Usha Penmatsa and Datla Seeta Rajeswari look like your next-door aunties. But the duo spell magic when it comes to food. They are known these days for making traditional yet healthy delicacies and podis through their start-up Baanali.

Baanali translates to ‘kadai or the frying pan.’ The twosome moved to Hyderabad a few years back, and both of them reside in East Marredpally. It was not popular demand that made them get into the business. On the other hand, the sisters realized how much kids from earlier generation families missed out on homemade tasty and healthy foods.

When their own children told them how much they missed their cooking, the sisters realized that they must extend their cooking skills to those looking for yum, old-school food. Usha and Seeta decided to make foods on order, encouraged by their children and friend RS Raju. They started their business in April 2021 and spend most of their time in the kitchen. The sisters are quite happy that they have converted their passion into a business and love the fact that many now get to eat grandma’s recipes right in the comfort of their homes.

And it’s not just friends and family; their podis, pickles, and snacks are also like by Prabhas and Rajamouli, apart from Raghavendra Rao and his daughter Madhu. The sisters gush, “We had given a sample of our products as gifts for the cast of Baahubali. Since then, we have been getting repeat orders.”

Baanali’s sales part is looked after by Sudhakar, and he reiterates that all food is made with authentic ingredients. Baanali’s well-known products include uluva podi, karvepaku podi, vellulli karam podi, mutton and prawn pickles, sweets like rava laddu, chitti kaja, bellam gorumitilu, boondi chikki and a large variety of murukkus and mixtures. Most of their customers come from Madhapur, Gachibowli, and Jubilee Hills, and Sudhakar hopes to open an outlet in Madhapur soon. Baanali can be reached at 9063727848.