Pilankar Masale

If you walk down Rajaram Road near Parvati Talkies, you'll find our spot at Plot No-1036 E. We've been running Pilankar Masale right here for a good amount of time. It’s a small operation, mostly family and a few helpers from the neighborhood. We spend a lot of time grinding spices. The air inside the shop is always thick with the smell of chili and turmeric, which makes everyone sneeze if they aren't used to it. We don't use fancy packaging with shiny gold letters. We just put the powder in clear bags and label them so people know what's inside. The machines are a bit old and they make a lot of noise, but they get the job done right. Customers usually just stop by while they're out doing their other shopping. We talk to them about their families while we weigh out their orders on the scale. Sometimes we run out of certain things if the harvest wasn't good, but that's just part of the business. We don't try to be something we aren't. We are just spice grinders who want to make a living. The shop is small and can get crowded in the evenings. We keep the doors open to let the breeze in when it gets too hot. It’s a busy life, but it’s ours. We just keep our heads down and keep working on the next batch.