In 2021, Pranali Prakash Kande decided to dive into content creation. In a short time, with millions of views, she has gained nearly 41,000 loyal followers on Instagram. Her page, @foodgallary__foodieme, started as a place to share food pictures but quickly grew into a brand featuring reviews of food, restaurants, recipes, and, more recently, events like Carnival, Vasco Saptah, Dindi, and Ganesh Chaturthi. She also highlights street food across the State.
Balancing a corporate job, this Margao resident frequently collaborates with local businesses. From recipe videos to brand partnerships, Pranali is fully immersed in her work. Her recipe videos stand out for being easy to follow and visually appealing.
In recognition of her efforts on social media, Starbuzz.ai in collaboration with the Government of Goa, awarded her the ‘Genre Rockers Food’ Award at Simply Social 2.0 event held at Utorda in February 2024.
How it all started
I started the Instagram page in 2021, mainly posting pictures. I realised that keeping them on my phone was a waste, so I thought I’d share them with others. Soon, the page started gaining attention, and I realised what more I could do. After my first restaurant review, more collaborations followed, and I began making video reviews.
Later, I tried short recipe videos with voice-overs. Some friends suggested I do the voice-overs in Konkani. Although I was unsure at first, this decision worked wonders – some of those videos reached millions of views.
Growing the brand
It took some time for engagement to pick up. In the beginning, it was tough balancing content creation with my day job. When I took a short break, I used that time to plan my content strategy. After taking up another job, I found it easier to manage both. Focusing on short recipe videos gave my page a real boost, with high engagement on those posts. I aim to make recipes using everyday ingredients so my followers can try them too.
I try to keep my content unique so it stands out. I’ve noticed people using or even plagiarising my videos without asking, but I see that as a compliment to my hard work.
Managing my time
I dedicate two to three hours each day after work to my page. On weekends, I schedule collaborations with businesses. Sometimes I can fit them in during the weekdays as well. Collaborations take a lot of time because they involve travelling, filming, and tasting the food. When I get home, editing the videos takes a few more hours. It can get hectic, especially when last-minute collaborations come up.
Facing challenges
My biggest challenge is travelling. Most of the places I want to cover are far from home, and I can only visit them in the evening or at night, which makes it difficult. I also rely on my brother for transport. Maintaining the quality of my posts is another challenge – I never want to compromise on that. Anything I post has to meet the standards I’ve set.
My father has been a tremendous help on my journey so far. As I focus on recipe videos, he assists by getting the ingredients I need and encourages me to experiment and try new things. Whatever I require, he always helps me get it. He is truly my pillar
Advice for new creators
A lot of people are entering this space, so standing out is hard. But focusing on a niche and staying consistent really helps. Simple steps can make content engaging. It’s important for the niche to interest the creator, or the brand’s growth will suffer in the long run. That’s why I focus only on food-related content.
