affection that was once the foundation of happier times.
Daawat-e-Biriyani is a sensitive story of intercultural love and friendship with the delectable Biriyani forming the centrifuge. Lucknow looks stunning as the backdrop, its historical monuments, family houses, bustling markets (oh! Hazratganj), and traditional eateries give the movie a great foundation. It's a simple story sensitively directed by Aditi Roy, heartwarming, oozing an old world charm. The bond between the young generation and the aged grandparents is portrayed with tenderness. Sauraseni Maitra is convincing in her role of Panchali, although I wish she had used better Urdu in her conversations. Jayant Kripalani exudes masterclass as the liberal patriarch, giving stability to the proceedings, whilst Suhasini Mulay is absolute sunshine, bright, energetic and well nuanced. In comparison, Chiranjit is subdued. Anuradha Mukherjee as young Afreen is quite impressive. Do watch Daawat-e-Biriyani for its tugging at your heartstrings.
