Sanjeev Ok Kumar says audiences will see new sides of actor and ‘MasterChef Telugu’ host Tamannaah
August brings a brand new flavour for actor Tamannaah, as she hosts MasterChef Telugu, set to air on Gemini TV from the final week of this month. “Tamannaah is a fun and jovial person; she’s also a foodie, although healthy food is her priority. Television audiences will discover new facets of her personality,” shares director Sanjeev Ok Kumar of MasterChef exhibits in 4 south Indian languages.
While MasterChef Tamil that went on air lately is hosted by Vijay Sethupati, Kichcha Sudeep and Prithviraj Sukumaran will host the Kannada and Malayalam exhibits respectively.
Known for its huge units, completely different cooking types and nail-biting finishes, MasterChef places the highlight on novice dwelling cooks certain by their love for meals. “MasterChef’s well established format has gone to different countries. I always wanted to do a show that combines food and reality television,” says Sanjeev who has created and directed standard exhibits like Jabardasth, Dhee, Cash, Genes and No. 1 Yaari with Rana and likewise Deal or No Deal, a actuality sport present, once more in all these 4 languages.
For the primary time, Tamannaah will probably be seen discussing the nitty-gritty of meals on tv. “It will be interesting for TV audiences to watch Tamannaah this way, otherwise she is known for her beauty and radiance,” he says.
Sanjeev’s want to work with Vijay Sethupathy was fulfilled with MasterChef Tamil. “I am his big fan. Vijay is a grounded person who loves food and understands the sensibilities of a common man,” he remembers.
In Regional Space
When Saravana Prasad of Innovative Film Academy (IFA) approached actuality present manufacturing main Endemol Shine India for the license to MasterChef, Sanjeev was introduced in because the collection inventive director south. This was owing to his expertise in directing quite a few comedy, dance and movie star tv exhibits in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bengali and Odia. A Tamilian introduced up in Karnataka, Sanjeev’s dad and mom have a Kerala join and most of his work occurs in Telugu, so he’s snug working in several languages.
Proud to be on the helm of MasterChef in regional languages, he says, “MasterChef has gone to many countries and been done in the main language of a country. Australian and American shows are the most popular. It is an exciting experience to witness it in a regional language.”
A central set created in Innovative Film Academy in Bengaluru by Omung Kumar, the award-winning director of Mary Kom and Sarabjit fame guarantees a visible deal with. Shooting of exhibits in 4 languages will probably be on this 360 diploma set (normally cameras are positioned at one place to shoot however 360 diploma set permits viewers to see in all instructions) with a flooring dimension 100 x 90 sq. toes and 100 x 40 sq. toes that has 20 cooking counters, pantry and fast freezer. Sanjeev works with a 300 member group together with a 40-member meals group.
Virtual Auditions
Three groups had been in contact with 800 contestants just about through the COVID interval. It was a brand new expertise for contestants chosen from social media and their very own community as properly asthe director who has all the time completed reside auditions for different actuality exhibits. “The contestants cooked and served virtually. The only thing we couldn’t do is taste the food,” he laughs. From the 100 chosen for a reside audition in IFA Benguluru, 20 had been shortlisted and 14 dwelling cooks made it to the present. The Telugu present may have cooks Sanjay Thumma, Chalapathi Rao, and Mahesh Padala for judges.
“We call them home cooks as they are not trained but passionate about food. MasterChef is basically a format for home cooks to be groomed in culinary techniques and food styling,” explains Sanjeev.
Each language present will deliver out the flavours of that area. “The idea is to take regional cuisine to an international level. We nativise techniques to focus on that particular cuisine’s high points,” he provides. A misplaced recipe section has age-old kitchen tales/methods .
As Sanjeev has by no means gone right into a kitchen, taking pictures culinary episodes was a problem and a studying expertise. “Food is a combination of art and science and presentation plays a big role. We have tried to balance different elements with a touch of entertainment and thrill.”
While 13 episodes of Tamil and eight episodes of Telugu have already been shot, the taking pictures for Kannada and Malayalam exhibits will start in September. “I hope MasterChef will help people become more appreciative of the the art and skill of cooking and the person behind it and also inspires youngsters to make a career in the culinary world,” hopes Sanjeev.
