Shankar Mahadevan’s Malgudi Expands in Mumbai With New South Indian Resto-Café Format

Brand Introduces Contemporary South Indian Dining Model

Malgudi expanded in Mumbai, presenting a South Indian resto-café concept with a menu that draws on regional cuisines and a design approach that blends traditional influences with modern presentation.

For Padma Shri awardee and global music icon Shankar Mahadevan, the brand is positioned as a personal tribute to South Indian food culture. “Malgudi is not just about food. It’s about stories of family, culture, and creativity,” says Mahadevan. “Every dosa, every cup of kaapi is a piece of heritage retold for today.”

The café features indigo walls, terracotta accents, brass elements and hand-painted murals. Chettinad-inspired tilework, natural materials and cane-backed seating shape the interiors. An open kitchen and a filter kaapi counter form part of the space, accompanied by background music incorporating Carnatic influences.

The menu features dishes from a range of South Indian cuisines. The Mulbagal Legacy Dosa, described as a one-hundred-year-old recipe, is served with chutneys. Ven Pongal Arancini integrates South Indian flavour with European technique.

Small plates such as Podi Cheese Balls, Anna-Style Crispy Lotus Root and Butter Pepper Garlic Water Chestnuts feature alongside larger plates, including Bisi Bele Bibimbap, Paneer Ghee Roast with Neer Dosa, Sri Lankan Tamil Curry with Idiyappam and Sanchi’s Vegetable Stew with Appam. Familiar items such as Uthappam, Curd Rice and Rasam Mini Idli are also part of the menu. Desserts include Elaneer Payasam, Filter Kaapi Panna Cotta and Chocolate Pull-Up Cake.

The beverage offering highlights coffee from Chikmagalur prepared traditionally or adapted to contemporary formats. Options include the Kappuccino, the Indiano and Filter Kaapi with Ghee and Jaggery. Mocktails feature ingredients such as guava, pomegranate and Guntur chilli.

“At Malgudi, authenticity isn’t nostalgia, it's our foundation,” says Chandrashekar, CEO. “We’ve reimagined South Indian cuisine for today, without losing the soul that makes it timeless. That balance of heritage and innovation is what defines us.”

“Our vision is to make Malgudi the global benchmark for modern South Indian dining culture,” says K. S. Ramakrishnan, Founder, Eatopia Holdings, and CEO & MD, DEI (Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging). “With Malgudi, we’re combining scale with soul, and authenticity with innovation.”

Malgudi is positioned as a South Indian resto-café brand co-founded by Mahadevan and Eatopia Holdings. The brand notes that it has no association with the literary or television series Malgudi Days. Malgudi currently operates at SV Road, Borivali West, Mumbai, Lower Parel and Chembur.