Film Nagar — First Iteration

Where the idea took shape, the narrative found direction, and the brand’s design language began its journey.

The very first expression of Soul of South. It became the space where ideas were tested, narratives were shaped, and the brand’s spatial language took form through dialogue and exploration. This was the laboratory version of the concept—the place where recipes, materials, and memories informed design decisions rather than following them.

Soul of South is conceived as a celebration of food, memory, and cultural continuity. More than a restaurant, it is an atmosphere shaped by stories—of kitchens once alive with slow rituals, of recipes passed down quietly, and of celebrations rooted deeply in the everyday lives of South India’s five states.

The design begins with a clear intention: to let food lead the space. Rather than treating the project as an architectural statement, the ambience is shaped to complement the culinary narrative—allowing flavours, textures, and traditions to find spatial expression. Material choices emerge from this dialogue between nostalgia and the present. Modern concrete forms a grounded, understated backdrop, while red geru clay—once common in traditional South Indian homes—reintroduces warmth and memory. Natural teak wood bridges generations, a material that continues to live comfortably across time.

Celebration is woven subtly through accents and details. Art and craft become storytellers—each element referencing festivals, rituals, and the hands of artisans behind them. From handcrafted pieces to culturally rooted motifs, the interiors quietly honour South India’s makers, bringing forgotten crafts and festive expressions back into everyday view.

At Soul of South, design becomes a medium of revival—where ambience supports cuisine, craft supports culture, and space becomes a living archive of traditions, reinterpreted for a new generation without losing their soul.