Wooing viewers with variety

TELEVISION IS trying to come up with new genres all the time, and its crorepati ``Quiz'' avatar is a success.

``Indian television finds that the novelty of soap operas and film-based programmes has worn off. It is now turning to quizzes with high prize money,'' says C. Jerrold, who is in the Formula One of Quiz circuits, with `Koteeswaran'.

Jerrold has traversed the TV circuit with various production models - tele, mega serials and the full length telefilm. In his view, the advent of Amitabh Bachchan with KBC is nothing short of a rejuvenation for television in India, helping it break from its mould.

Starting with a stint as assistant to film director Mahendran, he moved to the Hindi serial scene with ``Darrar'' featuring Bollywood's Farida Jalal and Pavan Malhotra.

It has become a tryst with the Indian paranormal experience, in the form of ``Jenmam X'', which claims the top TRP ratings for any satellite channels, and later ``Mandira Vasal'' and ``Mayavettai.''

``The difficult mix of dialogues and silence is what determines the success of a telefilm,'' he says.

From here, it will be ``Avan, Avar, Avargal'' in Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam, to feature on the small screen soon. There is an offshore market for producers too - `Valnakshathiram' was his project for a Singapore television channel.

What will it be next? Programmes for children are yet to come into their own on Indian television, says Jerrold, who took a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from American College, Madurai.

If the private channels are on the superquiz circuit with their own millionaire programmes, good old Doordarshan is preparing for Knock Out.

``Knock Out will be hosted (from January 28 on DD National at 9 p.m.) by India's best known international actor, Kabir Bedi,'' DD says, promising that ``it will be a never before format, with a very special promise, where everyone wins.''

It is all going to be slick, with talent, set design, lighting, director, cinematography, sound, scripting and music, by Cinevista Communications.

The highest amount that can be won every week is over Rs.100 lakhs, but the format producers more winners at the end of each episode, than any other show, is the magic to be worked by Mandi House.

Prepare for the clash of the crorepatis.

By P. Oppili

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Section  : Entertainment