A contestant complemented Mr. Bachchan on looking 10 years younger in tonight's Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) 2011 episode 1. The legend seemed stunned, speechless for the tiniest second before he could warmly extend thanks. Apart from the visible tiredness, Mr Bachchan was in top form, enthralling audiences, setting up KBC for a great run this year.
Kudos to the creative team at Sony for understanding that the KBC format combined with Mr. Bachchan's charisma and common-man connect was a winner. KBC 2010 surprised the TV industry with the highest ratings for a non-fiction, non-sports show for the year. Part of KBC’s success was being the only clean family entertainer in a TV universe dominated by abusive fighting contestants (Big Boss) or abusive fighting judges (Dance / Music reality shows).
KBC 2011 delivers primarily on the back of the anchor’s sterling performance. One can’t imagine anyone else anchoring the show. Not Aamir Khan (rumored to be a possible replacement) or even a SRK. Mr. Bachchan’s self deprecating approach, and the ability to switch roles as a mentor or a friend, wow audiences. He seems to love chatting up his contestants, exhorting them to indulge in their mimicry or singing skills or getting them on a hotline with their sporting idols.
Last year’s lessons seem well learned. KBC was an interesting case for media marketers. Non-celebrity episodes worked much better than those with celebrities. This is super strange. Reality Shows thrive on celebs; the bigger the celebrity, the higher the ratings. The common man’s ambition, his aspirations, his failings took centre-stage and therein lies the unique ability of the show. Middle class India does not approve singing, dancing and bollywood talents as a bona fide road to success. They value hard work, merit and education. Here’s a show that takes these values seriously and gives an opportunity to truly rise above others. Hence the clear theme this year seems less song and dance or other frivolousness (an irritant last year) and more hot seat contenders.
The Ghar Baithe Crorepati questions seem a step in the same direction. Engaging the common man is critical considering people list interacting with the man as a high point of their life. But you can’t help feeling things get a bit stretched though. You just can’t replicate the experience of being quizzed by Mr. Bachchan in real life. However, when this reviewer sent a message answering the Ghar Baithe question, he never got a response or a message receipt intimation. A sad apology followed 15 minutes later about lines being closed and having received the message late. Sad, considering everything else on the show worked. Maybe things could have been better had I been an idea subscriber.
Given the scale of things Sony is poised to overdo this. 90 minutes seem quite an over-kill. Agreed people want more but a longer run time gets boring and even Amitabh can entertain our restless minds for so long. 56 episodes seem the other bane. Considering KBC is one show where you never build up to a crescendo (i.e. there is no grand finale where the best contestants face off), every extra episode will only lose viewers. But then it is a distinctly Indian trend to overdo.
Happy viewing friends, KBC promises a treat for the next several weeks.
Critic Rating: 3.5/4
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