TV show review: 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' is going strong

Show: Kaun Banega Crorepati (Season 6)
Rating: ***
Channel: Sony
Time: Friday to Saturday 8:30 pm

When I was asked to review Kaun Banega Crorepati in its sixth season, my first reaction was: Do I have to? And not because one doubted its credibility or the quality of the series, but because it’s a given — that the show, where the face (superstar Amitabh Bachchan) and the concept fit each other so effortlessly, can never fail.

The combination of Big B and KBC has successfully been able to stand tall amidst the stiff competition from the numerous channels and programming concepts that have cropped since it first changed TV viewing with its debut in 2000.

Although the show has always had an aspirational quality to it, now there’s a teeny weeny story of the underdog with each contestant. It now dwells on the history of the contestant (and their dreams) a little more than the previous seasons, which at once negates the competitive element of the show. Does it matter? Maybe to you and I, but to its steadfast audiences who’ve kept track of the show, season after season, it does not. It’s their story after all — a middle class story where earning even Rs 5 lakh makes a big difference. Even I was tempted to calculate the difference a couple of lakhs would make to my lifestyle, so when a contestant does win the prize amount of Rs 5 crores, the experience is going to be nothing less than that of having witness to a saga.

The format of KBC 6 is the same — 13 questions, four lifelines, which include phone a friend, audience poll, double dip and expert advice and Ghar Baithe Jeeto. Except for the fact that the quiz show does not have the nail-biting edge that earlier seasons did, watching Big B’s interaction with the contestants are a treat — from the serious-minded to the whacky; even the ones plagued by worries let down their hair in front of the stalwart, and can’t seem to hold back when gushing about the legend.

The other winning element of the show is its message — Gyaan hi aapko apna haq dilata hai. When the promos rolled out with their education is emancipation theme, a winner was born in that. It was inspiring enough for me to reconnect with the show, and attempt to answer the questions posed to the contestant in my drawing room.   

Verdict:  A must for all Big B fans