30th October 2022: It is widely believed that the best way to truly experience any place is by traversing through its roads. India, with its massive geographical landscape, and well-connected highways of international standards, presents travellers with the opportunity of exploring the country through a new and different lens. In recent years, driving across the Indian countryside and road trips have become quite the rage creating new travel opportunities and destinations. One such destination, that offers locales which are unexplored and provides a view of the old world seamlessly amalgamating with the modern is, Tamil Nadu. Although Tamil Nadu is more than just its culture, heritage, and usual tourist spots. Being well connected by its highways presenting scenic drives, Tamil Nadu has recently become quite the rage for its road trips. Taking the audience on one such road trip, Zee Zest, with its fingers on the pulse of the Indian viewer, is all set to launch NEXA Journeys presents Highway Dreams, 30th October, 8 pm on Zee Zest and Zee Zest HD.
NEXA Journeys presents Highway Dreams will be hosted by renowned food traveller, show host and singer, Rakesh Raghunathan. An avid traveller himself, with a passion to research, document and discover heirloom recipes, with quintessential dining destinations native to the region, Rakesh will be seen exploring the region, while interacting with millennials and Gen-Z, as he drives through some known and some unknown highways in the new age NEXA Baleno by Maruti Suzuki.
Commencing this explorative journey from Chennai, Rakesh drives over to the “Manchester of South India” – Coimbatore, exploring the GeeDee Car Museum with a vintage car enthusiast along the way. The drive in Coimbatore also witnesses him zipping through on the racetrack. Moving on to his next adventure, driving through the Nilgiris, we enter the “Queen of Hill Stations” – Ooty, where the host takes us on an immersive and cerebral rejuvenation at MindEscapes®, before heading out to explore one of the largest moving telescopes – The Ooty Radio Telescope, riding an electrical cycle and ending the day with dinner at Canterbury Bar, a British style vintage hotspot.
Speaking on the launch, Amit Shah, Chief Cluster Officer – West, North & Premium Channels, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said, “At Zee Zest, our vision is to UNLIMIT experiences through our compelling mix of Indian and international lifestyle and infotainment shows. After the tremendous success of our first collaboration – NEXA Journeys presents Luxe Pins, our aim with the next-in-series is to showcase India beyond its usual travel destinations, through new-age experiences and lifestyle advancements, India offers today. NEXA Journeys presents Highway Dreams as our second association with NEXA Journeys, and we look forward to another exciting chapter exploring the unexplored and discovering the Southern State of Tamil Nadu. Together with NEXA, we hope to present a blend of unique stories to cater to the evolving audience demand for distinctive content.”
A rare known fact that the region of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu is counted among the leading growers of avocados in India. As we drive through the serene landscape of Dindigul district to the “Princess of Hill Stations” – Kodaikanal, the host takes us on an enchanting walk, discovering a hidden avocado farm. Stumbling onto tribal life and inspired by Tribal women entrepreneurs, who have a successful Honey brand, Rakesh engages the audience with a live cooking demonstration at a farm in Kodaikanal.
Driving through breathtaking and scenic highways of Tamil Nadu, the 10-episode series – NEXA Journeys presents Highway Dreams launches at 8 pm, 30th October on Zee Zest and Zee Zest HD.
Sharing his thoughts on the new Baleno being part of the series, Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales) – Maruti Suzuki India Ltd said, “A true work of art inspired by the future, the New-Age Baleno is the perfect companion to experience India through its highways. The technologically superior premium hatchback – the New Age Baleno offers an unmatched driving experience, powerful performance and array of new-age technology driven comfort, convenience and safety features. We are confident that viewers will get the true taste of an engaging drive experience and enjoy the true beauty of India as they witness country’s best-selling premium hatchback traverses the roads and present the modern-day Tamil Nadu to viewers.”
As the show progresses, it journeys into the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, on an adventurous tour with a forest ranger before taking the audience to experience life in a tribal village. Driving towards the region of Karaikudi, which gets its nomenclature from palatial villas, the host stops over to give you a glimpse into the antiques at the Muneeswaran Kovil street. The season concludes on an audacious note with viewers joining in a high-octane journey into Rameshwaram, situated in the Gulf of Mannar at the tip of the Indian Peninsula. Surrounded by turquoise blue water, the adventure culminates in the coastal waters with a session of snorkeling and kitesurfing.
With the launch of the new show partnered by NEXA, Sonal Shah, National Head Sales Niche Cluster- ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said, “After a successful collaboration for our first series, we are delighted to fortify this association with NEXA Journeys presents Highway Dreams on Zee Zest. At ZEE, our aim has always been to deliver higher value to all our clients through our gamut of offerings, and we are pleased to see Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and NEXA Baleno fitting seamlessly into our content and reaching audiences across the country in an effective and innovative manner. We also look forward to driving a fruitful partnership with Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. in this new season.“
