Top Cooku Dupe Cooku (often abbreviated as TCDC) is an Indian Tamil-language comedy-based cooking competition show, produced by Media Masons. The show is produced and judged by Chef Venkatesh Bhat,[1] along with Judge Chef Rammohan supported by Binny Krishnakumar and hosted by Rakesh.[2][3]
| Top Cooku Dupe Cooku | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre |
|
| Directed by | Parthiv Mani |
| Presented by | VJ Rakesh (season 1–present) Sivaangi Krishnakumar (season 2–present) |
| Judges |
|
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Tamil |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Media Masons |
| Cinematography | Sudhir Koushik |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | approx. 65–75 minutes |
| Production company | Media Masons |
| Original release | |
| Network | Sun TV Sun NXT |
| Release | 19 May 2024 – present |
Format
editThis section may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (September 2024) |
The contestants are referred to as "Top Cooku" and would be paired up with a "Dupe Cooku" each week. Some episodes would feature one or more guest judges.[4]
- Elimination box selection
In the beginning of each episode, the Top Cooku's will be given two boxes. One box will have a card saying elimination episode while the other box will have a card saying no elimination episode. The contestants must come up with an agreement to select a box to decide if there will be an elimination or not. If a no elimination card was selected for two consecutive weeks, the third week would be a compulsory elimination round.[4][5]
- Rapid fire round
In this round, the Top Cooku's will be given a simple task to complete within 120 seconds. Winner of the Rapid fire can choose their desired Dupe Cooku while others will be paired through a random selection chamber.[4]
- Golden table challenge
After pairing up, teams take part in a 20-minute quick-fire cooking task called the Golden Table Challenge. The winning team earns the right to cook at a special golden workstation equipped with premium amenities and enjoys exclusive privileges for the rest of the episode — such as immunity, priority access to ingredients, and additional support from their chef mentor.
- Main challenge
In each episode, all teams participate in a themed main cooking challenge, where they must create dishes based on a given concept or cuisine. The chefs can guide their teams from a dugout and are allowed a limited "Chef's Time-Out" to step into the kitchen and offer verbal instructions. Teams are judged on taste, presentation, and creativity by the judges, and the lowest-scoring cook faces elimination.[4]
- Wild card entry
In the mid-season one or more Top Cook's dubbed as "Wild Card entries" will join the contestants.[6]
- Final stage
In the final stage of the season all episodes would be either elimination or ticket to Finale rounds leading up to the Season Finale.[7][8]
Judges and hosts
edit| Season | Host | Judges (in order of first appearance) | Mentor chefs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VJ Rakesh | Venkatesh Bhat | Binny Krishnakumar | Chef Rammohan | Chef Cheruba | Chef Sai | Chef Saravanan | Chef Yuvasri |
| 2 | VJ Rakesh & Sivaangi Krishnakumar | Venkatesh Bhat | Chef Rammohan | Sivaangi Krishnakumar | Chef Sai | Chef Adrian | Chef Cheruba | TBA |
Series overview
edit| Series | Prize Money | Episodes | Originally released | Winners | Runners-up | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | ||||||
| 1 | 20 Lakhs | 20 | 19 May 2024 | 29 September 2024 | Sun TV Sun NXT | Narendra Prasath Sujatha Sivakumar | FEFSI Vijayan Chaitra Reddy | |
| 2 | TBA | 3 | 17 August 2025 | TBA | Sun TV Sun NXT | TBA | TBA | |
Production
editDevelopment
editMedia Masons producer Ravoofa announced at the end of February that their company was quitting Star Vijay television after 25 years.[9] Later on the production company Media Masons decide to produce a new cooking show like Cooku with Comali[10] on Sun TV.[11][12]
Release
editThe first promo was unveiled on 28 April 2024. The second promo was unveiled on 1 May 2024, featuring first Contestants FEFSI Vijayan.[13]
References
edit- ^ "டாப் குக்கு டூப் குக்கு செஃப் வெங்கடேஷ் பட்!". Dinamani (in Tamil). 29 April 2024.
- ^ "சன் டிவிக்கு போன வெங்கடேஷ் பட்டின் புது பதிவு! இதுதான் வார்த்தையை விட்டு சிக்குறதா? ரசிகர்கள் கேள்வி". Tamil Oneindia (in Tamil). 29 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ V Vasanthi (30 April 2024). "விஜய் டிவியை விட்டு சன் டிவிக்கு போன காரணம்? ஜி.பி முத்து வீடியோவை பகிர்ந்து.. வெங்கடேஷ் பட் பதிவு". Tamil Oneindia (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d "New cooking reality show 'Top Cooku Dupe Cooku' set to premiere on May 19". Times Of India. 29 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Top Cooku Dupe Cooku: From Chaitra Reddy winning the advantage to Sonia Agarwal's elimination - A look at major events". Times Of India (in Tamil). 18 June 2024. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ Sun TV (30 July 2024). Top Cooku Dupe Cooku - Promo | 04 August 2024 | Sunday @ 12:30 PM | Sun TV. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Sun TV (23 August 2024). Top Cooku Dupe Cooku - Promo | 25 August 2024 | Sunday @ 12:30 PM | Sun TV. Retrieved 24 August 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Sun TV (3 September 2024). Top Cooku Dupe Cooku - Promo | 08 Sep 2024 | Sunday @ 12:30 PM | Sun TV. Retrieved 8 September 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "'Cooku With Comali' new season becomes doubtful as the show's crew moves out one by one - Deets". www.indiaglitz.com. 4 March 2024.
- ^ Parthiban.A (3 May 2024). "யாரு தான் Copy அடிக்கல.. CWC vs Top Cooku Dupe Cooku! தீபா அக்கா Exclusive Interview". cineulagam.com (in Tamil).
- ^ "டாப் குக்கு டூப் குக்கு - விஜய் டிவியில் இருந்து சன் டிவிக்கு தாவிய குக் வித் கோமாளி பிரபலங்கள்..." tamil.filmibeat.com (in Tamil). 30 April 2024.
- ^ "'டாப் குக்கு டூப் குக்கு' நிகழ்ச்சியின் தயாரிப்பாளர் வெங்கடேஷ் பட்டா? பரபரப்பு தகவல்..!". www.indiaglitz.com (in Tamil). 30 April 2024.
- ^ Rajkumar (2 May 2024). "Top Cooku Dupe Cookuவின் புதிய ப்ரோமோ – போட்டியாளராக வந்த பிரபல வில்லன் நடிகர்". tamil.behindtalkies.com (in Tamil).