GECs
Music lovers up for a 100-hour treat
MUMBAI: In a first, Insync – a 24×7 television channel dedicated to Indian classical music – has completed creating 100 hours of rich musical content featuring both maestros like Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez and Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra, and up-and-coming artistes.
As part of the project, nearly 70 artistes have recorded their music with Insync, giving it an edge over others of its ilk. With this, the library of Insync video content stands at approximately 300 hours.
Says Insync founder and managing director Ratish Tagde: “Being a niche channel, it is a very big achievement for us. Here, we are not talking of 24-25 hours of content, but huge 100 hours of content. And it is arguably the largest repertoire of high quality video content in the various forms of classical-based music genre. Indian classical music lovers are spread across the world and the channel has already gained popularity across the globe.”
What are Insync’s future plans? In the near future, the channel wants to generate a substantial part of its subscription revenue from the international market. Add to it, it has closed a deal with an OTT platform on a ‘fixed fee per box’ basis, ensuring its presence across the world in all major markets.
“The Indian subscription market will take some more time to get into a content-driven mode therefore, once the distribution market stabilizes towards this direction, Insync is hopeful of attracting a huge number of classical-based music lovers from across India as subscribers,” adds Tagde.
Launched on Independence Day this year, the channel showcases the rich tradition of Indian classical music through vocal, instrumental, dance and fusion formats and is available with multiple system operators (MSOs) including Hathway, Incable, Den, GTPL, Fastway and Digi Cable.
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.
