GECs
Colors gears up for 2020
MUMBAI: Colors is all set for an action packed 2020. The beginning of the year will witness the finale of its successful nonfiction property Bigg Boss. Post Bigg Boss, the channel will strengthen up its weekend slot by bringing another season of reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi. While in fiction format the channel will also launch two new shows Nati Pinky and Barrister Babu at the beginning of the year.
“As we prepare for a stronger year, Colors will continue presenting bold, disruptive and empowering stories as well as bring alive endearing characters. The strengthening our weekend slot will be the brand-new season of Khatron Ke Khiladi which has been shot in Bulgaria this time. The season will yet again have celebrities from all walks of life, fighting and overcoming their biggest fear while returning as the host would be the taskmaster, Rohit Shetty. On the fiction front, we have two very compelling stories Naati Pinky and Barrister Babu which will be launched in early 2020,” said Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and kids TV head Nina Elavia Jaipuria.
“The first half of 2019 saw a lot of changes in terms of policies and norms with the implementation of NTO resulting in a paradigm shift within the industry. Not only policies but also the evolving taste preferences of the viewers created a challenging atmosphere for broadcasters. But it also won’t be wrong to say that the market is large enough to accommodate varied content. This has happened due to the growing audience as well as the diverse tastes amongst them. We had shows that worked well and resonated strongly with the audience while a few of them did not hit the right chord and were pulled off-air,” said Nina Elavia Jaipuria.
She further said, “But we have always believed in breaking out of the monotony and present refreshing storylines and we continued to do so right from the beginning of the year. While we started the year with the power-packed finale of Bigg Boss and launch of a phenomenal season of Khatron Ke Khiladi, we subsequently launched a strong line up of new fiction offerings including Choti Sarrdaarni, Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush, Vidya with the recent being Shubharambh and Naagin further strengthening the prime-time slots. Our focus has been to build character affinity and present stories that connect with people at every level.”
The channel says that with two shows in top 10 fiction and Bigg Boss being number 1 non-fiction in the industry, the channel ended the year on a high note by being no 2 in all day prime time. The year started with the finale of an outstanding season of Khatron Ke Khiladi and ending with the current season of Bigg Boss being one of the top non-fiction properties in the industry. Strong fiction properties like Choti Sarrdaarni, Vidya and Shakti have propelled the channel's growth and strengthened its position by being the slot leaders. Apart from this our newly launched fiction offering Shubharambh has made a promising opening. In 2019, viewers also witnessed and enjoyed two of the biggest Bollywood extravaganzas on COLORS- IIFA and Filmfare. With the end of this year, it also brought back television’s most popular fantasy fiction, Naagin Bhagya Ka Zehreela Khel.
GECs
Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe win Masterchef India season finale
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor joins judges for emotional MasterChef finale
MUMBAI: The latest season of MasterChef India concluded on a high note, with brothers Vikram Gandhe and Ajinkya Gandhe crowned winners in the grand finale aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
The duo from Nagpur lifted the coveted trophy and donned the show’s signature golden apron after a season that celebrated India’s diverse culinary traditions under the theme “Pride of India”.
This edition of the popular cooking reality show introduced a new jodi format, with 50 pairs from across the country competing in the Masterchef kitchen. Contestants brought personal stories, regional flavours and family bonds to the competition.
The grand finale featured the final three pairs: Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe (brothers), Saisree and Chanda (mother and daughter), and Anju and Manju (sisters).
The finale was attended by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who joined the show’s judging panel comprising Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Kunal Kapur.
Kapoor said the show has long served as a platform to celebrate India’s rich culinary heritage and provide passionate home cooks with a national stage. He noted that the current season reflected a confident India that takes pride in its roots while embracing new culinary ideas.
Judge Vikas Khanna said the contestants’ journeys and the memories created during the season would remain with the team long after the show’s conclusion. Ranveer Brar described the show as a family that continues to grow with every season, while Kunal Kapur praised the contestants’ creativity and determination.
With the finale now concluded, the latest season of MasterChef India once again highlighted how food can reflect identity, heritage and storytelling, inspiring home cooks across the country to pursue their culinary ambitions.
