Feasting with purpose: Virundhu brings food and social impact to the same table

To commemorate two decades of using the arts to uplift and empower children and adolescents from underprivileged communities, NalandaWay Foundation is hosting Virundhu: A Feast for Change — a six-course South Indian dining experience that goes beyond the plate. Held on 14 June 2025 at The Apartment in Park Hyatt Chennai, the event brings together food, memory, and meaning for a night that supports art-based well-being programmes for children in care homes, government schools, and underserved spaces.

Virundhu: Exploring South Indian Flavours With Purpose

At the heart of Virundhu lies a menu that challenges culinary norms while remaining rooted in tradition. The experience is co-curated by food historian and MasterChef India (Tamil) judge Rakesh Raghunathan, along with Chef Balaji Natarajan, Executive Chef at Park Hyatt Chennai.

“Every dish we savour has a story — of how it made its way onto a banana leaf,” says Rakesh. “Virundhu reimagines South Indian food through a contemporary lens. Just as NalandaWay uses the arts to nurture and empower children, we've crafted each plate with care, keeping the element of art at its heart. From colour and flavour to composition, every course is a piece of edible art for our guests to experience.”

The evening begins with a networking hour from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm, followed by the dinner. The donor pass is priced at ₹15,000 per guest, with proceeds directly supporting NalandaWay’s arts-driven interventions aimed at helping children process trauma, explore creativity, and foster resilience.

Chef Balaji Natarajan reflects on the emotional depth behind the menu, which includes familiar South Indian flavours presented with nuance and imagination.

“Crafting this menu alongside Rakesh was an inspiring journey filled with memories, emotions, and identity — reinterpreting South Indian flavours that resonate with home and hope,” says Balaji. “It's an honour to contribute to a cause that empowers children to heal and flourish through the arts. Food has the power to nourish not just the body, but also the future.”