Sameer Nair - "People watch shows and not channels"

"People watch shows and not channels"-- Sameer Nair

Star TV (India) CEO, Sameer Nair has been touted as one of the best programming brains of our country. Much of the credit for Star's ruling position can be attributed to him. He created history on Indian television with Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) and other innovative and distinctive daily soap operas, thus being a trendsetter. Six years back after convincing none other than the badshah of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan for KBC, now it's King Khan, Shahrukh who has been brought in to handle the reins of this big ticket show. While the country waits with bated breath for the new season of KBC to go on air on 22 January, Nair gives Seema Pherwani a quick lowdown on his programming perspectives. (Except refraining from the million dollar question which everybody wants to ask him). Excerpts. "This time KBC is going to be a lot of fun" Big B's philosophical musings managed to regale audiences six years ago.How are you tweaking the script this time around for Shahrukh Khan? Definitely there won't be any philosophical musings because Shahrukh is too young for that and it wont really go down with his personality. Though, there is a section of audience who might want to compare the two, but there is no comparison really. Shahrukh is jovial and charming, so the brief for him is to be just himself. Yes, there will be slight changes in the usage of words, like instead of aap he might refer to his contestant as tum etc. We've just finished canning some episodes and I must say that his approach towards the participants is very unarming. He just lets them be. But then let's us hope that his own brand image doesn't go against the soul of the show? No, I don't think so. This time KBC is going to be a lot of fun and we've also done a video which will be telecast just before the show goes on air. Because of KBC a lot of other programmes are witnessing a change in timeslot while new ones have been put on hold, like Bag Films' Ankhiyon Ke Zarokho Say…. No, not really. As of the current shows, Viraasat has been shifted to Star One and Karam Apnaa Apnaa to another timeslot on the same channel. See, this season of KBC is is for 13 weeks, after which the new shows that have been scheduled will find their right timeslots. The buzz is that you've already zeroed in on Ekta Kapoor's Kasturi for the 9.30 slot after KBC's tenure? Yes, that's true. But the name might not be Kasturi. In fact we also have decided on another new soap for 9 pm, though I can't share the details right now. So now looks like its Balaji ruling the roost; from 8. 30 - 11.30, except for the 9 pm slot? That's because the shows have worked extremely well for us. " Shahrukh's brief is just to be himself" But aren't you keen to work with other producers who might add on a different perspective to your lineup? We are working with different producers on various projects. Perhaps, amongst the current lot, we haven't worked with Tony and Deeya Singh. We did try materializing a project with Manish Goswami, a show called Sixer, but somehow it didn't actualize. When it comes to Star One, you have incorporated a new programming strategy by roping in Gajendra Singh to do Antakshari. Yes and it's a very challenging format. This is the first time we're working with Gajendra and it feels great. We've also have Juhi Parmar to co host the show with Annu Kapur. Do you think you've got your fix on the programming line up for Star One? I think at the end of the day people watch programmes and not channels. The trick is to get that right. Nach Baliye and The Great Indian Laughter Challenge have worked for us. But is there enough comic talent in the country to fuel more seasons of TGILC? Somehow there aren't too many funny people around. So it is proving to be a bit difficult. Balaji soap Kesar was supposed to go off air quite some time back. What's the status quo? It was supposed to go off air but then we've introduced a new track. Also to replace old shows, new shows have to be ready too. But Kesar might go off air in the month of March. On a final note, what's your take on Sony's Big Boss? It's pretty interesting and one tends to get hooked onto it. But probably the 10 pm slot is not the right thing for the show. Also, some of the aged people might not be really be in tune with the on goings of the show. But of course, everybody wants to know who'll be the winner.