Oct 20, 2010 05:57 PM
47145 Views
India is a country where the cuisine has no limits. Whether it comes to spices, dishes or innovation, I think no one can find more variety than this place. Every state has its own wide range of cuisine and it is exclusive.
Last weekend (16 oct,10) Star plus started a new cookery show “Masterchef India” at prime time (sat-sun 9 p.m.). The show is hosted by Akshay Kumar after Khatron ke Khiladi fame, because of his background as a chef. He is accompanied by Ajay Chopra (Goa Marriott) and Kunal Kapoor (Leela Kempinski – Gurgaon) both sounded very dry and bland. We can witness some similar shows like MasterChef Australia, Top Chef and Hell’s kitchen on other channels.
The participants will have to show their culinary skills, perform under pressure and make their food photogenic apart from being tasty. The innovations, originalities in dishes, thorough knowledge of ingredients and cooking with a sharp and swift working hands will be highlights of this show. And who can create this with perfection will be the winner. And the one who passes through all this will reap good rewards : host a show on Star Plus, write a book and will get one crore rupees. It sounds too lucrative.
I saw the two episodes which were the preliminary rounds, where they have short listed 40 participants. These episodes were very cold and soggy. A high end drama, where arrogance, tears, huggies and kissies everything was there. A total fish market scene! A complete range from garrulous to sobbing participants, from perfectly cooked sevaiyan to foul smelling shrimps, from horny fans to “ma di mamta” ki jappiyan, from overcooked spinach to bleeding fingers – it was disappointing. I really wonder whether many of the participants knew the difference between a cook and a chef. A sob story and Akki gives you a chance. I could not see any professionalism in there, sounded more of like any masala reality show than a talent hunt show.
You wont get a second chance – That’s the beginning of MasterChef India. The punchline delivered by Akshay Kumar leaving the participants crying, wailing and sobbing. Though this factor did help them get a chance!
This programme can be very closely compared with MasterChef Australia (MCA). I have followed MCA, where the judges are very tough on participants. They are very rude to the failures and bad dishes but I never felt bad for the participants as the judges justified themselves well! I see a level in that programme, where they make participants compete with the professional chefs; in case they win, they win an immunity for themselves, which can same them from elimination once. Similarly they also face pressure tests where they have to taste a dish and prepare it, which is very difficult, as how to differentiate different meats once cooked is a big challenge. Also they have to cook a meal which compliments with a particular wine sample they are given. They have to cook for a party, in a restaurant, in a home and they are judged.
I don’t know whether they can create it here. With some religious inhibitions on the food part in India and may be the level of participants, I am not sure what level they will attain. A few participants are really interesting and I feel that they are worth staying in competition but a few were given chance as the judges pity on them.
There are gossips of SRK and Ash on the sets of MasterChef India, will they be able to stir up the things?
They could have done better. Since they have just heated the pan, may be its not too late, a bit of fire and they can bake a perfect pie.
PS : will follow for next two-three episodes, as I loved MCA, and am expecting a lot in this programme. Hope it lives to my expectations.
