Goli soda is a locally made carbonated drink that was wildly popular in India before the entry of major international companies. In Chennai, Vasu and Co. is one out of a couple of surviving Goli soda makers. The business of making Goli soda drinks is a declining one, mainly due to the lack of the Goli soda bottle manufacturers. The proprietor, D. Balakrishnan, says that there are barely 1000 bottles at their manufacturing unit. To avoid running into a complete loss, they have started using the common cork bottles (with metallic caps) to fill the drinks. Because of this dearth of Goli soda bottle supplies, each bottle is handled extremely carefully. There are around ten workers at Vasu and Co., and all of them do all the three main jobs here, of delivering, cleaning, and refilling the bottles. The uniqueness of the Goli soda bottle lies in the marble (goli) that lies suspended in the middle of the bottle. The workers here use manually run sodamakers to fill the bottles after the flavouring agents have been mixed in with water and sugar. It is available in several flavours, such as lemon, orange, panneer (rose water), cola, ginger, and as plain soda as well. Considering the number of bottles that are bound to get damaged during transit or due to other reasons, there are a lot of difficulties that the makers of Goli soda face. Apart from this, they also have to compete with bigger companies which provide free refrigerators to sell their products. The makers of Goli soda can neither afford to provide refrigerators to these shops, nor can they manage to keep up with the increasing costs of production because of inflation in sugar and gas cylinder prices. To cut costs, they now focus on delivering only in the surrounding areas of Mylapore and Triplicane in Chennai.
too good.. love the colors and depth of field… :)
awesome!
great picture :)
Hrm, that’s too bad. Goli soda brings to mind Japanese Ramune soda – it has a marble too. It would be cool if the Goli soda proprietors could work with the Japanese manufacturers to find a more cost-effective solution to keep Goli soda alive.
Good story illustrating how vulnerable local business can be when markets are opened up. Nice pic too
Beautiful image and a very interesting note…
We used to take this Goli Soda when we were in school and it’s so popular those days.
Thanks a lot for sharing this image and triggering some nostalgic memories :)
LOVE the colors and angle…
Great photograph
Reblogged this on Quirky Side Up! and commented:
India has many kinds of treats, and I have thoroughly enjoyed having this one. Brings backs lots of memories!
What an interesting story .. Great photo!
Beautiful!
That is so interesting – I didn’t know about Goli soda.
Wow. You come to India often?
Great DOF, beautiful shot !
Glad to hear they’ve found a way to carry on production . These bottles are gleaming ! Old Victorian bottles like this are are still to be found here.. usually at Flea Markets and Fairs … Undamaged ones are quite collectible as children used to smash any they found to pinch the marble :-)
Super photo Joshi .
I am a B&W guy myself, but I like this a lot, nice shot. The bottles and then the two guys all in a line give the image great depth.
Good summary. Have you tried it? If yes, then how is it as compared to the aerated drinks we have?
The real India :-) . Wonderful job Joshi
A very interesting post Joshi. This type of bottle used to be manufactured here but no more. I hope the local company can survive against the multinationals.
I love goli soda….but with the advent of branded soft drinks these are taking a back seat
Great capture!
A very good documentary, and I really hope they will manage to keep this tradition. Locally produced food and drink is so important.
adda bit of lemon and voila what a lovely drink it makes
Still remember how i used to get excited after drinking these. Refreshed after this pic again :)
Great choice of DOF. A story told.
Amazing pic..i am big fan of goli/panneer soda
A great photo and interesting reading too!
Belle profondeur de champs pour ce reportage.
The bottles are really very beautiful and I love this shot! Interesting story as well, I wish them the best of luck
The photograph and accompanying story brought back pleasant childhood memories! Thanks!!
Even I love Goli Soda specially with a dash of lemon and chat masala
A beautiful preservation of what might soon be history – so well done!
Interesting read. Great image
I could almost feel the texture of the bottle…..
I remember the excitement (seems like competition) to open Goli bottel in first attempt. Your image brought back memories of boyhood. Great post :)
Such a great shot and mood.
Great capture!
Great shot !
beautiful story and lovely photo…:)
very interesting post , the bottles are nice , great pic ! :)
interesting little tidbit of culture – love the colors in the photo
Great picture!
Have a nice day!
Photographer Gil Zetbase
That’s an interesting fact and sorry to learn their hardship.
brought back some nostalgic memories of my childhood in tamilnadu & having goli soda when we stopped by the roadside and consumed some in transit!
Those gleaming bottles though. 😍 Love this first of the series shot.
That brings back memories.. :-) Thank you for that!
The iridescent bottles look like they have expressions.
Not only a fabulous shot but an interesting history.
I see that there is a Tamil film by the same name but doesn’t seem to have much to do with the drink (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goli_Soda).
The following article also speaks about the careful handling on the bottles, and elaborates more on the decline of the bottle manufacturers:
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/pop-goes-the-goli/article5901788.ece
A beautiful glittering shot Joshi, and fascinating history!
nice work… <3
Very nice shot, great the lighting reflecting from the glass ~
Wonderful capture and love the story behind it! :)
Lovely shot….:)
I am no saint of photography and neither do I know much but your picture has spoken to me that any other in quite a while. I would suggest this to my cousin who is trying to set up his own photography blog. Absolutely love your website!
Amazing shot…
Fine story and a great picture. Looks great wide open.
Quite a unique-looking bottle. A shame of its decline.
lovely set-up and reflections in the glasses.
Ilove that soda!
Wonderful image Joshi .. shame that the company is facing hardship.
Excellent pic.
Used to be very common scene. Wonderful capture.
Really , its a common scene from Kashmir to Kanyakumari
beautiful shot!
Fabulous pic, and I loved reading the write-up! Thanks for an insight into the makings of an iconic bottle from which all of us must have gulped down soda, at some point of time or another. :)
What a light, colors and details ..
Great pic.
I hate when BIG Companies have so much power to shut down the mom-and-pop businesses! I wish a miraculous “solution” to this Goli soda group!
Before I tasted cold drinks I had Goli Soda and Goli Nimbu Sharbat. Memories rewinds.
Very nice! )
Love it!!
Goli Soda in Chennai :-) Wow!
Wonderful.
A story well told with a beautiful and in depth pic. Bravo.
A fine photo and narrative. Personally, I think it’s sad to see smaller businesses decline due to overwhelming competition, but that seems to be the name of the game. The nostalgia only makes this soda better, I’m sure. Nicely done, Joshi.
Excellent perspective!
Lovely DoF.
Well know I finally know what I drank by the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1989. Thanks for sharing this. Nice picture.
Love the colors!
Nice shot and interesting facts. I didn’t try Goli soda during my stay in India…
Fascinating and great shot!!
nice click! I lovee goli soda :D
A great photo. It tells a story of how it is to work in the soda factory. The colours are beautiful and I love your use of a limited depth of field.
lovely light on the glass
The goli bottles are beautiful and what a unique story!
Nice capture. Yes, it takes me to childhood days. It was only during mela we used to have the luxury of drinking Goli soda. I still remember the sound while opening the bottle.:)
Interesting article and great photo.
· hugs
I like how you the shallow DOF creates a good depth in that shot. Very well done!
j’aime beaucoup les couleurs des bouteilles et le fond aussi du mur
great colour and dof!!!
Love your blog Joshi Daniel!
Great shot.
The light reflecting on the glass bottles!
Brilliant! :)
atmosphere of a job I think moving
The depth of field is beautiful and really interesting history.
Fabulous capture Joshi! A lot of happy childhood memories associated with these bottles for me as well :-)
great shot, missing those old good times and how precious were those Goli’s (marbles) :)
Good story and good photos! I can see you cared.
This is such a great picture!