The elegant danseuse Alokananda Roy, who bagged the Miss Calcutta Title in 1969 and does social work through dance therapy and cultural therapy, says that she loves all kinds of festivals.   

“I love any kind of festival because it’s a joyous occasion,” she expressed to Tellychakkar.com at the recently held ‘The Great Awadhi Kabab Festival’ at Oudh 1590. 

Showing her fondness for kabab she said, “Kabab is a well known dish. Its softness and tenderness make it a lovely platter. It should be relished in a fine ambience.” 

The festival also saw her delightfully gorging on Tandoori Teetar (Quail).

“I found this food item quite unique. I have never tried this before,” she said about the dish.            

Sensing her love for food we asked the lady to share her first cooking experience. Laughing out loud she quipped, “I am too old to remember my first dish. I think it was phenabhaat (starched rice).”      

Talking about the recipe she is amazing at preparing, she shared, “It’s a chicken dish that I prepare using garlic and green chilli. It is easy to make and is very tasty.”  

When quizzed if she has any disastrous cooking experience, the classical dancer promptly replied, “Yes, I have one. Once I tried to prepare khandvi using Bengal Gram flour (besan) and curd. However, it turned out to be something else.”

“When I gave it to my (late) husband he said, do one thing use it as a face pack. I don’t want to try a dish prepared of besan and curd,” she added with a warm laugh.   

Speaking about her favourite dishes, she said, “I love to eat kalo jire diye ilish macher patla jhol (soupy ilish fish curry prepared using nigella seeds) and shutki mach (dry fish).”  

We also wanted to know if she eats to live or lives to eat to which the powerhouse of talent smiled and stated; “Now I live to eat because if I eat more then I would not live.”  

Smart philosophy, we must say!!!  

In 2012, a film titled Muktodhara, directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy, was made based on Alokananda’s path-breaking therapy work with the inmates of Presidency jail.   

For more updates stay hooked to Tellychakkar.com.