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] It is based on reality show Cooku with Comali.[4][5]
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.[6]
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.[6][7]
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.[6]
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.[6]
Wild card entry
In the mid-season one or more Top Cook's dubbed as "Wild Card entries" will join the contestants.[8]
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.[9][10]
Media Masons producer Ravoofa announced at the end of February that their company was quitting Star Vijay television after 25 years.[11] Later on Media Masons decide to produce a new cooking show like Cooku with Comali[12] on Sun TV.[13][5]
Release
The first promo was unveiled on 28 April 2024. The second promo was unveiled on 1 May 2024, featuring first contestants FEFSI Vijayan.[14]
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