After the success of Kaun Banega Crorepati 4 with Amitabh Bachchan on Sony Entertainment, Big Synergy Adlabs is producing the show in not two, but five regional languages – Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali.
Actor-Parliamentarian Shatrughan Sinha will anchor Ke Bani Karodpati on Mahua Bhojpuri and cricketer-commentator Sourav Ganguly will host Key Hobe Banglar Kotipoti on Mahua Bangla, both of which flag off between the end of May and the first week of June.
National Award-winning actor Prakash Raj takes charge as the host of Ungalil Yaar Kodeeswaran on Sun TV in Tamil, and Meelo Yavaru Kodeeswarudu in Telugu on Gemini TV. Actor Ramesh Arvind will anchor Nimalli Yaaru Kotyaadhipathi in Kannada on Udaya TV. All three will go on air in July this year. The Bhojpuri and Bengali versions will wrap up before KBC 5 in Hindi goes on air.
Producer, quiz-whiz Siddharth Basu, admits that his production house received several requests for vernacular versions of the show after KBC 4’s success. “Sony has been involved all along. They issued an NOC and only then did we set the ball rolling for the other KBC versions,” says Basu. “The first edition expanded the horizon of TV in India. This time KBC revived interest across demographics and regional channels that were looking to consolidate their market positions. That rarely happens with international formats.”The reason the aforementioned celebrities were chosen as hosts is that each has a strong connection with regional audiences. The production house is also planning to introduce games, mobile and web content and other merchandise to promote the shows soon.
Amitabh Bachchan’s version had a special quiz book that helped contestants prepare for the game. Will there be quiz books for the five versions currently underway? And will there be a chalet for the new star hosts too? “The book will be too niche because the shows’ content is region specific,” says Basu. “As for chalets, if needed, we’ll prepare one for each of our hosts.”
{{/usCountry}}Amitabh Bachchan’s version had a special quiz book that helped contestants prepare for the game. Will there be quiz books for the five versions currently underway? And will there be a chalet for the new star hosts too? “The book will be too niche because the shows’ content is region specific,” says Basu. “As for chalets, if needed, we’ll prepare one for each of our hosts.”
{{/usCountry}}quick facts
KBC Bhojpuri
Title: Key Bani Crorepati
Host: Shatrughan Sinha
Episodes: 50
Frequency: Five days a week
Channel: Mahua Bhojpuri
Shoot begins: Mid-May
KBC Bangla
Title: Key Hobe Banglar Kotipoti
Host: Sourav Ganguly
Episodes: 50
Frequency: Five days a week
Channel: Mahua Bangla
Shoot begins: End of May
KBC Tamil
Title: Ungalil Yaar Kodeeswaran
Host: Prakash Raj
Episodes : 40
Frequency: Twice a week
Channel: Sun TV
Shoot begins: July
KBC Telugu
Title: Meelo Yavaru Kodeeswarudu
Host: Prakash Raj
Episodes : 26
Frequency: Twice a week
Channel: Gemini TV
Shoot begins: June
KBC Kannada
Title: Nimalli Yaaru Kotyaadhipathi
Host: Ramesh Arvind
Episodes: 26
Frequency: Twice a week
Channel: Udaya TV
Shoot begins: June
Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.