GECs
Alpha Marathi to premiere Lata Mangeshkar documentary
MUMBAI: Alpha Marathi has acquired the telecast rights of a documentary film on India’s reining queen of melody, Lata Mangeshkar. The channel will telecast the film Maithra Jeevache on 27 February at 7:30 pm.
Maithra Jeevache is produced by Lata Mangeshkar’s sister Usha Mangeskhar under the banner of Mahalakshmi Chitra. Alpha Marathi senior vice president Nitin Vaidya is upbeat about the fact that the reclusive Mangeshkar has chosen the channel to telecast the movie.
“It is an honour to Alpha Marathi. Lataji’s family approached us with the film and we responded immediately. In every Maharashtrian’s heart, she has got a special place,” says Vaidya.
In the film, Mangeshkar speaks at length about her evolution as a singer. She recollects vivid memories about her father and her childhood. She also speaks about some of the music directors she worked with including Shankar Jaikishan and R D Barman. She thanks her audience in the film for the kind of support they have given her.
The two and a half hours film is shot at various places close to Mangeshkar’s heart including her farmhouse at Kolapur. The highlight of the film is the six songs she sung exclusively for the film. The songs are composed by Mangeshkar’s brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar. Lata Mangeshkar has also sung many of her unique songs in the film.
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.
