|
Siddhartha
Basu
Mr.
quiz
 He
is the original quizmaster of the Indian television. Remember Quiz Time,
which was telecast on Doordarshan in the mid-80s in three seasonal breaks?
Other quizmasters came and went but Siddhartha Basu has stayed on, making
quiz and game shows, the most notable being Kaun Banega Crorepati for
Star Plus and Mastermind India for BBC. While KBC has been rested with
a seasonal break and will be revived some time in July, Basu is currently
busy making yet another game show for Star Plus called Kamzor Kadii Kaun(KKK)
which is an Indian version of BBC’s The Weakest Link. Described as
a soap opera in the form of a quiz, KKK involves a group of nine strangers
who have to work together as a team to win prize money up to Rs. 25 lakhs
where only one person takes the money away as others are voted off round
by round and leave with nothing. Anchored by Neena Gupta, KKK premiered
on December 25 and is telecast every Tuesday at 9 pm. We spoke to Basu
at length about KKK, KBC and Mastermind India which was pulled off BBC
World post-September 11 and has been relaunched on January 3.
Over to Basu:
Why
one more adaptation of a foreign game show instead of an original and
indigenous game or quiz show?
It really
doesn’t matter whether it’s an Indian or foreign show. What’s
more important is the format which has to be universal. The Weakest Link
is a big international draw, cutting across language and culture. It is
a tried and tested format which is currently running on 18 television
networks across the globe besides being the only game show which stood
its ground against Who Wants To Be A Millionaire on prime time television
worldwide. It’s an elaborate and expensive game show with a lot of
punch, exactly the kind the channels are looking for to consolidate their
position. As for making an indigenous game or quiz show, I am absolutely
open to the idea. But adapting The Weakest Link as Kamzor Kadii... is
the channel’s decision. I have been asked to make it and so I am
doing it.
Do you think KKK is going to connect and score with viewers as effectively
as KBC did?
I feel so.
It should work very well though it might take some time to settle down.
But honestly one should not compare KKK with KBC. On the contrary, KKK
is a good counterpoint to KBC. It is a fast and rapid-fire quiz show where
the contestant really has to measure up to the expectations of the team.
He has no support or sympathy. And there is no time for him to think.
He has to be alert and promptly answer the questions. But KBC was different.
It was more of drama than quizzing, a drama about the ordinary individuals
where the stakes were high but the host was very patient and supportive.
KKK is radically individualistic and it works more like a soap opera.
Could you explain how KKK works more like a soap?
It’s
a very complex show full of intricacies and layers of sub-plots in the
form of group dynamics and changing relationships. It is more about the
politics of relationships and competition and has saas and bahus, conflict,
thrill, dual and moments of high drama. It is a quiz show in the form
of soap.
And Neena Gupta is a saas or bahu?
She is both saas and saans(smiles). The mainstay of KKK is the hostess,
a steely-eyed taskmaster who adds tension and thrill to the most innocuous
questions she asks and holds the fort.
Is Neena an ideal hostess?
Absolutely. She fits the bill perfectly. She is a woman with a strong
personality and an identity of her own. She can handle the negative responses
tongue-in-cheek as well as put the contestants in their place if they
try to be oversmart. Besides her Hindi is very good.
Is it true that some other names were also considered before settling
down for Neena? Who else was considered?
Yes, a few
names were considered but they didn’t fit the bill. We found Neena
perfect in all aspects of a hostess for a show like KKK. Now let’s
not go into who else was considered because if we make a list right now
the names would be almost same.
What is the criteria for selecting the contestants?
Selection of contestants is done according to our guidelines which include
general knowledge, responsiveness, articulation, expressiveness, personality,
age and gender. For the first eight episodes, contestants have been auditioned
from the data banks of KBC, Khullja Sim Sim and Mastermind India.
What’s the status on KBC? When are you planning to bring it back?
Well, everything has a life cycle but KBC is very much on. We have just
taken a break and the channel has to decide as to when to bring it back
on air. Though the relaunch is scheduled for July, a definite decision
is yet to be taken.
You are a well known quizmaster. But both for KBC and KKK you been behind
the scene, putting the show together. Are you happy being off screen?
Oh, I love the job. I love directing and putting the show together. I
love pre and post-production work. It’s a rapid-fire job.
Mastermind India has been relaunched from January 3 with repeat telecast
of the first seven episodes. Why the repeat telecast of old episodes?
Mastermind India was launched in August last year but after the September
11 tragedy the show along with some other India specific programmes were
pulled off on BBC World. It is now being relaunched with the idea of having
an uninterrupted and complete run. It’s the channel’s decision
to repeat the old episodes but I am happy that the show is back on air.
Just as KBC has been given a break, will KKK also have a seasonal break?
The buzz is that it will go off air after 26 episodes?
I have no idea. This question is for the channel.
—ALC
|
