MovieChat Forums > Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) Discussion > Mah Gum Bakh, sahib

Mah Gum Bakh, sahib

posted 11 years ago by jeffyoung1
3 replies | jump to latest

One of my favorite episodes, "Horror In the Heights". It was truly scary in a horror movie sense and had an interesting story based on real-world ancient religious beliefs and mythology. It goes to prove that writers are typically educated people, knowledgeable in a lot of things, are usually avid readers who go on to transmit their education and talents into interesting storylines.

I learned something about Hindu mythology from this episode and thanks to the Internet decades later, was able to learn more about the Hindu mythology of the evil god, Ravana, and his demon followers, the rakshasha. Rakshasha demons are in western eyes, simply carnivorous, sentient, bipedal monsters in the category of the werewolf lore. Rakshasha are ofen described in East Indian mythos are hairy, muscular bipeds with heads resembling tigers, although other monstrous visages are possible.

I also learned something about East Indian cuisine, mah gum bakh, from the episode's fictional, Lakshmi restaurant. The poor, aging Brahmin warrior who set up the restaurant as a front would have been better off establishing an American mom and pop diner, which has universal appeal throughout the United States. I'm not even sure it was 'actual' Indian cuisine. It looked like chicken a la king from a can poured over boiled white rice.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 11 years ago

It goes to prove that writers are typically educated people, knowledgeable in a lot of things, are usually avid readers who go on to transmit their education and talents into interesting storylines.

Yes, much of the credit for this episode goes to Jimmy Sangster for his terrific script.

I also learned something about East Indian cuisine, mah gum bakh, from the episode's fictional, Lakshmi restaurant. The poor, aging Brahmin warrior who set up the restaurant as a front would have been better off establishing an American mom and pop diner, which has universal appeal throughout the United States. I'm not even sure it was 'actual' Indian cuisine. It looked like chicken a la king from a can poured over boiled white rice.

"Wait 'til it starts doing the flaming sword dance in your colon."

[–] mg! 9 years ago

I'm three years late,

I learned of the Rakshasa from Dungeons and Dragons. TNS may have influenced the game's manual text.

http://radioactive-studios.com/neptuneunderground/?p=1449

If I remembered correctly, Carl ordered the beef curry. I think you'd be hard pressed to find beef in any authentic Indian restaurant.

[–] jeffyoung1 8 years ago

Hindus don't consume beef. But whether a Hindu will consume pork depends on his particular Hindi sect and beliefs. I've heard that some Hindus will actually eat an elephant. Indian restaurants typically feature a lot of chicken. Then again there are very extreme, small Hindi sects in which not a single living creature is eligible for consumption. Such a believer can only consume vegetables, fruits, nuts, rice and grains for their entire lives.
Moslem Indians will consume beef but not pork.

Cooked beef is always brown in color. What I saw covering the boiled rice was not brown. To me it looked like Chicken A La King from a can. It had the light color and consistency of Chicken A La King and trust me, I've eaten Chicken A La King on occasion. But it can have a yellowish tinge so it could have been something else.