Haun Maun Khaun (A Bengali phrase which is believed to be associated with ghosts) is a game show (or reality show, as you like it) on Zee Bangla telecast on weekdays at 9 pm. It is easily the wittiest and one of the best game shows on Bengali television and can give a run for the money to any game show on Indian television.
Why? Well, precisely for the format, the making and the anchor.
The show has artistes from cinema, television, music and other fields besides general public as judges. The set looks like a café where the judges sit at the tables and there is a lot of open space for performances. Audience can answer a simple question given at the end of the show to qualify to be present at the show as judges. The café like set-up is called Halla Café. There is the huge face of a rakhshas (Monster) at one side. It is the mnemonic of the show. Whenever one gets eliminated, he/ she is to walk into the mouth of the monster (Which is actually the exit for eliminated contestants).
There are three contestants at the beginning. Each wears a sash of a particular colour. They introduces themselves generally through self-made rhymes. The contest kicks off with an elimination round called ‘Eli Aar Geli’ (Came and went off) where each contestant is to do an extempore. Each judge in Halla Café votes for a contestant by showing one card of the colour of his/her sashays. The contestant getting the least no. of votes gets eliminated. The contestant winning the maximum no. of votes wins Rs 1000.
The next round is called ‘Family Jhameli’ which is one of the hardest rounds. Each of the two contestants has to perform some domestic chore on a table and simultaneously answer a simple question (Sometimes it involves simple arithmetic). One can ask for a repeat of the question if he/ she can’t crack it hearing for the first time and can also take a second attempt in case the first one is wrong. Halla Café votes again based on the quality of the job done and answering the question. Winner gets Rs 1000.
In between rounds there is a performance of the artistes in Halla Café. The show promotes Bangla bands, the new music phenomenon in Kolkata. A lot of new bands are invited and they can show their talent here.
The third round is called ‘Love Loksaan’. Each contestant has to make a romantic proposal to someone in the show. Some contestants for the sake of novelty chooses the monster. Halla Café elects the winner on quality of proposal. The winner gets Rs 1000. Since the idea is to have good fun, the contestants make their proposal funny enough to make the audience and judges laugh.
The fourth round is talent round, called ‘Baba, Ki Parts’. Here generally the contestant either sings or breaks into a dance number. Many contestants do Western dance of professional standard.
The fifth and the concluding round is called ‘The Challenger Round’. Winner wins Rs 10000 (Incl. maximum Rs 3000 won in the three rounds) and a throne awaits him/ her to sit on. Generally the contestant who has won the maximum prize money is offered to play it. The condition is he/ she may choose to leave at this point with all the prize money won. Or he/ she can play on but if he/ she fails to clear the round he/she is to leave empty-handed. This is the hardest round and generally the contestant offered chooses not to play. In this case it is mandatory for the other contestant to play. In this round one needs to toss a table tennis ball on bat and answer a 10-question quiz. Do you think it can it get any harder in any other game show? Hardly a handful of talented participants have cracked this round so far.
The show is anchored by Mir- the best anchor on Bengali television. He has ordinary looks but is extremely intelligent and witty, has a strong sense of humour and great presence of mind. He can outsmart anybody on the show. He is the soul of the show. He spices up the whole show with his jokes, funny remarks, mimicry, digs at the judges or some celebrities. He tickles the funny bone of the audience with his antics. He has great rapport with the artistes in Halla Café and kicks of the show with introduction of the judges and this is one of the best parts of the show. The intro is always hilarious. Here one gets to hear some funny and naughty remarks, sees him funnily flirting with the female artistes. Mir can easily be called Bengali television’s answer to Cyrus Broacha of MTV. All of you who’ve watched The Great Indian Laughter Challenge may have seen Mir (The Bengali contestant from Kolkata in suit and specs). He won in quite a few rounds. Giving Mir company is Rimjhim. She is smart, goodlooking and sports trendy clothes (Mir too does it) thus adding glamour to the show. Joins her the trendy café’ girl. Since the first show there have been a couple of girls who’ve been seen in this role. Currently it’s goodlooking and smiling Deboleena.
There are kids’ special or women special shows time to time. In special rounds (Like Teachers’ Day or Deepabali (Deewali in Bengal)) Mir dons make-up and dresses up specially. Like in Teachers’ Day round he may play an old teacher through his regular role of the anchor.
Contestants range from school kids to housewives and family men. Many of them say they came here because someone near and dear (Generally parents/ grandparents/ siblings) wanted it. It shows how popular this show is with males and females across age groups.
The show is more entertaining than what is evident here. Many small elements are better to be viewed than to be read about. It is already past 400 plus episodes.
The making is smart. Directed by Debashish Sarkar, the show is produced by Black Magic, the house behind many successful Bengali game shows and TV commercials.
The only thing that I fail to appreciate about the show is the paltry prize money. But probably the makers are not to be blamed. It seems in Bengali television it’s hard to get sponsors who can commit lucrative prize money. I am sure, had the show been on Hindi television the winner of the Challenger Round would get no less than Rs 1 lakh, simply for the sweat and toil and cerebral exercise he/ she has had to go through to go that far.