News Broadcasting
Unsung television shows shine at RAPA awards
MUMBAI: It was time for the backroom professionals in the glamourous business of advertising, television and radio to take centrestage at the 28th RAPA (Radio & TV Advertising Practitioners’ Association of India) All India awards held in Mumbai on 7 June.
Interestingly apart from Monish Behl getting the Sheel Kumar Trophy for the best performance on TV for the hospital soap Sanjeevani on Star Plus the Murdoch broadcaster got nothing. On the other hand multiple shows of its arch rivals Zee and Sony were cited. There was good news at last for the biggest flop of 2001 Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hain. the Madhuri Dixit show which ended with a whimper on SET bagged three awards for art direction in a TV programme, for its catchy title song and for singing in a title song. Another flop from 2001 the costly medical series Dhadkan was recognised for its camerawork.
There was also good news for production house BAG Films. Its non fiction programme Haqeeqat for Sahara TV got kudos. Zee’s chat shows Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai and Simply Shekhar were recognised. Its soap Saanjhi stole a march over the likes of Kyunki Saas… The Alva’s film based show Kuch Yaadein Kuch Baatein. was also cited.
Aaj Tak continued gaining momentum in an increasingly crowded news channel environment. It won the best media campaign and soft story awards. The communication objective of the TVC campaign was to showcase Aaj Tak’s position as an eye-opener and opinion creator through relevant and credible news. The concept of the advertisement had to appeal to the viewers, and since humour has universal appeal, Aaj Tak looked at situations where it could bring out this serious facet of the brand with an underlying sense of humour.
RAPA is one of the only fora that honours excellence in radio and television in multiple languages (17 of them) in 51 categories. However, this year’s awards ceremony was low-key and the Taj Land’s End Ballroom wasn’t really packed. The CEOs of the channels were conspicuous by their absence.
The following list contains some of the notable winners:
Television channels related awards
Programmes
Kind of Programme Name Channel/ creators
Marathi TV programme for children Mee ani Aai solid team ETV Marathi
Marathi TV programme (soap) Bedhund Manachya Lahari Happenings
Marathi TV programme (non fiction) Gomanta Soudamini DD Sahyadri
Marathi TV programme (talk or chat show) Samvaad ETV Marathi
Marathi TV programme (script) Pimpalpaan Alpha Marathi
Hindi TV programme (talk or chat show) Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai Zee Telefilms
Hindi TV programme (soap) Saanjhi Zee Telefilms
Hindi TV programme (comedy) Office Office Rajiv Mehta and Amit Mehra
Hindi TV programme (film based) Kuch Yaadein Kuch Baatein Miditech
Hindi TV programme (mystery/thriller/suspense) CID SET
Hindi TV programme (non fiction) Haqeeqat BAG Films on Sahara TV
Hindi TV programme (script) CID Shridhar Raghavan of Fireworks Productions
Assamese TV programme (non fiction) Bideshat Apun Manuh Sangita
TV programmes ancillary functions
Category Name of show Creator
Anchoring TV show Simply Shekhar Shekhar Suman on Zee TV
Art direction in a TV programme Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai Nitin Desai on SET
Camera work (documentary) Dhadkan Sachin Kumar for SET
Composition of a TV title song Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai Shankar Ehsaan Loy for SET
Digital Visual Effects Discover the spirit within BK Prashant for Om Shanti Channel
Direction (documentary) Into the Abyss Vandana Kohli
Direction (TV programme) Haqeeqat Saurabh Usha Narang on Sahara TV
Music video Aika dajiba Sarika Music
Promos (feature films) Jhankar Beats PNC
Singing (TV title song) Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai Mahalaxmi for SET
TV News (soft story) Rameshwaram se Rashtrapati Bhavan Tak Aaj Tak and TV Today Network
Telecast of Live Programme Sansui Awards PNC
Advertising
Category Name Agency
Tamil Telefilm Arokya Milk Procurement Sasi Advertising
Kannada TV programme (script) Kalyani Sivannadam N
Malayalam TV programme (script) Sancharam AU Ratheesh Kumar
Telugu TV programme (script) Vellugu Needulu Om Telefilms
Advertising on TV
Kind of TVC Name of TVC Agency
English Coca Cola (Soni Kudi) McCann Erickson
Malayalam Anchorwire-electrician Art Advertising
Tamil Spic Urea Fine Frames Productions
English (product promo, image promo) Arrupukotai Sri Ramalinga Food Products Sasi Advertising
Marathi script for TV jingle Josh Nava Jallosh Nava director general DGIPR Maharashtra government
Hindi script for TV spot Coca Cola (Soni Kudi) Prasoon Joshi of McCann Erickson
Camera work for an ad film Fem Natarajan Subramanium
Composition for a TV jingle Fem Shantanu Moitra of Apocalypso
Production house of the year N.A. Apocalypso Filmworks
Public service advertising on TV Anti smoking Doordarshan (Sahyadri Mumbai)
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.
