Media Release
Mangaluru, May 27: The department of hospitality science at Yenepoya Institute of Arts, Science, Commerce and Management (YIASCM) successfully hosted the grand award ceremony of its prestigious culinary reality show, ‘ChampYen Chef – Season 2 Grand Finale’ recently at the auditorium of YIASCM, Balmatta.
The event commenced with a grand ceremonial welcome for dignitaries, celebrities, participants, and invited guests. A vibrant band troupe escorted the guests, creating a festive and energetic atmosphere for the evening.
The programme was graced by distinguished personalities from the hospitality, entertainment, media, and corporate sectors. The chief guest for the event was Dr Aswini Dutt R, registrar, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University).
Other eminent guests present included:
• Mohd Ashiq – Brand ambassador of ChampYenChef Season 2 and winner of MasterChef India Season 8
• Chef Komal S Prabhu – Managing director, Maharaja Family Restaurant
• Alexis Ronald Castelino – director, Daijiworld Pvt Ltd
• Arvind Shrivastav – Senior centre director, Fiza by Nexus Mall
• Nisha – Marketing head, Fiza by Nexus Mall
• Dr Krishna Shenoy – Director & CEO, The Sea View, Mangaluru
The grand finale was further elevated by the presence of celebrities and influencers from the entertainment and digital media industries, including:
• Remona Evette Pereira – Golden Book of Records holder
• Eltton Jeff – Actor & director, Konkani and Tulu films
• Sharan Chilimbi – Social media influencer
• Wencita Dias – Actress, model and Miss Teen
• Advika Shetty – Dancer and actress
• Shailashree Mulki – Actress in Kannada and Tulu cinema
Special invitees included:
• Stany Bela – Production director, Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd
• C K Prashanth – Channel head, V4 News
• Jyothsna Aswath – Winner, ChampYenChef Season 1
• Dhruv Kulai – Marketing executive, KMC Hospital
• Ashwini Kotian – Director, MaaMantra Events
After several rounds of intense culinary competition, the top three finalists — Ibrahim Khaleel, Dr Prajwal N D, and Uzma Sadiya — competed in the final culinary showdown, displaying exceptional creativity, technical expertise, and presentation skills.
The finale also featured a series of cultural performances and felicitation ceremonies. The event began with a prayer song ‘Ek Tuhi Barosa’, followed by a traditional Yakshagana welcome dance performed by hospitality students Raksha and Umavathi. The event was anchored by Shreya.
Highlights of the evening included:
• Felicitation of Team Fiza by Nexus Mall and distribution of participation certificates
• Classical dance performance by Remona Evette Pereira
• Semi-classical dance by hospitality students Gayathri and Srilakshmi
• Traditional Tulu song performance by Ananya Narayan
• Special dance performances by Advika Shetty and celebrity guests
• Presentation of the trailer for ‘Dev Das na Leela’ and ‘Kajja’
• Special pageant walk by Wencita Dias
Several dignitaries and celebrities were felicitated during the event for their contributions and support towards the success of ChampYenChef Season 2.
Category winners
Awards were also presented to winners across various categories of the competition:
• Budding Chef Category – Sanika K
• Housewife Category – Vidya V Shetty
• Geriatric Category – Vimala Raju Poojary
• Faculty Category – Sahana S Nirmal
• Food Vlogger Category – Madhav S Mallya
• General Category – Nurah Sheikh
Each category winner received a chef cap and apron, framed certificate, trophy, cash prize of Rs 5,000, and a gift hamper sponsored by Aruna Masala.
The final results were officially announced by Mervin Jaison Vas, head of the department of hospitality science, YIASCM, and the organizer of the event.
• Second Runner-Up: Ibrahim Khaleel
o Awarded a chef cap and apron, framed certificate, runner-up trophy, cash prize of Rs 10,000, and a gift hamper from Aruna Masala.
• First Runner-Up: Dr Prajwal N D
o Awarded a chef cap and apron, framed certificate, runner-up trophy, cash prize of Rs 20,000, and a gift hamper from Aruna Masala.
• Winner of ChampYenChef – Season 2: Uzma Sadiya
o Awarded the prestigious golden chef coat, chef cap and apron, framed certificate, winner’s trophy, cash prize of Rs 40,000, and a gift hamper from Aruna Masala.
The event received extensive media coverage through Daijiworld TV 24x7 and official social media platforms, highlighting behind-the-scenes moments and finale celebrations.
The successful execution of the programme was led under the guidance of:
• Dr Jeevan Raj – Principal
• Dr Shareena P – Vice principal & dean, faculty of commerce and management
• Narayan Sukumara – Vice principal, YIASCM
• Mervin Jaison Vas – HoD, department of hospitality science, YIASCM
The organizers also acknowledged the support of sponsors including Sham Institute, Mangaluru; JoJo International, Mumbai; Stylewear Tailors, Mangaluru; Maharaja Family Restaurant; Aruna Masala; and Mangalore Days along with all others who contributed towards the grand success of the event.
The ‘ChampYen Chef – Season 2 Grand Finale’ concluded on a grand note with appreciation from guests, industry experts, participants, and attendees. The event successfully promoted culinary innovation, hospitality excellence, and experiential learning while strengthening the bond between academia and industry. The programme concluded with the national anthem.
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