By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

News Junction

Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    Israeli strikes kill 51 in Gaza as aid groups collect limited supplies | Gaza News
    Israeli strikes kill 51 in Gaza as aid groups collect limited supplies | Gaza News
    May 22, 2025
    North Korea reports ‘serious incident’ during naval destroyer launch — RT World News
    North Korea reports ‘serious incident’ during naval destroyer launch — RT World News
    May 22, 2025
    Asia-Pacific stock markets live updates: New Zealand budget 2025
    Asia-Pacific stock markets live updates: New Zealand budget 2025
    May 22, 2025
    Canada summons Israel’s ambassador after diplomats fired at in West Bank – National
    Canada summons Israel’s ambassador after diplomats fired at in West Bank – National
    May 22, 2025
    Kim Kardashian dons a graduation cap and marches closer to becoming a lawyer
    Kim Kardashian dons a graduation cap and marches closer to becoming a lawyer
    May 22, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Ukraine blows up bridges to consolidate its positions in Russia
    Ukraine blows up bridges to consolidate its positions in Russia
    August 18, 2024
    Commentary: AI phones from Google and Apple will erode trust in everything
    Commentary: AI phones from Google and Apple will erode trust in everything
    August 18, 2024
    The most famous Indian Dishes – Insights Success
    The most famous Indian Dishes – Insights Success
    August 18, 2024
    Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist
    Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist
    August 18, 2024
    UK inflation rises to 2.2%
    UK inflation rises to 2.2%
    August 18, 2024
  • Cryptocurrency
    CryptocurrencyShow More
    Why has Cookie DAO token price been rising?
    Why has Cookie DAO token price been rising?
    May 22, 2025
    Bitcoin price surpasses $111K for first time; institutional demand strong
    May 22, 2025
    Altcoin ETFs Won’t Create ‘Material Demand from Institutional Investors’ – Analyst
    Altcoin ETFs Won’t Create ‘Material Demand from Institutional Investors’ – Analyst
    May 22, 2025
    US Emerges As Bitcoin Superpower With 40% Ownership: Research
    US Emerges As Bitcoin Superpower With 40% Ownership: Research
    May 22, 2025
    Trump’s Memecoin Dinner Draws Crowded Cast of Democratic Protesters from Congress
    Trump’s Memecoin Dinner Draws Crowded Cast of Democratic Protesters from Congress
    May 22, 2025
  • Technology
    TechnologyShow More
    How to Improve Your Spotify Recommendations
    How to Improve Your Spotify Recommendations
    August 18, 2024
    X says it’s closing operations in Brazil
    X says it’s closing operations in Brazil
    August 18, 2024
    Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers | Science & Tech News
    Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers | Science & Tech News
    August 18, 2024
    Scientists Want to See Videos of Your Cat for a New Study
    Scientists Want to See Videos of Your Cat for a New Study
    August 18, 2024
    OpenAI’s new voice mode let me talk with my phone, not to it
    OpenAI’s new voice mode let me talk with my phone, not to it
    August 18, 2024
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • People
  • Trend
Reading: ‘Venba’ Takes Me Back to My Roots Through Food and Family
Share
Font ResizerAa

News Junction

  • World News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Trend
  • Entertainment
Search
  • Recent Headlines in Entertainment, World News, and Cryptocurrency – NewsJunction
  • World News
  • Business
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • People
  • Trend
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
News Junction > Blog > Trend > ‘Venba’ Takes Me Back to My Roots Through Food and Family
‘Venba’ Takes Me Back to My Roots Through Food and Family
Trend

‘Venba’ Takes Me Back to My Roots Through Food and Family

Published August 16, 2023
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Before I could muster up the courage to use the idli maker my mom gave me after I moved out, here I was making idli in a narrative cooking video game. Though Venba’s idli maker differs from ours, the fluffy steamed rice cakes at the end of the level were a familiar sight.

Venba centers on the main character of the same name. The story begins with her and her husband Paavalan as new Canadian immigrants in the 1980s, raising their first-generation son, Kavin. Venba is about adjusting to the new while trying not to chip away at traditions and ties to a country that was once home. Venba and Paavalan work to make ends meet in a place that devalues their history yet dangles a bright future ahead of them, all while trying to balance traditional and new values in their son.

As the game’s narrative progresses, I reminisced about my life as an immigrant from India, while the intermittent cooking puzzles had me reflect on fond memories from when I was younger.

I was 5 years old when my family hopped on a train to Chennai right before migrating to the United States. I faintly remember the beach overlooking the ocean and amusement park rides, but seeing the banana leaves decorated with tiny dishes—ranging from dal to different types of rice—every day was unforgettable. It’s one of my last moments before moving across seas that I cling to, and seeing that Venba is from Chennai only made me more engrossed in her immigrant story.

Besides Venba’s love of gold bangles, Paavalan’s struggle to write while he searches for a well-paying job, their hesitancy with seeing things through Kavin’s generational perspective, the cultural divide, their financial issues, and even their challenges in introducing Kavin to his own culture resonated with me. I could even sense my own parents in the solemn yet zealous way Venba and Paavalan presented regional food to Kavin, giving their child a taste of his own heritage. Kavin rejecting their attempts, however, was unlike my own yearning for connection through food, but this difference shows that the chaotic lives of immigrant families can vary as much as our dishes.

Venba skips across years, presenting new conflicts among Venba, Paavalan, and Kavin—and rather than disrupting the growing tension around their family, it shows how it’s a never-ending struggle to get different generations of an immigrant family on the same page about their culture. The time skips also remind me how time is fleeting and how far I have come in my life, so much so that my eyes teared up while playing.

In the game, in the year 2006, Venba prepares layered biryani, which the developers have said is inspired by the style of biryani in Hyderabad, the south-central Indian city where I’m from. Despite the mutable nature of immigrant life, my mom’s biryani is a constant, always earning high praise that it tastes just like home. So, I thought it was only right to have her play this level with me—which was entertaining on its own since the in-game recipe varies from hers. Still, she rushed to tell me to fry the onions before I could explain the mechanics, and was impatiently eager to know its taste when Kavin, Venba, and Paavalan sat down to eat. Here, I noticed the subtle generational difference as Paavalan ate with his fingers and Kavin ate with a spoon.

#Venba #Takes #Roots #Food #Family

TAGGED:Cookingfamilyfoodgaming cultureimmigrationIndiarootstakesVenbavideo games
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article Arbitrum to Unlock B Worth of $ARB March 2024 Arbitrum to Unlock $1B Worth of $ARB March 2024
Next Article Shaun Clarida Goes Through Massive Arm Workout During 2023 Olympia Prep Shaun Clarida Goes Through Massive Arm Workout During 2023 Olympia Prep
- Advertisement -

Latest Post

Israeli strikes kill 51 in Gaza as aid groups collect limited supplies | Gaza News
Israeli strikes kill 51 in Gaza as aid groups collect limited supplies | Gaza News
World News
Why has Cookie DAO token price been rising?
Why has Cookie DAO token price been rising?
Cryptocurrency
North Korea reports ‘serious incident’ during naval destroyer launch — RT World News
North Korea reports ‘serious incident’ during naval destroyer launch — RT World News
World News
Bitcoin price surpasses $111K for first time; institutional demand strong
Cryptocurrency
Altcoin ETFs Won’t Create ‘Material Demand from Institutional Investors’ – Analyst
Altcoin ETFs Won’t Create ‘Material Demand from Institutional Investors’ – Analyst
Cryptocurrency
Asia-Pacific stock markets live updates: New Zealand budget 2025
Asia-Pacific stock markets live updates: New Zealand budget 2025
World News
- Advertisement -

You Might Also Like

Garmin finally shares first update in new beta cycle for running smartwatch
Trend

Garmin finally shares first update in new beta cycle for running smartwatch

January 29, 2024
Major IT outage takes out banks, airlines and businesses across the world
Technology

Major IT outage takes out banks, airlines and businesses across the world

July 19, 2024
Digital Music Hubs : digital music hubs
Trend

Digital Music Hubs : digital music hubs

February 1, 2024
Astell&Kern AK UW100MKII TWS buds include a built-in 32-bit DAC, balanced armature drivers
Trend

Astell&Kern AK UW100MKII TWS buds include a built-in 32-bit DAC, balanced armature drivers

August 13, 2023

About Us

NEWS JUNCTION (NewsJunction.xyz) Your trusted destination for global news. Stay informed with our timely and accurate reporting on diverse topics, including politics, technology, science, entertainment, sports, and more. Count on us for unbiased and reliable updates at your fingertips.

Quick Link

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact

Top Categories

  • World News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Sports News
  • Trend
  • People

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    © 2023 News Junction.
    • Blog
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    Welcome Back!

    Sign in to your account

    Username or Email Address
    Password

    Lost your password?