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Siddhartha Basu Siddhartha Basu
CMD, BIG Synergy Media & Producer, KBC
Sep 25, 2012 | Closed

On working with living legend Amitabh Bachchan


Join producer and director of Kaun Banega Crorepati(KBC) Siddhartha Basu for a webchat on his experience of working with Mr Bachchan at 3.30pm this tuesday.

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  • Well I do watch the show regularly. But the Genre of the show has changed than what it used be. Any chances of lowering down the "emotion snippets"? Asked by: Nitin Sadana
  • Why be heartless ? -:)There are mid thrills galore, keep watching
  • 1. WHy don't you take hot seat in front of BigB for once? 2. When can we see Siddharth Basu, in Master Mind series, once again? Asked by: PVBN MURTY
  • Am behind Big B in each, and that's good enough for me. And you really don't want to see me host a quiz again, when others are doing it so well -:)
  • Sir, I am Milanjeet's( Kaya Aap Panchvi Pass se tez Ha wala) father. Milanjeet is again selected by delhi public school, Chandigarh for participating in KBC but is not eligible as he is only 13 yrs 8 months by may,2012. Otherwise he has alreadt completed 14 yrs on 31st august. Pl suggest. Asked by: gagandeep singh bhatti
  • It will be according to the rules.
  • your reaction to India TV operation on preferences given to some people for a season of KBC. I did not see any official response from Synergy on that issue. Asked by: srijan
  • That was based on a misperception, and was adequately answered by the broadcaster, who are the organisers of the contest and the one's who devise and run the back end operations
  • Am a big fan of Mastermind India! You're doing a brilliant job with KBC. Thank you for making Big B the face and the voice behind it. How difficult is it, dealing with the Sadi ka Mahanayak? Asked by: Sireesha
  • Its not difficult, he's a model host, eager to prepare and do his best. He's superbly matched to the show - his gravitas, his eloquence, both in Hindi and in English, his courteousness, his empathy for the contestant, his dry wit, his empathy with the contestant, his sense of drama - all of these make him the best possible host for the show.
  • You say, that selection is done as per rules, which is on the website. But its you and your team which comes up with the rules? Isn't it? We strongly feel, the emotional touch, do connect with "masses" but the "Quizzing, Intellectual and Knowledge" quotient of the show has gone for BIG hit! Asked by: Nitin Sadana
  • Then you must try and get on to the show and win big !
  • How long is current season of KBC? Your viewpoint on why KBC has failed when SRK was hosting? Dont say that it is not failed bcoz even SRK has admitted it Asked by: Vijay Bangalore
  • Its a subjective take on how much who liked which version of the programme. Commercially and viewer wise season 3 was a pronounced success.
  • Is some kind of reservation policy going on in KBc for selecton of participants and kind of questions asked. Poor background easy questions, good background tough questions. The question shouldbe moderate and appears to be fair for every one. Asked by: Anil
  • Its usually par for the course.. they say there's only 2 kinds of questions - easy if you know the answers, tough if you don't. It has to work at the level of the person who's being asked those questions..
  • the fastest finger finger first can be done better if you put up a riddle or puzzle to solve. Asked by: srijan
  • Its tough enough for those on the hot spot, as if their life depends on it
  • Hi Mr basu I and my Wife had thye pleasure and privilege of meeting you amd Mr Bachan during the very first episode of KBC . Unfortunately We did not through the fast finger round However the fact that I met two legends in their own fiels helped me to buey my dissapointment. How did you feel working with Amithabh . Also can you please let me know if there is any chance to get recording or CD of the episode I took part in Asked by: T R Aravind
  • I'm sure you can see it on you tube or the sony website
  • Are the episodes of Mastermind and Quiz Time available on CD? Asked by: GopalR
  • I regret not with me.Perhaps in the storage rooms of DD and BBC World respectively Let me know if you learn of someone who's privately kept a record.
  • One quality you admire in Amitabh Bachchan? Asked by: kreena
  • The combination of high culture with mass appeal
  • is there some reservation policy going on in KBC in selection of participant's and and type of questions asked. 60% of contestnats are there just because of there background but not about the knowledge they have Asked by: Vivek
  • Selection is fully in keeping with the rules of the contest. Pl check the contest website.
  • What Qualities do you think a Good Quiz Master should have? Asked by: GopalR
  • Being a master of the information,fluency, sense of drama, fairness and due showmanship.
  • Take participant's on the basis of their knowledge. even if they from poor or rural background they should have keenness to be a quiz contestand and have some knowledge. Don't take them just for their sobing stories or they can act in funnyit should not be like other reality shows audition where some people shown for their funny acts or sobing stories Asked by: Vivek
  • There are 3 levels of knowledge testing before a video interview, and due weightage is given to the GK quotient in selection. Pl see the rules on kbcsony.com
  • Hello Sir,I feel KBC is a big hit in India Because of Amitabh sir. His interaction with people made it possible. what do you say sir? Asked by: Srikar
  • Absolutely. He is the 'Brahma-astra', but don't underestimate the format too. 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' has worked in more than a 100 territories without an A-list mega star as host. Our own Neengalkum Aagam Koteeswaran in Malayalam, Kannadada Kotiyadipathi in Kannada and Neegallum Vellalam Oru Kodi in Tamil, have been very successful.
  • Siddharth, KBC is now second home to Mr.Bachchan. You are working with a hard core professional.I do know Mr.Bachchan as being the least fussy and the most co-operative, how has your experience of working with the Demi-God been this far ? Asked by: Mansoor Rizvi
  • The Synergy team has produced more than 500 hours of KBC, reaching into every home. I suspect that it'll compare well with the total number of cinemas he's done, as well as reached. Peak viewership of a KBC show is typically 30 million people. It's been a rare privilege and honour.
  • Any plans of reviving the Mastermind India series? Asked by: Suchintan Chatterjee
  • The management at BBC World changed and with it their India sourced shows.
  • do you remember Kavita Aggrawal from Quiz Time? where is she now? i was a huge fan? Asked by: srijan
  • You're not the only one.. I remember President Venkatraman at Rashtrapati Bhawan solicitously enquiring after her. She's in Gurgaon occupied with her interests in family.
  • A fan since the days of Quiz Time,when can we see you as a quiz master rather then being a faceless director? Asked by: kamal Agg
  • I've been running away from question marks for most of my life, in search of more exclamation marks.
  • Rajdeep Sardesai never confirmed but I remember he had participated in Quiz time as a student. right?? Asked by: srijan
  • Yes, in the very first series of Quiz Time he was in the St. Xaviers College team.
  • Isn't it time you moved into the fiction business? Either with AB or without AB? Asked by: B'Lal
  • Please watch our series of telefilms inspired by true life stories on Star Plus called 'Lakhon Mein Ek'. The first was directed and scripted by a national award winner - Rahul Dholakia.
  • I've been a Siddharth Basu fan ever since his "Purvai" days ! Asked by: Mansoor Rizvi
  • Lord, it's something I'm trying to forget...!
  • hi sir ! would you like revive quiz time which definitely made every kid those days in touch with the nation Asked by: rama krishna
  • Yes, if a broadcaster makes place for it. We're discussing something on those lines for schools in the regional space.
  • PARTICIPANT'S VIDEO IN TWO PARTS WHICH I MOST OF THE TIME SCRIPTED AND RECREATED IS QUITE A DRAG. WHY NOT HAVE SIMPLE CHIT CHAT WITH THEM AND LET THE MR. BACCHAN DO MOST OF THE TALKING Asked by: RAVI RANJAM
  • The video vignettes are an Indian innovation in which route, contestant and contrary to how you experience them are a key window to that person's world and are a vital factor in helping a viewer connect.
  • What about a serious quiz show minus melodrama on general knowledge not on a niche topic? Asked by: kamal Agg
  • Evidently there are not enough viewers to make such a quiz viable anymore.
  • Why are there more participant from Tier 2 or Rural India? Also a lot more questions in the initial rounds are very very focused and aligned to participants demographics - place, religion, age etc - is this a conscious effort to make more "needy" people to win. - Isn't this "selling of emotions"?? Asked by: Nitin Sadana
  • We're proud that the contestants are drawn from the widest possible swathe of geographies and demographies, more than any other show in the country entirely in keeping with the rules of the contest. From the very beginning, the effort has always been to offer a sporting stack of questions to every contestant, whatever the educational level, class, or place he or she may come from, which as would have been noticed varies widely. He could be an IIT, IIM whiz-kid or a medical entrance topper one week, as has just happened, and the very next could be a class 10 pass. That democratic variety is vital to the show.
  • Why has the Game show has become much more "emotional" with Participant videos and story. It now gives the Feel of a Daily Sop rather than an enthralling Game Show Asked by: Nitin Sadana
  • It's never been just another quiz show. What's set it apart is that it's a life changing knowledge game. You see a life change before your eyes. The inherent human drama became prominent in all key international versions after Slumdog Millionaire, and here things came full circle. The human story helps it connect as much to the heart as to the mind.
  • As a fan of yours since my childhood, would like to know how do you feel directing Legend like AB when you are the master of quiz series. Asked by: SASE1
  • Like driving a Rolls Royce. Feels like it's driving itself.
  • Is KBC 7 in the pipeline? Asked by: priyanka
  • If viewers, AB, Sony and God are willing...
  • What according to you is one most admiring quality of big B as the hostin KBC that is consistent in all the seasons? Asked by: Vishal Sagar
  • Exceptional hosting talent twinned with professionalism.
  • what was the idea behind shifting KBC to weekend ? people like to go out during this period. Asked by: vishu
  • That's a broadcaster decision as Sony has fiction doing well on weekdays and their weekends have always done well. Besides, KBC 2 has featured on weekends for two whole seasons, in seasons 2 & 3 very successfully.
  • Would Siddharth Basu ever get back to real serious quizzing which he pioneered way back in the 80s? Asked by: Ravi Kiran G
  • Our company Big Synergy produces all kinds of shows including Quiz shows of different kinds. Currently, watch 'Tech Grandmasters' on Good times hosted by gadget guru Rajiv Makhni. It's a challenging quiz.
  • There is too much importance to Hindi Areas and Hindi in the last KBC Programs.South Indians are practically neglected. Why? Asked by: Karavadi Raghava Rao.
  • It's a Hindi programme on a Hindi general entertainment channel. We produce Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam versions of the show whose first season has been hugely successful and a second season is imminent.
  • Of the many celebrities you have worked with I have a feeling that Mr Bachchan is the most professional. If so , what are the qualities that makes him stand apart? Asked by: SHANKAR
  • He's certainly in a league of one, when it comes to charisma and reverence with which both contestants and viewers regard him. His preparation is punctilious and he gives it his all when the cameras roll. All of these make him stand apart.
  • If, after few years, Mr. Bacchan doesn't host the show KBC, would you like to continue without him ? (Once you have tried :)) Asked by: Bhatia
  • KBC without AB is a moot point.. theoretically possible, but hardly desirable.

More chats with:

Siddhartha Basu
CMD, BIG Synergy Media & Producer, KBC

On working with living legend Amitabh Bachchan