In 2026, India’s culinary landscape is witnessing an unexpected revival — “Nani-Core,” a cultural movement where Gen Z is rediscovering and remixing grandmother-style recipes for the modern digital world. What began as a nostalgia-fuelled content trend has now evolved into a national food wave, embraced by restaurants, packaged food brands, and creators alike.
Across Instagram and YouTube, young creators are turning humble regional dishes — from Sindhi kadhi to Manipuri chak-hao kheer to Maharashtrian pitla — into cinematic, highly stylised reels. Soft-focus shots of brass utensils, wooden chulhas, and heirloom masalas evoke deep emotional appeal, while creators add playful captions like “Nani-level comfort, Gen Z-level drama.”
Brand collaborations have surged as well. FMCG giants and D2C startups are launching products inspired by traditional regional ingredients: cold-pressed sesame oils, ready-to-cook khichdi mixes, artisanal pickles, and GI-tagged spices. The success formula is clear — authenticity sells.
Restaurants and cloud kitchens are quickly adapting. In Mumbai and Hyderabad, newly opened bistros now feature sections titled “Nani’s Specials,” offering reimagined versions of classic dishes like millets-based pongal, smoked sarson ka saag bowls, and deconstructed litti chokha. These reinterpretations retain the soul of the dishes while introducing modern plating and flavour pairings.
The movement is strongly driven by Gen Z’s search for identity. As global flavours saturate India’s restaurant scene, younger audiences are turning inward — toward flavours that feel personal, familial, and emotionally grounding. “Regional food is not just nostalgia,” says a food anthropologist. “It is a form of cultural self-expression.”
Brands are leveraging the trend to connect with young buyers who are increasingly valuing origin stories. Campaigns celebrating “home flavours,” “regional roots,” and “recipes passed through generations” are becoming common across digital platforms.
As 2026 progresses, experts predict that “Nani-Core” will become one of India’s most commercially significant food movements, inspiring everything from reality cooking shows to festival menus. The message from Gen Z is clear: the future of Indian food lies in its past — only more stylish and shareable.
