Kolkata,July 1:Celebrating Kolkata’s everlasting love for biryani while marking its 85th anniversary, Shiraz Golden Restaurant today announced the launch of ‘The Biryani Man 2026‘, Kolkata’s first–ever biryani eating competition, in association with the upcoming film, The Eken: Kerala–e Kurukshetra, releasing this, Puja. The initiative brings together the city’s biggest biryani enthusiasts for the ultimate test of appetite. The grand finale will be held on 25th July 2026 at Hotel Siamton Inn Shiraz, where one participant will walk away with the coveted Crown of ‘The Biryani Man 2026’ and rewarded with an exclusive Lifetime Free Biryani Card.
The logo of the contest was unveiled by the Partners of Shiraz Golden Restaurant – Mr Ishtiaque Ahmad, Mr Akhtar Hasnain & Dr Raghib Hasnain in the presence of Mr. Anirban Chakrabarti & Mr. Suhotra Mukhopadhyay.
Registrations for the competition will remain open from 1st July 2026 and will remain open till the closing 21st July 2026. Anyone willing to participate can pick up the Registration Forms available at the Shiraz outlets, which can be filled up and put in the dedicated Drop Boxes kept across all the Shiraz outlets. There are also options to fill up and submit the Entry Form by scanning the QR code available on various outdoor promotional materials of Shiraz Golden Restaurant’s or by clicking the restaurant’s website and download the form from there and submit it online. From the entries received, 25 finalists will be selected through a LIVE Lucky Draw, which will be streamed on Shiraz‘s official Facebook page on 22nd July 2026.
The competition will last 45 minutes, during which contestants will be served fresh plates of biryani continuously as soon as they finish one. Participants must first complete a minimum of two full plates of biryani else they will be disqualified. Once they cross this mandatory benchmark, every additional plate consumed will count towards their final tally. At the end of the competition, the participant who has consumed the highest number of plates will be crowned ‘The Biryani Man 2026‘.
The winner will receive the prestigious The Biryani Man 2026 Crown along with a Lifetime Free Biryani Card, which will entitle the winner to dine-in a plate of Shiraz’s signature Mutton Biryani at any of the outlets of the restaurant, once a week, for life. Every participant will also receive a Shiraz Loyalty Card, which will be valid for 3 – years, offering exclusive dining discounts when they come to dine-in at any of the restaurant’s outlets, along with a complimentary plant as a token of appreciation.
As part of this unique collaboration, The Eken: Kerala–e Kurukshetra joins hands with Shiraz Golden Restaurant to celebrate Kolkata’s enduring love for food and entertainment. Following the immense popularity of the Eken franchise and its successful transition from streaming to the big screen, Bengal’s favourite detective returns in his biggest cinematic adventure yet. Directed by Joydeep Mukherjee and produced by Hoichoi Studios, the film stars Anirban Chakrabarti, Suhotra Mukhopadhyay, Somak Ghosh, Ritwick Chakraborty, Raima Sen, Kamaleswar Mukherjee, Ambarish Bhattacharya, Arna Mukhopadhyay, Subrat Dutta and Shataf Figar. Set against the lush landscapes of Kerala, the film promises an intriguing blend of mystery, humour and adventure, making this association a perfect celebration of Eken Babu’s enduring love for good food.
“For generations, Shiraz’s Biryani has been at the heart of Kolkata’s food culture, and at Shiraz we have always believed that every plate tells a story. Through Biryani Man 2026, we want to celebrate that shared passion in a fun and engaging way while bringing together the city’s biggest biryani lovers. We are also very proud to be associated with the Eken Babu franchise for this campaign. Over the years, Eken Babu has become one of Bengal’s most loved detective characters and Mr Anirban Chakrabarti has become almost synonymous with the character because of his fabulous performance. Since Eken Babu is known for his love for food, we felt this association is a perfect fit for Biryani Man 2026. We look forward to welcoming participants for what promises to be an exciting and memorable celebration of food, community and the enduring legacy of Shiraz“, said Mr Ishtiaque Ahmad, Partner, Shiraz Golden Restaurant.
“On the day of the competition, participants need report to the venue on time for verification and a briefing on the rules and safety guidelines before The Biryani Man 2026 contest begins. To make sure the competition is fair, judges and supervisors will monitor every participant and keep a track of the progress. In case of a tie, the judges’ decision of the judges will be final”, said Mr Akhtar Hasnain, Partner, Shiraz Golden Restaurant.
“The competition is open to Indian citizens between 18 and 60 years of age. Participants must be medically fit and should not have any serious cardiac, diabetes, respiratory, digestive, neurological or other health conditions. Every participant must also submit a health declaration and consent form prior to the commencement of the competition. The health and safety of every participant is our highest priority. During the competition, there will be an on-site medical team, a doctor, an ambulance and first-aid facilities provided by Mediview Nursing Home, available throughout the event”, said Dr Raghib Hasnain, Partner, Shiraz Golden Restaurant.
Shiraz Golden Restaurant has also partnered with 91.9 Friends FM and Mediview Nursing Home for The Biryani Man 2026.
With The Biryani Man 2026, Shiraz Golden Restaurant and The Eken: Kerala–e Kurukshetra come together to celebrate two things that Kolkatans cherish the most—great biryani and great storytelling. The initiative transforms the city’s love for food into a one-of-a-kind culinary celebration while reinforcing Shiraz‘s rich Awadhi legacy and building excitement for Eken Babu’s biggest mystery yet. Releasing this Puja, The Eken: Kerala–e Kurukshetra adds to the festive fervour, making this unique collaboration a fitting tribute to two of Kolkata’s greatest passions—cinema and biryani.