News Broadcasting
Industry cream turns up in strength for Tellys ’02
MUMBAI: It was a fitting tribute to the best of the small screen talents in the country. An evening where the Indian television industry congregated to celebrate excellence; to honour and recognise those who outshone their peers on the small screen – both behind the scenes and on it.
At a dazzling function held at the Tulip Star (formerly Juhu Centaur) Poolside in Mumbai on Friday evening, the best of channels, actors and TV shows along with television personalities who left a lasting impression on TV in 2001 were feted with the best awards in the television industry – The Indian Telly Awards 2002.
In the presence of media luminaries like Dr Prannoy Roy, Peter Mukerjea and Yash Chopra, the awards, in their second year, felicitated the popular awards categories on Friday evening. It was perhaps appropriate that the hugely popular TV personalities Aman Verma and Nausheen (Kkusum) kicked off the proceedings with a tribute to two TV, film and theatre artistes who passed away recently.
Priya ‘Rajani’ Tendulkar and Dina Pathak were remembered fondly through audio visual clips.
The evening’s entertainment commenced with the sultry and voluptuous Meghna Naidu. Naidu swayed and sashayed to the beats of a song which has made her a household delight and which she had performed a day earlier at The Indian Trade & Technical Awards. The song: Kaliyon ka Chaman,.
The first set of awards commenced with the Best Current Affairs programme which was pocketed by NDTV and Star News for Reality Bites for its coverage LOC/Doda , followed by Business Show of the year (India Business Hour, TV18, CNBC India), Best Sports Programme (Super Selector, ESPN Software India), Best Music Show (Chalti Ka Naam Antakshari, B.A.G. Films, Star Plus), and Best Game Show (Kaun Banega Crorepati, Synergy Productions, Star Plus).
A Band of Boys trotted on to stage to belt out Meri Neend, You Drive Me Crazy, and Tirchee, after the first set.
The next set of awards began with Best Sitcom/Comedy Show of the Year (Office Office, Eagle Films, Sabe TV) and was followed by the category of Best Comic Shorts (Fully Faltoo, MTV). Star Gold and Miditech were presented with an Indian Telly for Kuch Yaadein, Kuch Baatein, in the Best Non-fiction Show category. The Best Thriller/Horror Show category followed (Dial 100, Tijori Films, SabeTV) followed. , The Best Continuing TV show category had two joint firsts (Kyuunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi – Balaji Telefilms, Star Plus – and CID – Fireworks Productions, Sony).
The Best Drama Series category, won jointly by Balaji Telefilms for Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kkusum, for Star and Sony Entertainment respectively followed.
Isha Koppikar swam out of the Tulip Star poolside in a performance that set the entire stage and venue alight. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a backless bustier, she rocked and rolled on Khalaas, Bombay Dreams, and Ishq Samaandar.
Awards for Best News Channel (Aaj Tak), Music Channel (MTV India) and the biggie Best Entertainment Channel (Star Plus) formed the next segment. It was then time for Viva the first Indian girl band to be born out of a television show to perform, with Hum Naye Geet Sunaye, Tumko Ho Agar.
The TV actor in a comic role award was bagged by Pankaj Kapur for Office Office, while the award for TV actress in a comic role was won by Reema for Tu Tu Main Main. Govind Namdeo won the award for TV actor in a negative role, while Shweta Kawatra bagged the TV actress in negative role.
Diya Mirza, despite suffering from a strained ligament in her thigh, appeared on stage in all black and gave a performance which had all the makings of a winner. Zara Zara, Sattarangi were some of the numbers that the audience were hypnotised by.
Rajdeep Sardesai won the award for TV news anchor of the year award while Amitabh Bachchan, winner of last year’s personality of the year award, won the TV anchor of the year this year for KBC.
Aman Verma, the evening co-host, was also the winner of the TV personality of the year award, while Star Plus’ Tarun Katial bagged the TV programming executive of the year award. The TV CEO award was shared by Aaj Tak’s G Krishnan and Star India’s Peter Mukerjea.
Balaji Telefilms, makers of the most popular serials on TV today, walked away with the production house of the year award, while Umesh Padalkar got the award for the TV director of the year award.
TV show of the year was bagged by Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Smriti Malhotra Irani was adjudged the TV actress of the year, while the TV actor award was shared by Shivaji Satam for CID and Kiran Karmarkar for Kahaani….
Among the highlights of the evening came when Ashutosh Lagaan Gowariker presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to NDTV’s Dr Roy. While accepting the award, Dr Roy, whose public appearances are extremely rare, said he felt truly privileged to be receiving it from someone who had bequeathed to the country a great work of cinema in Lagaan. Dr Roy also emphasised how invaluable to NDTV was the role of his wife Radhika Roy, who he referred to as a real source of strength and an “organisation builder.”
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.
