News Broadcasting
NDTV Marathi Entertainment Awards to honour excellence in entertainment industry
MUMBAI: NDTV Marathi is stepping into the spotlight in a big way! The channel, known for its sharp political analysis and impactful journalism, has now ventured into the entertainment sphere with the launch of the NDTV Marathi Entertainment Awards. This new platform aims to recognise and honour outstanding contributions in Marathi cinema, television, and OTT.
In just a year, NDTV Marathi has carved a significant niche in the Marathi media landscape with comprehensive election coverage and insightful political conclaves. Now, the channel is channelling its influence into a sector that captivates audiences with its storytelling and cultural richness.
The NDTV Marathi Entertainment Awards 2025 will spotlight exceptional talent, celebrating artists, filmmakers, and content creators who are shaping Marathi entertainment. The awards will feature winners across three key segments: Jury Awards, Critics’ Awards, and Special Categories, ensuring fair and comprehensive recognition of talent and creativity.
The awards jury is nothing short of power-packed, featuring industry veterans and creative masterminds including:
· Advertising professional writer & director Bharat Dabholkar
· Director, writer & producer Swapna Waghmare Joshi
· UKP producer and Gravittus Foundation founder & president Usha Kakade
· Planet Marathi Group founder & head Akshay Bardapurkar
· Ravan Future Productions producer, director & writer Abhijit Phanse
· Film director & producer Aditya Sarpotdar
· NDTV Marathi Rahul Ningappa Khichadi
· Kamala Ankibhai Gowani Trust founder Nidarshana Ramesh Gowani
The awards will celebrate excellence across film, television, and digital content, recognising outstanding achievements in various categories. Honours for film and television include Best film, Best director, Best actor (male and female), Best supporting actor (male and female), Best story, Best screenplay, Best cinematography, Best editing, and Best art direction. Additionally, awards will be presented for Best TV show (fiction and non-fiction), Best series, Best music album, Best playback singer (male and female), and Best lyricist. The Critics’ Choice Awards will acknowledge exceptional work with accolades for Critics’ Award Best Film, Critics’ Award Best Actor and Actress, and Critics’ Award Best Director.
NDTV Marathi is not just reporting culture it’s actively shaping it. NDTV Marathi executive editor Niyati Bohra highlighted the industry’s meteoric rise, stating: “The Marathi entertainment industry is on a remarkable rise. Known for its rich cultural heritage and compelling storytelling, Marathi cinema, television, and digital content have gained traction with audiences worldwide. As NDTV Marathi, we look to recognize the individuals driving this growth and shaping the future of Marathi entertainment.”
NDTV Brand Studio revenue head Gaurav Dewani further underlined the significance of the initiative: “As NDTV expands its regional presence, the Marathi Entertainment Awards 2025 reflects our commitment to driving growth in the regional entertainment space. This initiative not only celebrates exceptional talent but also creates valuable opportunities for brands and stakeholders to connect with engaged local audiences, reinforcing NDTV’s leadership in delivering high-impact partnerships.”
With a distinguished jury and extensive category list, the NDTV Marathi Entertainment Awards 2025 is set to become a landmark event, raising the bar for excellence in Marathi cinema, TV, and digital content. Expect glitz, glamour, and a celebration of culture like never before!
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.
