News Broadcasting
Reliance Mobile Vijay Awards set to launch
MUMBAI: Vijay TV in its endeavor to provide the viewers wholesome and compelling entertainment, is launching Reliance Mobile Vijay awards- Ungal Favorite Yaar? (Who is your favorite star) on 25 September, Monday to Thursday at 9 pm.
The flag off ceremony for the rasigan express van was held on 23 September from Shivaji Statue (marina beach) at 11 am. Reliance mobile Vijay Awards is one of Vijay TV’s biggest properties this year and the rasigan express van would be traveling across nine cities in Tamilnadu where the emotions, the joy and the voices of the fans would be captured, states an official release.
Polling booths would also be placed at vantage points in select towns for fans to cast their votes. A whole lot of interactive activities are being planned on the Rasigan Kural Express.
Fans can mime his or her favourite star, get to sing, would be quizzed on Tamil Cinema and get to win prizes as the Rasigan Express traverses the length and breadth of the state. In addition small acts by look alikes of the stars would entertain the public. The anchor for the van activity is none other than Lollu Sabha fame Jeeva who would be traveling along with the Rasigan Express.
Fans could fill in the nomination forms and cast their vote in the ballot boxes provided in the van. A day prior to the voting, announcements and distribution of post cards will be done in the respective cities to make people aware of the places where the voting would happen.
Yuhi Sethu, one of Tamil cinema’s favourite comedians who has made people laugh with his performances in films like Panchathanthram and Ramana is the anchor for the on air episodes .The on air Reliance Mobile Vijay Awards program would have three distinct phases. Phase 1 will have the rasigan kural travel and fact files about every category and this will air from 25 September to 5 October, Monday-Thursday 9 pm, the second phase will have nomination special, jury specials, voting trends, celebrity views and comments. The second phase starts on October 7th Saturdays at 7 pm on Vijay TV.
The third phase would see the fan’s chosen star being announced in a grand event which is to be attended by the whos’s who of the tinsel town. In all this show promises to be a real treat for the true lover of cinema, the fans. So please do not miss this opportunity to vote for your favourite star, the release adds.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
