GECs
Discovery buys cookery show from SBS for India, Asia
MUMBAI: Discovery has bought the show Feast India from Australian television firm SBS International. The show has been bought for Discovery India as well as Discovery Travel & Living in the UK, Italy and Asia and Discovery Real Time in France
The show follows a chef’s culinary tour of India. Feast India is a lush, colourful glimpse into Indian culture, food and customs, presented by English-born chef, Barry Vera. Vera savours the surprising delights of simple street food and the amazing variety of tantalizing regional cuisine.
He immerses himself in the diverse cultural influences that make each area of India so distinct. From a Sikh temple kitchen in Delhi, where up to 70,000 meals are served each day, to life in a tribal desert village in Rajasthan, from vibrant markets and spice bazaars, to a traditional village wedding, a heady cardamom auction, to the chaotic buzz of Mumbai’s beach carnivals and the eerie silence of a salt mine.
As Vera says, ” India for me is a vast, brilliantly colourful, incredibly diverse, and intensely beautiful country. When it was initially discussed that the first series of ‘Feast’ was to be filmed in India, I knew it was going to be a big challenge, but with an open mind I felt ready for the challenge.
“Feast India perhaps will give you a small glimpse of India . You could spend years filming there and still not capture all of what India is truly about. I was amazed at how generous and welcoming the people were, and I made many new friends along the way.
“Everyday I would stand on a street corner and have my morning cup of fresh chai, maybe flavoured with ginger or cardamom and contemplate what new discoveries the day ahead would bring. What ingredients I had found and how I would use them in new recipes when I returned home.
“Chai was one of those discoveries; that beautiful sweet flavour was so refreshing, especially sometimes in the intense and humid heat. I have since made a chai ice cream with ginger cookies, which is currently on my menu in the restaurant and has proved to be very popular, along with a fabulous South Indian fish curry and coconut rice. The great thing is that these recipes are simple to prepare but taste wonderful.
“I now have India in my blood, from the lush green of the South to the aromatic spice plantations of the Western Ghats, to the organised chaos of Mumbai, the mystical and enchanting desert villages of Rajasthan and the history of Delhi.”
Discovery Home & Health UK has also licensed SBSI’s Everyone Loves a Wedding. Everyone Loves a Wedding explores what weddings are really like in Australia today – where wedding customs are as mixed as our cultural makeup.
At no other time are cultural traditions celebrated with such passion as at a wedding. While a wedding is a milestone for the bride and groom, it also provides a context in which their families and communities can share in the celebrations. Red-brick houses in Aussie suburbia provide the backdrop for a rich mix of multicultural rituals and colourful tradition.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
