Once upon a time in Kerala, sardines were the fish of the people—affordable, cheerful, and always on the menu. For just 25 paisa, you could scoop up a basketful, and kitchens would hum with the sizzle of fried sardines and the fragrance of spicy curries.

But today, sardines seem to have developed expensive tastes. Prices have skyrocketed, leaving folks feeling the pinch harder than a playful crab.

Due to the trawling ban, the price of sardines soared from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per kilo. They now fetch Rs 300 to Rs 400.

Social media, typically a hub for gossip and laughter, is now flooded with memes about these upscale sardines, with captions like ‘every dog has its day', 'sardines, you are beyond my reach', etc.

Despite the drama, memories of sardine feasts bring smiles. People reminisce about the good old days when every meal was a sardine extravaganza. They recall visiting hotels and restaurants in Kozhikode for delicious sardine dishes cooked with gooseberries, potatoes, grilled sardines, sardine roe fries in coconut oil, etc.

Sardines, nutritious and protein-rich, are a staple for common folk. There's even a Malayalam proverb that says sardines feed the children.