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FoodFood launches a new culinary game show Dal Dhamaal
MUMBAI: India’s first of its kind new Food Game Show for budding chefs, Dal Dhamaal, kick starts on 14 February – today – at 7.30 pm, every Friday, on FoodFood. The new fun show is a series of cook offs between some of the city’s most promising and enthusiastic budding chefs.The chef’testants must roll up their culinary sleeves, put on a show, and deconstruct a classic dish for the masters.
Two teams will be pitted against each other in a battle of wits, culinary skills & luck. When chefs are given lemons, they must make lemonade; thus using just one of India’s popular ingredients, which is a part of a staple meal, dal, and these young challengers must make a healthy meal.
Each team comprising two members would be given the primary challenge of preparing a signature dish, using dals, within a limited period of time.The chef’testants must prove they have aisle style and get creative. The contestants must give their own twist to the dish. These challengers will also be hit with a series of mini challenges that would further test their food quotient and their ability to win.
Dal Dhamaal is hosted by celebrity anchor Prabal Panjabi (of Mere Dad Ki Maruti, Mujhse Fraandship Karoge and latest being Shahid) and judged by FoodFood’s very own celebrity chefs! The winning team, in every episode will win a prize sponsored by Tata-I-Shakti. It’s the battle of food, in a new format. It’s a challenge to reinvent!
With its culinary challenges and exposure to some of India’s leading chefs, Dal Dhamaal offers a platform for learning, discovering your own culinary skills and your growth, in the food world, like never before.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
