Thanks to Lost Recipes hosted by Aditya Bal for Epic Channel, I actually watched culinary masterpieces of my community.  No, it isn’t Dhansak and patra ni machchi, the signature foods.  It would be very rare to find the Bhujelo Bhing (Baked Hilsa) and Umberiyu on urban party tables. I have tasted them, heard of the process of cooking, but never actually watched them being cooked. It’s not uncommon for Parsis to land up in Udwada or Sanjan for a feast of  ethnic delicacies like Bhujelo Bhing and Umberiyu. The fish is marinated with a coconut based green chutney and then wrapped in banana leaves, covered in a paste of mud and then placed in a wood fire. The Umberiyu is a mix of vegetables and chicken laced with toddy, filled in an earthen pot which is upturned  and placed in a wood fire. The frenetic lifestyle has us dependent on instant masalas and foods. Neither of the recipes on the show have a shortcut, even the masalas are hand pounded.  It’s indeed a discovery into the lost art of cooking. Lost Recipes like so many other shows on Epic Channel delve into India’s  past through culture, history and arts.

Undoubtedly, there’s an air of romance in stories about espionage, replete with valour and martyrdom. Epic Channel’s Adrishya highlights the men and women who braved the odds, infiltrated the enemy and ensured victory. It has delved into history to recount the tales of valour showcased by Sharan Kaur, a Khalsa warrior and a shrewd spy, who  braved to go where no Sikh man would go -- entering Pathan camps. Chand Bardai- the poet spy  and a master of disguises, who served under Prithviraj Chauhan, who ensured his master met an end befitting his exploits. Contemporary history hasn’t been skipped and stories about 20^th century espionage include SaraswatiRajamani – Netaji’s boy Spy, Ravindra Kaushik – Black Tiger.  Ajit Doval and others,

A country where cricket  is a popular passion, Mid-Wicket Tales , anchored by Naseeruddin Shah is a cricket fiend’s delight as the actor goes back into India’s cricket lore. Undoubtedly, a wonderful recall of India’s cricket lore and events.   

In 2014, television viewers had two more channels to gaze at – Zindagi and Epic Channel.  Zindagi, which showcased content from Pakistan, scored a hit with saas-bahu drama weary viewers, is today watched by the urban elite as well, purely because of  the channel’s offering of finite shows, quality content and freshness. Epic, on the other hand, with its content being delved from Indian history, culture, folk lore and mythology, has still to attract a decent viewership. Even today, the channel hasn’t drawn viewers the way it should. There is an acute  lack of content awareness by an empty EPG slot. Unless a viewer meticulously watches the channel, how is he to know whether or not Danav Hunters or Dariba Diaries will appeal to him?

Epic Channel needs to be packaged and given a face so as to garner viewer loyalty. I watched Adrishya  on a friend’s recommendation and Lost Recipes, as I saw the promo on Udvada and Bhujelo Bhing. Not everyone’s that conscientious. If you don’t know what this channel is showing surf to the next.

The late night fare on Star Plus has taken a twist in the tale. In Tamanna, Dhara faces the hooded face of politically motivated communalism which is veering to destroy her mission for Aman through cricket for a school in Meerut. In Dahleez, the Sinhas combat  terrorism in their own backyard. The production houses and actors of both shows need to be commended for bringing up the stark reality of the very real threats in our society.

Finally, the villains and vamps are being replaced in our prime time slots by terrorism and separatist violence.  Kudos.