Menu card of Unnikrishnanan

The name B. Unnikrishnan brings to mind the director of films like Madambi and Grandmaster, but beyond the tag is a man who is involved in a lot of activities. He was the general secretary of the film employees federation FEFKA and is also the MD of Aries PlexSL Cinemas in Thiruvananthapuram which boasts of state-of-the-art double-4K projection facility and 64 channel Dolby Atmos sound system. He also owns the Vismaya Studio in the state capital and recently added another feather to his hat by distributing Allu Arjun film Yodhavu in Kerala through his banner RD Illuminations.

The man is very much occupied and his phone never stops ringing with him answering a host of queries related to films. In spite of his busy schedule, Unnnikrishnan has decided to try out another venture, but at a completely different ball-game — one that would have the masses eating out of his hands — the hospitality department. In his own words, “The idea of starting a restaurant came to me some years back when I was sitting in a very arty theme-based café. This dream of a restaurant was something I had been harbouring for a while and only now did I get space in Thiruvananthapuram to fulfil it. Food excites me and serving tasty food is great.”

It is not surprising that the restaurant would be named after one of his films. “It is named Grandmaster’s Kitchen after one of my favourite films.” Spread across 5,800 square feet, the restaurant will open very soon and the film- maker would follow in the steps of a long list of actors who have their own food joints. So what would be the USP of his eatery?

“At the restaurant you, would be able to see a cross section of Malayalam, Indian and global cinema on the walls. There was also a lot of research involved in the menus and the chefs. I travelled far and wide to get the best chefs in the business and we have Chinese, Thai and Arabian fare served along with typical South Indian dishes. We have not forgotten to include our own Kerala cuisine and you would be able to savour Malabari and Kuttanad cuisine as well. So it is basically an amalgam of various local, national and international dishes.”

In film lingo, it can be equated to a multi-starrer with actors from across the industries acting in one mega film.