Basu to produce Nach Baliye 2
He gives quiz biz a break to shake a leg
Subhash K Jha
Siddhartha Basu is always ready to take on new things. India's finest quizmaster says, "It's time for me to go from a question mark to an exclamation mark." After the unfortunate closure of Kaun Banega Crorepati, Basu is ready with the unexpected. "This time it isn't a quiz show," he says proudly. "We're doing the second innings of Nach Baliye on Star One. I'm quite excited about it. With my background in theatre and dancing this is just what I needed to take me back to my roots. We will adapt the entire format of an international dance show. In the US, it's called Strictly Dancing. But we're adapting the Australian version called Dancing with the stars for Nach Baliye."
This obviously means there will be a lot of high-profile glamorous changes in Nach Baliye 2. "Actually," reveals Basu, "We at Synergy were supposed to do the first innings of Nach Baliye. But we couldn't because we were busy with KBC."
He gets pensive at the mention of the Kaun Banega Crorepati. "No one expected KBC to end so suddenly. It was a big blow for all of us."
However, talks are on for the next season of KBC. "And if all goes well, Mr Bachchan will be back on KBC 3. Negotiations are on at this very moment. But right now, we are very excited about Nach Baliye 2. It gives me a chance to get away from the quiz biz. I'm really enjoying the experience."
At the moment, Basu's company has Mum Tum Aur Hum on Star Plus. "It started as a small kiddies-and-moms quiz show. But it has become very popular."
SIDDHARTHA SPEAK
Now that you're doing Nach Baliye 2, does it remind you of your early days in theatre?
Oh yes. Now that Nach Baliye 2 is on the anvil I am getting slightly nostalgic. I'd have loved to make a career out of theatre. In college, I had formed a group with Barry John called TAG (Theatre Action Group).
Did you never contemplate a career in theatre?
One couldn't do that then. One cannot do that now. Unless you are a Shabana Azmi or a Farouq Shaikh doing something like Tumhari Amrita. TAG was young and experimental. I did Macbeth, Waiting For Godot …I did try to make a living out of theatre. Then I ventured into my other passion: films, made documentaries. That's where dance came in.
How?
Our plays were choreographed very well. There were lots of big dance groups from abroad coming in. When I was an impresario with the Taj group as an events manager, I'd get a lot of dance and ballet groups to perform. It would be terrific to work on something like Nach Baliye 2.
It's a move away from quizzing…
I've always looked at quizzing as drama . Even the originator of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire told me it isn't about the money. It's about the drama. How an ordinary individual copes with the dilemma of losing or winning money….
So, are you looking forward to Nach Baliye 2?
Oh yes. The dhadkan ( heartbeat) for Nach Baliye 2 is just beginning.
Udne Ki Aasha
Cricket
