I don’t expect Amitabh to be dancing on television. Shahrukh looks natural doing it. Kaun Banega Crorepati 2007 opened with a snazzy, Karan Johar-esque music video. I mean it really was a full song, and was pretty slickly done, although I could have done without the women in short-shorts in a program airing at prime-time. Lots of jiving, moving, grooving, with an assorted cast of shapely dancers. Plus they were some interesting questions thrown in, like : “Why is a doctor’s work called “practice” ? and the famous Rupa banian joke. The whole thing hinged around the “Bas ek sawal” theme. Nicely done, it made the whole tame quiz game into a stylish spectacle.
The show itself hasn’t changed that much. There is of course SRK, instead of Bachhan. The computers have changed from Lenovo, to Compaq (SRK is the brand ambassador). Now, the host doesn’t “lock” the answers, he “freezes” them. Same thing, different words. The game remains the same, with the same music and lifelines.
As far as Shahrukh is concerned, he doesn’t figure in my choice of great actors. But he sure looks like an affable guy. And he exudes charm. And charisma. From every pore. You’d think that would be enough to make him fill Big B’s shoes adequately. But no, SRK tries harder. He wants the contestants to hug him, instead of saying they quit. He wants to give shoulder massages, and I’m thinking will he volunteer to give shoulder massages to female contestants too ? I’m wincing a little as he hops down from his tall stool to give the contestant a hug, asking the contestant to remain seated. So the contestant is sitting and the hug is awkward. And then he wants to have a go at every local bhasha the contestant speaks.
Yes, he even butchers the languages charmingly, with an earnestness that’s got me on his side whether I like the show or not. But what I’d like him to do, is to tone down the appeasement a bit. We like him as is. No need to put on a persona. No need to make obsequious attempts at humoring the contestants – I’m betting most of the audience are glad to even share the room with SRK himself. No need to hold the hug a tad longer than needed.
SRK cannot be Amitabh and I doubt that Amitabh could ever be SRK. The audience appreciates differences. Where Amitabh was held in awe, SRK, considerably younger and Don-ish, is more of a regular guy. When Amitabh appeased the audience in his semi-shudh Hindi, we listened on, accepting it from an Allahbadi son of Harivansh Rai Bachchan. When SRK professes the same piety I am a little nonplussed; where is it coming from ?
I do expect that the initial nervousness (and he was a little anxious) will die down with subsequent episodes, and we’ll see the natural SRK in his element soon. So, although I did like the first installment, I think it’ll get better. SRK will do better being himself. He’s energetic, vibrant, and would be a lot more fun spontaneous. At some point, if he continues the cherubic charade I can see the audience and SRK himself pretty tired of receiving and giving hugs. Best to stick to Shahrukh-isms, Shahrukh, and a little stuttering, a la K-K-K-K-Kaun banega crorepati, wouldn’t hurt either.
