The
first four episodes of Kaun Banega
Crorepati have been aired and the
reactions have been varied to say
the least. It might not be wrong to
say that the reactions are a reflection
of how diverse India is. The reactions
had started flowing right after the
first episode had been aired.
But it might have been unfair to judge a show
on the basis of the first episode. So the first
weekend might be the appropriate time to discuss
whether King Khan fills the bill (read Big B).
For starters, there were and there are people
who think that it would be unfair to both SRK
and Big B if we started comparing them. Bu then
that is the only thing that seems to make discussions
exciting. There is no other yardstick to compare
both the stars with. The only two people to have
hosted the show are Amitabh and Shah Rukh. This
makes the comparisons inevitable.
First
things first, let’s talk about what
is new on the show. Well, nothing. It is
the same setting, a semi-lit studio with
an arc for the host to make his grand appearance.
10 seats in a semicircle where the aspirants
for the hot seat sit. The host’s seat
and the hot seat bang in the middle of the
set and a gallery for the audience. It looks
like things took off straight from where
it ended in 2005. Literally too it took
off from where the Big B had left it, the
last contestant at the previous edition
of the show was called in to continue his
game. Thus started KBC, with nothing new.
No, no one here has forgotten SRK. Only
that so little seems to have been done to
revamp the show. Even the background music
is the same.
But
talk about the changes that SRK has managed to
bring about. Right from the moment he made his
appearance you knew that things were going to
be different. He started off with some heavily
loaded Hindi dialogues ending with the announcement
that he would never use such literary language
in the show (possibly a dig at the previous host).
‘Lock Kiya Jaye’ went out of the window
and ‘Freeze Kiya Jaye’ came in. ‘Computer
Jee’ was rechristened as ‘Compaq Da’;
talk of innovation. Then came brand SRK, he wanted
contestants to give him high fives each time they
got the answer right. Whenever a contestant wanted
to quit the game they had to ask SRK to give them
a hug. Summing things up, the show appeared more
like a game show or a chat show rather than an
intellectual quiz. Contestants, whom SRK likes
to refer to as his friends can take things easy
but not for granted. This easiness may work both
ways; the contestants may be able to think more
clearly in the absence of any tension but on the
other hand being on one’s toes does guard
one against languor. But when SRK is around it
is difficult to get serious beyond a certain point.
Humor is proving to be one of the strong points
of the show. SRK is managing to pull off some
good ones without eating into the time of the
show.
Let’s take a look at the past and analyze
what the Big B had presented KBC like. He was
surely a bit more serious without being grim.
He encouraged the contestants, helped them breathe
easy but at all times remained the quizmaster.
He did deliver the occasional lighter moment but
never let the contestant lose sight of the fact
that he was there trying to make 2 crores. He
kept the audience alive and involved. But his
success can be gauged by the fact that he managed
to keep the show going for nearly two seasons
without any major changes until poor health stopped
him from continuing.
So what we have seen till now are two completely
different approaches to presenting the show. Both
are enjoyable in their own ways. But which approach
is more suited to the game that gives 2 crores
to the winner is an issue on which opinions may
vary. If one made you sit up in your chair, the
other makes you to sit back and relax.
First, credit to SRK for bringing his unique stamp
to the show. It would have been very tempting
to try and do the same things that the Big B did
so successfully. Instead SRK has chosen to tread
a totally new path. The first step has been executed
well; he has broken ice with his audience. The
ultimate success or otherwise of the show can
be judged only by the viewership ratings at the
end of the first season; if the show goes on for
that long.
This is how things look now. Some people have
liked the new feel but there seem to be a good
number of detractors too. It remains to be seen
whether SRK is able to woo them to the TV sets
too. It may take time; after all die hard Bachchan
fans will find it difficult to adjust to another
face even though it is that of Shah Rukh. In conclusion
let us say this. ‘Shah Rukh, you are a class
act, Bachchan ji, you are a class apart. But neither
of you can be the other.’ Let’s enjoy
the best of both these superstars. Such things
do not happen very often.
