MAGICIAN AMITABH BACHCHAN & K.B.C.

Who does not need money to have an improved livelihood, better future for the offsprings and to overcome miseries of life in a world dominated by Materialism ?

Economics tells us that wants are unlimited but means to satisfy these are limited. However, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) is an easily approachable forum which enables viewers to fulfill their long suppressed aspirations in a fast, short cut way. Nonetheless, its a time consuming mechanism. Many people have termed it a gamble . I may submit that it is a knowledge and presence of mind based gamble.

Based on a Western T.V. show-Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire ?, K.B.C.was conceived and launched in 2000.It reached the 'Take Off 'stage in no time. Anchored and conducted brilliantly by Amitabh Bachchan(Big B), it could swiftly appeal to the middle and lower middle classes.While persons from myriad backgrounds dominated the show in its formative years, bored housewives, often in fight couples, small time shopkeepers and students preparing for Civil Services fired the shots later. It became so popular that other programmes fell flat and KBC became as popular as mega hits, Ramayan and Mahabharat.

In addition to benefiting the audience, through it, Big B managed to recover his losses and broke a myth that those excelling on large screens, have the wherewithal to dominate 'Idiot Box' ALSO.

QUESTIONS, SIMPLE & DIFFICULT

Questions and visuals are chosen carefully by one and only Siddharth Mukherjee of Quiz Time fame.To begin with, a few are purposely kept easy. Semi- difficult ones surface after a participant settles down on 'Hot Seat', while really difficult one's are posed by the invisible Computer 'Jee' while moving towards the range of Rs.6.40 Lakhs to Rs.50 Lakhs.Some offer to QUIT, in view of fear or possibility of coming down to the level of Rs.3.20 Lakhs.Perhaps only two participants have been able to reach the 'Semi-Finals 'of Rs.One Crore during the 2024-25 highly competitive season.

WATCH KBC, UNWIND STRESS

For one and a half hours on Sony T.V. from Monday to Friday, viewers get completely glued to their T.V. sets to unwind their stress & strain.So to say, people get tempted and addicted in the same way as two mythological hits, as indicated .

No other force can distract their level of concentration or else there would be arguments if not fist fights in the family.

Those occupying the 'Hot Seat' leave the show upon earning reasonable sum of money. It can be between Rs 3.20 lakhs and Rs.25 lakhs. A few only, however, climbed the ladder during current season to try their luck for a kitty of Rs.One Crore.Those earning Rs.12.50 lakhs or Rs.25 lakhs are quite a few. But most popular sum won, show after show, happens to be Rs.3.20 lakhs.

WHOLESUM ENTERTAINMENT

Apart from providing viewers with a much needed financial boost, the immensely popular show running for 25 years gives everyone wholesum entertainment, to my mind, more than a feature film or exalted T.V. serials.

Viewers cry, sob, smile, giggle, laugh and at times, get momentary sadness, but are never deprived of useful lessons and tips to better their financial condition or resolve their conjugal issues. A large number of participants have spent fifteen to twenty five years preparing for it. Even if you lose fairly early, you don't get dejected as Big B's charm and charisma enables you to think ahead and straightforward in the event of a setback.

TEARS OF JOY

Young girls and women are seen crying on reaching the hot seat. At times, men too. Big B is ever ready to offer minimum three napkins and a glass of water to enable them in getting rid of their tears of joy.

Handling of Big B is such that he allows participants to be comfortable and even indulge in poetry and acedes to their request for reciting a few lines of his illustrious father as also what he may have penned in the bygone era.When also requested to repeat diologues from his hit movies, he obliges with a smile.

The word 'NO' does not exist in his dictionary. Not only he listens to participants attentively but he also looks engrossed.   

HOUSEWIVES TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Life is not easy for housewife aspirants, for, they have to study for the show while cooking, performing their tasks to supplement family income, looking after kids, managing water supply and cooking gas, tackling tantrums of husbands, responding to calls or attending to other dimensions of household chores. AND majority of the winners are found to have discontinued their studies after completing only school education. However, answers coming from this strata of society is simply impressive and amazing.

FEW STAR PERFORMERS

An analysis of KBC may be inconclusive unless behaviour patterns, both reflecting joys and sorrows, are highlighted.

An attempt is being made to mention a sample of interesting & contributing participation of 12 coveted 'Players'.

a) Topmost among them was Mrs Alokika Bhattacharya from West Bengal, who floored even Big B with her giggles, replies and her first time experiences of a flight and nights spent in a big hotel. She provided wholesum, unlimited and jovial entertainment prior to winning Rs.12.50 Lakhs.Though she was selected as an ICDS Supervisor in West Bengal, her intelligence should entitle her to an officer's chair.

b) Next person is Mrs Pankajini, a 50 year old Mother-in-Law from Cuttack.With little education, she is successfully running a Medicine shop.To repay a house building loan, she was trying for KBC for many years.Mostly, she would study while selling medicines. She won Rs.12.50 Lakhs.

c) Mintu Sarkar, a 10th class drop out Tea Seller from North Bengal impressed by winning Rs. 25 Lakhs. His Tea shop would fetch only a meagre and insufficient sum of Rs.3000/ per month. For many years, Mintu dreamt of being on KBC.When he finally made it, he stayed focused and ultimately winning Rs. 25 Lakhs.

d) Mrs Punam Gupta from Delhi and wife of a Plumber having 4 children, impressed all by her fantastic knowledge. She went on to win Rs. 12.50 Lakhs which was to be utilised for buying a house and an electric sewing machine. Big B called her a RARE individual.

e) Rituraj, a young focused man from M.P. impressed as he gave an excellant and unusual show. His quick responses could secure a kitty of Rs.25 Lakhs which will help him in taking his father(having a menial job) to see many places of interest.

f) Jaspal Singh, a Lab Assistant from a Punjab village also put up an impressive show. A fairly high Prize money will enable him to keep aside drudgery of his sweet meat maker father. Both of them plan to undertake a ' Bharat Darshan'.When people like him reach the TOP, one feels very elated.

g) Arun Singla, a handicapped Assistant Manager of Punjab & Sindh Bank from Punjab was one of the most meritorious and impressive participants, who was a living symbol of dedication and diligence.With his sister's help, he managed to win Rs.12.50 Lakhs. Big B presented him a perfume bottle.

h) Ghanshyam, another poor man, having 10th pass qualification from Mumbai made it to KBC after trying for fourteen years. A mobile banana seller, his knowledge was newspaper based. Big B remarked that the way he responded, he displayed a lot of self confidence.As he and his parents were living in pathetic condition, the kitty of Rs.6.40 Lakhs will help them in overcoming many problems.

i) Rajni Barnala, a private Tutor whose husband was a Software Engineer, won Rs.1.60 Lakhs on account of her appreciable knowledge and confidence.

j) Mrs. Neeraj Giri, a Software Engineer from NOIDA by her active participation made the show very hillarious. She did not hide her advanced Pregnancy, rather, she sought advice of Big B on child care. A make up freak, she won Rs.12.50 Lakhs.

k) Anu Kumari, a confident C.A. student from Bihar who manages family with her Delivery Boy brother, is a Creative Writer cum Madhubani painter.Cheezed off by her drunkard father, she studied hard which enabled her to win Rs.3.20 Lakhs.

l) Kaushalendra, a Coalmine worker from Jharia, made it to 'Hot Seat' due to hard work of 24 years.His going upto target of Rs.12.50 Lakhs was outstanding, so was his fantastic sense of humour, said Big B.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD HUSBAND

Before concluding, since we are essentially a family attached and guiding country, I will fail in my task if I donot mention three categories of husbands, emphasized excellently by one working woman participant.

FIRST category simply attends office without extending any help to wife.

SECOND category includes husbands who leave for office after attending to domestic works 'assigned' by wife.

THIRD category divide household works equally with working wife, before proceeding to office.

HOPE AT THE END OF TUNNEL

KBC has proved to be a very popular forum and a MATCH WINNER that enables common man in fulfilling their dreams. Stage of this knowledge based programme provides genuine sportsmanship. Big B, being completely engrossed, gives more than adequate support and respect to each participant. He puts it this way : "Disappointment of one individual leads to tears in the eyes of every participant. It is not only knowledge forum, emotions are also put to test. Hearts are won over here".

Viewers who do not participate, certainly satisfy their curiosity and add to their knowledge, sharpness, concentration and presence of mind. In totality, it is an exercise in healthy entertainment.

May be, one day many other young and old aspirants will also occupy the 'Hot Seat' and manage to have the privilege of an intellectual intercourse with the veteran actor and living 83 year old legend of Hindi Cinema.

Alok K Shrivastava,

Ex-Chief Secretary, SIKKIM