ITV

Tag: Raja Balasubramanian

  • Discovery looks to spice up life with ‘Feast India’

    Discovery looks to spice up life with ‘Feast India’

    MUMBAI: Spicy, pungent, sweet and sour! Discovery takes its viewers through a colourful glimpse into Indian culture, food and customs in Feast India every Saturday at 9 pm for the next two months.

    The English-born chef Barry Vera savours the delights of simple street food and the variety of regional cuisine as he immerses himself and viewers in the diverse cultural influences that make each region of India so distinct. Along the way, he enjoys a delectable meal at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi; where several thousand devotees are served daily.

    From the small town plantation town of Kumili in Kerala to the chaotic buzz of Mumbai – the home to Dubbawallahs, from the village wedding in Pushkar to the festivities of Diwali, Feast India captures the this diverse and intensely beautiful country.

    Discovery India brand dierctor Raja Balasubramanian said, “Feast India highlights the diverse Indian cuisines as Barry Vera takes viewers through a culinary journey across India. Apart from its gastronomy, the series also presents the fascinating and colourful cultures and festivals of India.”

    From g delicacies to age-old customs and festivities, viewers will watch the best India has to offer. Kochi, The Backwaters airs on 8 April at 9 pm. On the humid, lush coast, famous Chinese fishing nets operate just as they have for the last 600 years. In Kochi, the delicious street food and abundant fish vie for attention in the local markets. Cruising the palm-fringed backwaters and dining delicious Indian thalli, the episode gives viewers a taste of life in a south Indian island village.

    In Old Delhi on 15 April the Mughal architecture looms above the narrow lanes and delicious Muslim food is served in an atmosphere of friendly chaos. Unusual delicacies are offered in the aromatic labyrinth of one of the largest wholesale spice markets in Asia. Viewers also get a glimpse into the kitchens of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, where enough food is cooked to nourish tens of thousands of pilgrims each day.

    Jodphur – Salt Mines airs on 22 April The busy bazaars of Jodphur will hook viewers with Rajasthani tribal women haggling for bangles. In contrast, down the quiet back streets of the old city is a serene picture of blue houses.

    On Spice which airs on 29 April 2006 the Malabar Coast is home to the essential ingredients of every Indian meal- black pepper, cardamom, ginger and tea plantation. In the daily cardamom auctions, buyers and sellers converge in a spirited display of commerce.

    Mumbai takes centrestage on 6 May 2006. In Mumbai, the famed Dabbawallahs perform the daily ritual of getting thousands of home-cooked meals delivered to the right offices, landing them in the Guinness Book of Records. Viewers will also meet the city’s Dhobbis, who seem to wash the clothes of the entire city in a gigantic open laundry. Viewers end the journey with a feast of snack foods at Juhu’s nightly carnival on the sand.

    The episode on 13 May celebrates the frestival of Diwali which ends with a bang as fireworks light up the sky across the length and breadth of India. Huge quantities of sweets are consumed, tools and account books are prayed over, houses are decorated with colourful lanterns to guide passing gods and millions of gifts are exchanged in this explosion of divine fun.

    On Indian Offering on 20 May Vera explains how he has been inspired by the people and the food of India and provides an understanding of the spices that make up the myriad flavors he has enjoyed. Barry applies his imaginative touch to a selection of simple, tasty dishes that are deeply Indian at heart.

  • Animal Planet teams with WWF for eco-reality series ‘Planet Action’

    Animal Planet teams with WWF for eco-reality series ‘Planet Action’

    MUMBAI: Around the globe, pollution, global warming, deforestation, fishing practices, all play a part in endangering the world’s wildlife. Most often, the danger comes as a result of human behaviour. In a mission to show viewers how they can help the conservation cause, Animal Planet and WWF, the global conservation organisation, present Planet Action – an eco-reality series which takes on these crises in a brand new way.

    Starting 2 April, the six-episode series Planet Action will air on Animal Planet every Sunday at 9 pm. The series will premiere globally on Animal Planet.

    The series takes an unique approach in addressing some of the current
    issues facing wildlife and eco-systems today. The series follows an
    international team of seven enthusiastic amateur environmentalists as they are immersed in six different conservation projects. Working under the pressure of strict deadlines and tight budgets in remote locations, the team must work together to accomplish each mission.

    Over six weeks, we see conservation in action as the team tackles projects to make a real difference. The journeys range from saving endangered leatherback turtles in Panama to planting 100 trees in the heart of Borneo’s rainforest to help the orangutans fight for survival.

    Animal Planet Brand Director Raja Balasubramanian said, “Animal Planet has presented many entertaining programmes, both from India and abroad, to increase the understanding on wildlife extinction and environment deterioration. Planet Action is an eco-reality programme that, besides informing, will entertain viewers by presenting them all the emotion and drama of a group of amateur environmentalists tasked with real-life challenges.”

    The diverse group of participants from Venezuela, Vietnam, Sweden,
    Australia, Brazil, UK and USA came together to pursue a common cause. WWF experts are on hand as ‘mentors’ during each challenge, as the team learns firsthand about the realities of conservation while at the same time coping with extreme conditions, unfamiliar cultures and the pressures of protecting wildlife.

    Can the team put personal issues aside and cooperate as a group to undertake these important challenges? Planet Action captures all the emotion and drama as tempers fray and moods swing while the team works together towards their ultimate goal – protecting the future of the animals with whom we share the planet.

    WWF-India SG and CEO Ravi Singh said, “Planet Action is a great example of active media partnership to showcase the tough work of conservation to the world. I am hopeful that more and more people will be sensitised about the threats to the environment and to it’s species and the urgent need to conserve the same.”

    WWF-India is the largest and one of the most experienced conservation organizations in the country. And, with almost five million supporters distributed throughout five continents, WWF has a global network active in over 90 countries and has played a major role in the evolution of the international conservation movement. Their mission is to stop the degradation of the planet and to help people live in harmony with nature.