# Top Cooku Dupe Cooku

Top Cooku Dupe Cooku (often abbreviated as TCDC) is an Indian Tamil-language comedy-based cooking competition show, produced by Media Masons. The series aired on Sun TV and Sun NXT from 19 May 2024 to 29 September 2024 The show is produced and judged by Chef Venkatesh Bhat, along with Judge Chef Rammohan supported by Binny Krishnakumar and hosted by Rakesh.

## Format

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.

### Elimination box selection

In the beginning of each episode, the Top Cooku's will be given three boxes. One box will have a card saying elimination episode while the other two boxes will have a card saying no elimination episode. The contestants must come up with an agreement to select any of the box. If a no elimination card was selected for two consecutive weeks, the third week would be a compulsory elimination round.

### 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.

### Golden table challenge

After pairing up, they will be given a challenge to complete within 20 minutes. Winner of the golden table challenge will be offered with advancements for rest of the episode.

### Main challenge

The cooks will be given a dish to cook within the limited time period, along with intermediate challenge tasks as well. At the end, the judges rate each of the dishes, and the cooks are then ranked according to the results. The cook at the last place in an elimination round would be eliminated.

### Wild card entry

In the mid-season one or more Top Cooku's dubbed as "Wild Cards" will join the contestants.

### 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.

## Judges and hosts

| Season | Host | Judges (in order of first appearance) | Judges (in order of first appearance) | Judges (in order of first appearance) | Mentor chefs | Mentor chefs | Mentor chefs | Mentor chefs |
| 1 | VJ Rakesh | Venkatesh Bhat | Binny Krishnakumar | Chef Rammohan | Chef Cheruba | Chef Sai | Chef Saravanan | Chef Yuvasri |

## Series overview

| Series | Prize Money | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released | Originally released | Winners | Runners-up |
| Series | Prize Money | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released | Network | Winners | Runners-up |
| 1 | 20 Lakhs | 20 | 20 | 19 May 2024 (2024-05-19) | 29 September 2024 (2024-09-29) | Sun TV Sun NXT | Narendra Prasath Sujatha Sivakumar | FEFSI Vijayan Chaitra Reddy |

### Season 1 (2024)

| No. | Name | Entry episode | Episode exited | Status |
| 1 | Narendra Prasath (NP) | Episode 1 | Episode 20 | Winner |
| 2 | Sujatha Sivakumar | Episode 1 | Episode 20 | Winner |
| 3 | FEFSI Vijayan | Episode 1 | Episode 20 | Runner-up |
| 4 | Chaitra Reddy | Episode 1 | Episode 20 | 2nd Runner-up |
| 5 | Subash Selvam | Episode 12 | Episode 20 | Finalist |
| 6 | Maneesha Mahesh | Episode 12 | Episode 18 | Eliminated |
| 6 | Maneesha Mahesh | Wildcard Episode 19 | Episode 20 | Wildcard Finalist |
| 7 | Aishwarya Dutta | Episode 1 | Episode 16 | Eliminated |
| Eliminated ||
| 8 | Sai Dheena | Episode 1 | Episode 15 | Eliminated |
| Eliminated ||
| 9 | Singampuli | Episode 1 | Episode 10 | Eliminated |
| Eliminated ||
| 10 | Shali Nivekas | Episode 1 | Episode 8 | Eliminated |
| Eliminated ||
| 11 | Sonia Agarwal | Episode 1 | Episode 5 | Eliminated |
| Eliminated ||

## Production
### Development

Media Masons producer Ravoofa announced at the end of February that their company was quitting Star Vijay television after 25 years. Later on the production company Media Masons decide to produce a new cooking show like Cooku with Comali on Sun TV.

### Release

The first promo was unveiled on 28 April 2024. The second promo was unveiled on 1 May 2024, featuring first Contestants FEFSI Vijayan.