KBC is back but with “Hugs and kisses”

By: Tarun Vaid He was ready to give you a hug. He was ready to wait and come back to meet you after the advertisement break. Your new host SRK was even ready to give you a “massage” once you feel tired or tense while playing the game. So was there anything more that you could have asked for? Most of the people would have tuned in to the new Kaun Banega Crorepati for curiosity sake. To see how different it is from the previous Big B’s shows? To see how differently Shahrukh would tackle television audience? To see whether Shahrukh will create the same or larger impact that Big B created? To see whether most of us watching it on the television would still stay glued on? Shahrukh gave you the same respect that Big B gave but polished it with hugs and sometimes even kisses (if you ask for it).The humour and the charm were intact and so was the rivalry between the Baadshah and the Shahanshah of Bollywood. This time around the rift was out in the open. Shahrukh’s endurance and elegance took head on Big B’s grace and charisma. To begin with, Shahrukh refused to stick to Hindi, something that Big B was particular about to stay connected to every corner of this nation. The traditional “computerji” was changed to “Compaq bhaiya”. And the famous “lock kiya jaye” was scrapped to bring in the new phrase called “freeze”. The show began with the familiar sound of the previous two KBC’s, but instead of going straight to the studios it went to the stage where Shahrukh was dancing to the tunes of “Ek Sawaal ka Sawaal hai”. As if the surprise was not enough, Shahrukh called in the rollover contestant of the last year to start the proceedings of the new KBC. The prize money was the same as it was in KBC 2 and so were the lifelines and the number of questions and contestants. What changed is (and as Shahrukh himself mentioned) “the host”. Shahrukh slowly and steadily replaced Big B’s trademark and brought in his own inventions. He gave “high five” every time the contestants answered him rightly. He signed the cheque in the same manner as Big B used to do but again used his charm and wit to outshine his predecessor. With Shahrukh you dare not say “I want to quit” instead you should invite Shahrukh to give you a hug and depart with the given love. So has he been able to snatch another throne from the Bachchan’s. Not exactly!! Shahrukh lacked the impact that Big B created with his presence. Though the humour and wit were intact, Shahrukh till the end was trying to connect to the audience whereas Big B connected with them instantly. The hugs were surely longer in duration but it still lacked the affection that a hug from Big B would provide. But none the less it seems that the winds of change are blowing. “Devion aur Sajjano” has changed to “boys and girls”. But will the KBC change to “K-K-K-K-KKKBC”? That still remains to be seen.