Well well! To begin with, must say that it’s great to see that the KBC3 team has been able to win over hearts of the media as well as the audience. Will want to start with a celebrity-speak which **SRK** can sure be glad about. Says Director **Mahesh Bhatt** – “On the one hand my wife loved the show; on the other my kids had their share of fun watching it. Even my maid could connect to the show”. That’s what I suppose a show for the masses should come to look like…
*1. ****The “Friend” factor…
*I begin this part by realizing what part of the junta KBC aims at roping in. Though the screening rounds ensure that the best of men with a sound hold on general affairs makes it to the Hot Seat, we all know that they are like us only - commonplace men who don’t get to make public appearances even once in a blue moon. Making such people feel at ease and letting them be in their comfort zone gives this new presentation style a marked advantage. It’s not really another “Bournvita Quiz Contest” where dignity and distance need to come in with a formal packaging.
*2. ****The Spontaneity
*There certainly has been an additional touch of something extra special and extra spontaneous to the gaming spirit - be it the remarks or the acts in general. “Guggs” brought up a lot of questioning fingers but aren’t we really truly more comfortable if we ourselves get to call a friend “Venky” rather than address him as Venkataraman or Venkateswaran 10-12 times in an hour; and especially when we are in a very friendly mood to chat?.
Yes, the **Tag Heur** episode does look a bit too much but let’s accept guys – this man is in a position where he can walk or even run that extra mile and since he has the liberty, he can afford such “publicity stunts”(When questioned by the media, seems** **Sallu’s Dad said with a smile that ya, Sallu had once advised Shah to give away small stuff if somebody failed to make some big money! Got ya **Sallu**…;)
*3. Not to forget the “Karle Karle Tu Ek Sawal” act…
*Catchy number and smartly choreographed by **Ganesh Hegde**. Shah Rukh in a new avatar sporting a smart naughty look- makes him look younger by at least a few couple of years… :) Ya, could’ve done away with the scantily clothed women, but then definitely the number’s in no sense close to being called vulgar at least.
*4. So… Finally, how’s SRK?.
*Looked a bit shaky in the opening hours but he’s catching up with his usual self. Perfect comic timing, witty remarks, twinkling eyes – he’s all set to come sit in your drawing room, make you part of a smirk or a guffaw, sometimes even pull your leg and give you the intended satisfaction of being at ease and walking away richer(in cash or in kind) by many a time at the end of the show. Not to forget mentioning his famous “hug”. Comm’on guys, if **Munna Bhai** could do wonders with his **Jadoo Ki Jhappi**(even we hug our friends, our parents, our well-wishers when we leave them on a happy note!), what’s wrong if SRK gives you a hug worth a lifetime’s warmth!
*5. And the SHOW!
*Can’t wrap up this RVU without mentioning the great **Mr. Bachchan**. He was the blood and soul of KBC. KBC had breathed in new life to Big B’s then-tumbling career and he had made best use of this platform to remind us of his potentials(we, the Indian audience, had literally disposed of him after the likes of “Laal Baadshah” but a Legend like **Mr. Amitabh Bachchan** can literally never be put to rest). I was a big fan of Mr. Bachchan’s KBC and loved it as everybody else did. But Mr. Khan’s show has surprised me beyond every expectation and skepticism. His entirely different treatment has infused in me energy and bubbling enthusiasm, not to forget the ever-smiling delight of pure and friendly enjoyment. Mr. Bachchan commanded respect through his towering personality, Mr. Khan commands respect through his love for us. Mr. Bachchan was the insurmountable peak; Mr. Khan formulates a new chemistry through his level of communication. Mr. Bachchan was perhaps “Himself” in the show; **SRK **is trying to be “Himself” with all of us…
*6. The Future…
*As **Prahlad Kakkar** said in an interview – this new KBC also perhaps won’t last more than 2 years. And 2 years’ the exact tenure for which Shah plans to be with KBC. All said and done, I guess even God couldn’t have hosted a show with undying interest for more than a few years!
The TV Channels, newspapers, e-magazines, all have unanimously started acknowledging that SRK seems to have lived up to the expectations. So, King Khan… Over to you… To keep the ball of intelligent entertainment and laughter rolling… All the way up to the top…
And from all of us, die-hard fans of Indian Cinema –
*“The Shahenshah and the Baadshah – you 2 are a class apart. Always be what you are; coz we really love you both for everything you do…”
*Thanks for the reading…