The future of storytelling is becoming multi sensory.
An immersive dining experience where food and film come together as one. What began as a personal intersection of being both a movie buff and a foodie has evolved into a space that reimagines cinema through taste. ‘For me, it has never been about just serving food. It is about reimagining cinema through taste, through the palette’ shares Nitika, founder of taste cinemas.
At what point did you start seeing food not just as consumption, but as storytelling?
‘To be honest, I think the entire food space has really evolved. Dining is no longer just about eating, it is about experiences, creating memories, building connections, and feeling something beyond the plate.
Over the last decade, this shift made me realise that food is not just something you consume. It carries emotion. It can take you back to nostalgia, to moments you did not even realise you were holding onto. People do not just want to eat anymore, they want to feel something.
And for me, that is where food transformed from simply eating into storytelling.’
If you had to describe Taste cinemas visually, how would you do that?
‘A space where aesthetics meet emotion. Every detail is thoughtfully designed, from plush velvet seating and marble tables to cinematic lighting and a large screen with immersive sound. The idea is to make you feel like you have stepped into a film. One that you can also taste.
It is an intimate space, created for people to come together and share an experience.
It is difficult to fully put into words because it is something you have to experience for yourself. People often walk in with a certain expectation, but when they leave, their expressions say everything. And for me, that feeling is what makes it all worth it.’
How do you design a menu that aligns with a film’s narrative arc?
‘It is a layered and collaborative process for us which begins with the team coming together to brainstorm films, usually classics that people love and can revisit multiple times with the same excitement. Sometimes, If we are juggling between a few options, we even involve our audience through polls to decide the final film.
Once the film is locked, the real work begins. I personally curate the menu, which means watching the film at least 3-4 times and going through it scene by scene. The idea is to identify key emotional and narrative moments and translate them into dishes inspired by those scenes.
At the same time, the menu has to work as a complete meal. We structure it thoughtfully with elements like an amuse-bouche, a welcome drink, starters, a palate cleanser, mains, cocktails, and dessert, ensuring the entire experience feels balanced.
The process is highly detailed and collaborative. The chefs come together for multiple trials to perfect the taste, portion, and presentation. The service itself is choreographed, with the team carefully timing each course so it aligns seamlessly with the film without disrupting the viewing experience, especially since we are serving around 40-50 guests at the same time. Each screening typically features a 7-8 course menu, depending on the film’s duration, allowing guests to experience a wide range of flavours. The idea is that by the end, they leave feeling completely fulfilled, not just by the film, but by the entire sensory experience.’
Do you see food here as a supporting element to cinema, or as a parallel narrative?
‘For us, it is definitely a parallel narrative. Food is not a backup but a centre to the experience. It feels like telling a story alongside the film, and when both come together in sync, that is where the magic lies.
You are not just watching a movie, you are experiencing it, course by course. For me, it becomes a form of dual storytelling, and that is what makes it truly unique and unforgettable.’
What changes when a story is experienced through taste instead of just visuals?
‘It becomes immersive in a completely different way. When taste, smell, visuals, and sound come together, you no longer feel like you are just watching a film, you feel like you are inside it. You begin to connect more deeply with the characters, the moments, and the scenes that stay with you.
Visual storytelling can only take you so far, but when you are able to taste what you are seeing, when you are eating what the characters are eating, it shifts the experience entirely. It turns passive watching into something much more active and engaging.
In a way, it brings all five senses together, and that is what makes the experience so powerful.’
Tell us about a movie experience at Taste Cinema
‘One of my personal favourites has to be Eat Pray Love. While I had read the book, I had never actually watched the film. I knew it was iconic, something people had experienced in their own ways over the years, so we decided to bring it to life through food.
We curated the entire menu around its most memorable food moments, from recreating the Italian pasta Julia Roberts enjoys to serving a Naples-style pizza. Every course was designed to align with the film. Since it was also Women’s Day, we added thoughtful touches like roses for every guest. People came with their mothers, sisters, and friends, and it turned into something much more than just a screening. It felt like a celebration.
That experience made me realise that Taste Cinemas can be a beautiful way to celebrate special moments with loved ones. It is something people should experience at least once, especially on occasions that matter.
We have also seen some incredibly special moments unfold during our screenings. During Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, for instance, two people proposed to their partners right in the middle of the screening, during the scene where Bunny proposes to Naina. They had rings ready, went down on one knee, and we joined in with flowers and cake. It was such a magical moment, not just for them, but for everyone in the room.’
Has there been a moment where the audience reacted more strongly to the food than the film itself?
‘Definitely. One of the most memorable moments was during our Harry Potter experience. We recreated everything from chocolate frogs to edible broomsticks, and people were completely blown away.
There was a sense of pure nostalgia at every table. For many, tasting those dishes felt like reliving their childhood and honestly, even for me while curating it, it felt incredibly special. My heart was completely in it.
In moments like these, the reactions to the food were just as powerful, if not more, than the film itself. That is when you realise how deeply food can connect with memory and emotion, even in worlds that feel entirely fictional.’
Do you think storytelling today is moving beyond screens into more physical, sensory experiences?
‘Absolutely. I think people today are craving tangible experiences, something they can truly feel rather than just passively consume. Whether it is immersive dining or interactive art and sensory installations we are seeing around us, it all comes down to storytelling and how deeply you can experience it.
It is no longer just about visually seeing a story the way we did a decade ago. Now, it is about feeling it in a more immersive, layered way. Screens are just one part of the experience. The future of storytelling is clearly becoming multi sensory.’
What are some challenges you face while building Taste Cinemas?
‘There are definitely a lot of challenges, simply because so many people are involved in bringing even one event together. From timing and coordination to serving 40-50 guests at the exact same moment, aligned with the same course and the same cinematic scene, it is incredibly demanding.
We have to choreograph everything, from staff movement on the floor to service in extremely low light. It is almost pitch dark, and yet around ten waiters are serving nearly fifty people simultaneously, ensuring the experience feels seamless and undisturbed.
Beyond that, there is the complexity of portion control, menu balance, and maintaining a consistently high guest experience. Even choosing the film involves a lot of discussion and debate, especially because the Indian audience can be quite discerning. But honestly, that challenge is also what makes the entire process more exciting.’
What does success look like to you?
‘For me, success is when a guest walks out feeling it was completely worth it. You can see it in their happiness and in the way they ask, “When’s the next movie?”
Building repeat guests means more than being sold out. It shows the experience stayed with them. What matters most is that every guest leaves feeling that way. That’s what makes it all worth it.’
