There is something about the smell of my mom’s khichdi, something about the songs of Rafi, something about ball-point pens and the smell of fresh notebooks, something that takes you right back to grade 5, when things were simpler and life was easier. Kaun Banega Crorepati aka KBC, well there’s something about that show too. An instant drive back to TV times, the entire family around the television, trying to beat each other to the right answer. You’ll be happy to know, with season eleven, it is still the very same. A basic quiz show that is the purest kind of entertainment.
Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is back with its eleventh season with Amitabh Bachchan (seriously though, why did SRK even try?) The first season of the show premiered in... wait for it... the year 2000. Yes, its been a minute. But the bigger question is this - what drives the audience back to this one simple show where nothing ever changes?
Over the years, the show did add some extra lifelines and increase the prize-money seven-folds to a whopping 7 crore rupees, but in essence, it is not the money that makes people of all ages spend over an hour watching the show - it is perhaps the simplicity of it. Watching Amitabh Bachchan became a ritual as he humbly listens to people from all walks of life sit on the much-loved hotseat narrate their stories and win money that actually made a difference. Yes, perhaps that is what sells best for KBC - not the glamour and the lights, but the hope. KBC, for many middle class homes became synonymous with the idea of something bigger that is achievable.
KBC, for many middle class homes became synonymous with the idea of something bigger that is achievable.
Season 11 started with contestant Anil Jeevnani from Gujarat, who started off well but soon lost a huge chunk of money falling to a small Rs.10,000. I’ve always wanted to ask - have the contestants really not picked up when Amitabh is trying to warn them against the wrong answer saying “Dobara soch leejiye!!!” Maybe I am smarter than the rest, word? Jokes apart, watching a contestant fall down the KBC money ladder is still as sad as it once was - the show is so engaging you become the contestant, fighting their fight, rooting for their little dream.
Of course, we can’t not talk about Amitabh Bachchan himself. He is as charming as he can be - perhaps what makes the show as homely as it is.
Of course, we can’t not talk about Amitabh Bachchan himself. He is as charming as he can be - perhaps what makes the show as homely as it is. His humble smile and shy humour drives you in to a point that watching him host the show kind of becomes a safe space. Rest assured, he carries that energy with him in this season as well, begging the question - doesn’t this man get bored?
Episode 1 then moved on to the next contestant Chitrekha Rathod, who had to stop her game mid-way owing to time running out. Amitabh then promptly ended the show with a glimpse into the orchestra recording the much-loved, slightly refreshed KBC theme.
Overall, the eleventh season of the show isn’t much different from the tenth, or the ninth, or the eighth, but surprisingly, that turned out be more relieving than monotonous. The nostalgia attached to KBC holds a charm like no other. That, added with some good old boost to my general knowledge - I think I have my plans set for the next thirteen weeks.
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