ITV

Tag: Sawaal

  • Zee dumps Sawaal, Manisha gets the boot

    Zee dumps Sawaal, Manisha gets the boot

    Zee TV, finally deciding that discretion is the better part of valour, has decided to discontinue for the present its much criticised game show Sawaal Dus Crore Ka. In the process Manisha Koirala, co-host along with Anupam Kher, has joined him on the casualty list.

     

    However, Manisha’s parting of ways doesn’t appear to have the bitterness which surrounded the sacking of Kher last week from the programme. Kher went to town badmouthing Zee for the manner in which he was taken off the show.

     

    Initially touted as Zee’s answer to the runaway success of Star TV’s Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), Sawaal had acceptance problems from the beginning. The two anchors didn’t come off well in comparison with KBC’s Amitabh Bachchan and the programme itself was seen as an unwieldy and poor imitation of Star’s product. This was reflected in the TRP ratings Sawaal generated. It could only manage a rating of four against KBC’s 14.

     

    According to a press release Zee put out on Sunday, the channel is in the process of chalking out a new version of the game show with a new theme, new composition and a new anchor and, possibly, revised prize money. It is slated to go on air from the first week of January. The question that begs an answer is whether a month will give Zee enough time to come up with a worthwhile challenge to KBC. Another hasty effort could really prove disastrous to Zee’s fortunes. Especially since Sony’s answer to KBC, Jeeto Chappar Phaad Ke, will have taken off by then. Sony’s programme has been under development since August. As Sameer Nair, Star TV’s Head of Programming, put it: “It will be interesting to see what Zee comes up with. After all Zee’s new show will have to contend not only with with KBC but Sony’s Chappad Phaad Ke too.” Nair did not take into account Doordarshan’s Knockout which will be hosted by Kabir Bedi on Sundays and is set to launch next month. Neither did he mention Sabe TV’s Jab Khelo Sab Khelo hosted by the irrepressible Shekhar Suman.

     

    Sainath Aiyar, Zee’s VP Corporate Communications, was noncommittal when quizzed for further details regarding the changes being incorporated in the new game show. He also denied that Ashutosh Rana had been finalised as an anchor to replace Kher and Manisha. An interesting possible name that the industry grapevine has thrown up is that of Abhishek Bachchan. Now that would be a really mouthwatering clash of personalities. Using the son to take on the father.

  • Rivals cool to Zee move on Sawaal

    Rivals cool to Zee move on Sawaal

    Zee TV’s decision on Sunday to suspend Sawaal Dus Crore Ka, its answer to Star TV’s Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), elicited suitably gracious reactions from rivals Sony and Star. Both channels refused to gloat, at least in public, over the new turn of events.

     

    Rekha Nigam, Sony’s head of programming, said it was always sad to hear of the death of a programme, for whatever reasons. Nigam, however, expressed confidence that the same fate would not befall Sony’s Jeeto Chappar Phaad Ke (JCPK) which is slated to go on air in January. She said enough preparation had gone into the creation of the programme to make it a success. While comparisons to KBC would inevitably follow, JCPK will have its own unique pulling power, she added. “The experience is what will make JCPK survive rather than purely the money aspect.” Sameer Nair, Star TV’s Head of Programming, saw the development as an interesting one and according to him, inevitable considering the overall deficiencies Sawaal had when compared with KBC. “It will be interesting to see what Zee comes up with. After all Zee’s new show will have to contend not only with with KBC but Sony’s Chappad Phaad Ke too, he said.”

     

    Queried about reports that the enthusiasm for KBC itself was starting to wane, Nair said that what had happened was that viewer support was now at a steady level. The initial craze was bound to taper off, he clarified. Nair said that Star had a long-term commitment to KBC but might look at short breaks in the show in future as per the situation. This was the norm abroad also he asserted. He denied there were any plans for a Junior KBC aimed at kids.

     

    Following the success of the show which aired Bollywood’s Aamir Khan and Sonali Bendre, discussions are on to rope in Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee for an episode, according to The Asian Age. The Shah Ruk episode is likely to be aired on January 1, 2001.