Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

Name: Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani
Ingredients: 2 onions; 10 -20 chilies (thai chillies work best); 1 -2 tomatoes; basmati rice, - 4 cups; chicken, - 3 lbs (I prefer dark meat, bone-in); yogurt, - 1 -2 cups; 2 lemons or 2 limes; 1 bunch mint; 1⁄4 cup seasoning biryani masala, i use the shan version; 5 cloves; 3 -4 cardamom; 1 -2 bay leaf; 1 -2 anise; 3 black cardamom pods; 1 -2 tablespoon mace; 4 -5 tablespoons red chili powder; 4 -5 tablespoons garam masala; 7 -8 saffron; 1 tablespoon shah jeera powder; 1 -2 tablespoon cumin seed; 3 cinnamon sticks; 6 ounces ginger-garlic paste