I always wanted to be a teacher,' reveals Shah Rukh Khan on the first episode of his new game show for Star Plus,
Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain, which made its debut on April 25 amidst huge hype and curiosity. And then in characteristic SRK style, goes on to poke fun at his turn as a violin teacher in
Mohabbatein -- '
padhaya kam, bajaya zyada.'
Last year, the actor returned to his small screen roots, after nearly a decade (post-
Fauji, Circus), to replace Amitabh Bachchan as the host of
Kaun Banega Crorepati's third season. Once King Khan warmed up to his new role, the episodes became enjoyable and made for effortless viewing. Hopefully,
KAPPSTH will take the same route.
The show
There's no hot seat, here. Instead, welcome to SRK's classroom, which, pretty much, resembles the original show's (
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?) set. A huge screen carries 10 colourfully-labeled categories of subjects.
A group of five know-all kids adorn the benches to Shah Rukh's left. The contestant selects a category to answer questions, worth Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 crore before qualifying for the Rs 5 crore prize.
Unlike
KBC, this doesn't have the option of multiple-choice answers. There's no dial-a-friend or fifty-fifty. Nor can the contestant flip the question. Instead, he/she is given the option of picking a kid (who keep shuffling after every two questions) and three cheats or help-lines called
Taak Jhaak, Copy,
Bachao wherein the contestant can sneak into, outright copy or hope the smart fifth-grader answered correctly and save his/her skin.
And what does our superstar host do all this time? Ask questions.
The questions
Did you know Leatherback turtle is the largest turtle in the world weighing over 500kgs or Qutub Minar's foundation was laid by the Slave dynasty?
Easier asked than answered, the questions are the best part about this show. It's a sight to watch successful grown-ups transform into fumbling losers. Even Class 2 Mathematics seems like a binomial theorem for PH.D holder Vedula Ranlaxmi as she struggles to answer how many edges are there in a triangular prism. The answer is nine.
And if you are weak at remembering dates, like Roshni Laura George, you obviously don't know the answer to 'Which year was Lok Sabha constituted in?' 1952 is the answer, not-so-wise guy. Also, what do we better know the peak which the British called Mount Godwin? Bingo! K2.
There are simple ones too. Like Tulsi in English is Basil, true or false? Or Where is Meenakshi temple situated in Tamil Nadu? True and Madurai are the respective replies.
The host
The superstar factor of the show -- Shah Rukh Khan is, surprisingly, not his usual vigorous self. Perhaps running a production house, making movies and owning an entire cricket team does that to a person.
In the first three episodes aired on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 25, 26, 27), SRK appears slightly exhausted in the opening episode, much more alert in the second and fairly-in-command during the third one.
Despite being the major attraction of
KAPPSTH, SRK consciously lets the questions, children and participants hog considerable footage, which though gracious on his part, is not always a good thing. Ideally, he should orchestrate the whole mood. And occasionally ribbing a blundering contestant doesn't