Life of 'Pi and me'

 Hello Folks!!!

“There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them”.

It is soon going to be a year since I went to dance class and met my teacher and all my friends. The impact of the global pandemic in my little life! It was so blissful, wearing my salangai (anklets), tapping my feet and dancing to the beautiful swaraas and keerthanas sung by my guru.

Nowadays when I miss my dance class, I go and watch a movie. You might wonder what’s wrong with me. I’ll tell you, I don’t watch any movie, just one particular movie, the Oscar-winning ‘Life of Pi’. Pi Patel, surviving in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, in the company of a fierce tiger, catching and eating the only food available in plenty- fish, fish, and only fish. What a sad life. It was not Pi Patel and his adventures that glued me to this movie. There was someone else.

I watch the movie to feel that magical presence of this person. The vibrant voice, enigmatic smile and invincible energy instils so much positivity and happiness in me. She is there on the screen, playing her nattuvangam (cymbals), singing and teaching the girl ‘Anandi’. The legendary Padmini Ramachandran.

She was my guru, the great danseuse, choreographer, actress, the world-renowned exponent of the Vazhavoor style of Bharatanatyam, the sculpturesque poses of which exudes the sublime elegance and grace of the dancing damsels of Tanjore temple walls.  It has been more than 5 years since she left to her heavenly abode. Watching this movie is a way for me to connect with ma’am again and say those words I always wanted to tell her. ‘What always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye’, I agree with Pi Patel.

She used to say that when we dance, we are not just performing for the ‘rasikas’. It is a great exercise for the brain along with benefits it provides for the body. I used to learn in her ‘Natyapriya’ academy during the daytime and sometimes she would ask me to go to her Hutchins road house for further lessons. During these visits to both her places, I understood that something was common between us other than our great passion for dance. Both of us had a secret love for something, the food that kept Pi Patel going throughout his struggle, his heavenly ‘manna’. We both loved fish and we both loved dance. Today I’m going to share a fish recipe that I can eat for as many dinners I will ever have and I’m sure, ma’am also would have loved it.

KERALA STYLE FISH FRY

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

1.Fish fillet – 4

2.Ginger garlic paste- 1 tbsp

3.Pepper powder – 1 tsp

4.Chili powder – 1 tbsp

5. Turmeric powder – 1 tsp

6. Salt – to taste

7.Curry leaf – a few sprigs

8.Coconut oil- for shallow frying

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a dish, add ginger garlic paste, chili powder, pepper powder, turmeric powder and salt. Add a little water and mix it into a paste.

2.Marinate the fish in this paste and keep aside for half an hour.

3.In a frying pan, heat oil and place the curry leaf sprigs. Once they start to splutter, arrange the fish fillets on top and fry both sides until light brown. Be careful while turning the fish…. It’s very delicate.

4. Serve with sliced onions and lemon wedges.