'The Buddy Project' loosely based on 'Chak De! India'

Channel V's forthcoming youth-oriented show "The Buddy Project" focuses on the student-teacher relationship, and producer Sudhir Sharma says it is on the lines of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Chak De! India".

"This is today's story and we have added a layer of teacher-student relationship in it. We want to capture the spirit that you saw in 'Chak De! India'," Sharma of Sunshine Productions, told IANS.

"It's about how a teacher is going to teach these kids and how these kids will change the teacher's life. We are capturing this interesting relationship for the first time," added Sharma.

The show is contemporary in theme, and deals with the education system.

"(Through this show) We are talking about education system, prosperity and whether only theoretical knowledge is important or field knowledge also matters. We are touching these issues because today's kids are really smart.

"Today's kids are more career conscious. They are more focused, clear in their heads, more vibrant and talented. They have more information through the internet and there is loads of data and information available to them," he said.

The show holds a lot of significance for Sharma as well as the channel.

"With this show, Channel V is finally converting itself from a music channel to a youth-based GEC (general entertainment channel)," said the producer, who has earlier churned out shows like "12/24 Karol Bagh" and "Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha".

"They (Channel V) already have three serials, so the challenge was how we can be different from these shows and from whatever we have done in the past. We have seen enough stories of a small town girl coming to a big city. We needed more ideas which capture issues of today's youth," he added.

Not only is the show youthful, but so is the team and crew. The entire team is under 30 years of age.

"We want to think the way today's youth is thinking. Sajid (Sajid Ali), who has co-written 'Cocktail' as well, is writing the story. He is a 25-year-old boy. We are working with the people who can think the way today's youth thinks," said Sharma.

"The Buddy Project" will go on air July 23.