GECs
NGC India premiers The Blackout
MUMBAI: The thought of a complete blackout can give you goose bumps. But tonight at 9:00 pm, you can experience that as National Geographic Channel rolls out its two-hour, gripping new feature film -The Blackout. The film envisions the story of a national power failure in USA caused by a cyber-attack. Gritty, visceral and completely immersive, the drama exposes just how vulnerable the modern day reliance on technology has made our urban populations, and the hellish realities of a 10-day blackout.
Just imagine how difficult life would be if you can’t use the ATM, or don’t get warm water for your daily showers, there’s no way to connect to the internet. We often don’t even think that these things can happen, but in the case of a blackout, this can be a reality. The film explores all these ideas and much more.
The Blackout combines startling user-generated footage from real blackouts in New York & San Diego as well as when disasters such as Hurricane Sandy struck – all of this intercut with scripted, dramatic footage shot in feature-film style, resulting in a terrifyingly real feeling that this disaster could very likely be yours.
“It isn’t science fiction anymore. Our team of researchers interviewed leading experts in various fields – cyber security, search and rescue, emergency medicine, sociology, engineering and more. This film is obviously a drama, but we were determined to be as informed as possible, and we spent countless hours trying to get it right. We needed to know everything that would be affected in a 10-day nationwide blackout … and that turned out to be basically everything,” said Raw Television director Jonathan Rudd. Raw Television is a multi-award winning production company behind the hit series Banged Up Abroad and the acclaimed feature documentary, The Imposter.
Talking about the relevance of the path-breaking concept behind this film, National Geographic & FOX International Channels VP Marketing Debarpita Banerjee said, “While The Blackout is based on a cyber-attack that strikes USA and causes a complete power wipe-out hence, the truth is that any city or nation is just as susceptible to a crisis of this nature. In India, electricity and power issues are as acute as they could get. Add to that the fact that electrical back-up for our every need is something we take for granted. Poised at a time of technological advancement, such as this, if our power grids were to fail at a macro level, our lives would get paralysed, and we would be left feeling crippled in a very significant way. The Blackout gives the thinking viewer a subject to chew on, and tips to combat this very real ordeal.”
So why don’t you get ready and open up your eyes for a similar calamity that might happen!
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.
