Shah Rukh Khan’s larger than life charisma works wonders at the box office. In fact, the superstar’s magic and aggressive self-promotions have worked to an extent for his Indian Premier League (IPL) team as well, but it is clearly not reaping the same results for the over-rated Star Plus quiz show Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain?

Shah Rukh Khan went on quote to say, “Paanchvi Pass is comparatively more fun and in that way is more ‘me’. So I think I will be able to bring my personality more to this show as we go along.” Shah Rukh Khan had even declared that Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? would get higher ratings than IPL.

He was wrong! The opening ratings hovering around three and four had another story to tell. It’s much less than what was expected from the show. As against this, the IPL opening match scored a major triumph and the matches have enjoyed all-India ratings of four-five. While the IPL effect is generally agreed to be the major reason for the quiz show’s initial failure, others blame its below average content.

It’s a little bit of both. A majority of Indian audiences have been spoiled with content being spoon-fed. They don’t like their brains to be taxed. The idiot box in India truly lives up to its name because characters in fiction shows have voice-overs to even explain their thoughts. Paanchvi Pass ignores this fact and throws questions without options for the answer — and the average watcher has only so much patience before he switches over to less taxing shows.

And while the audiences can wallow at their ignorance in private, every participant who can’t make it to the top, while retiring from the game has to proclaim that he/she is not smarter than a fifth grader.

The participants look over enthusiastic. They look like they have been trained or encouraged to perform. Otherwise, no person, we believe, would dance his way into the show. Also, the format becomes monotonous.

Another reason Paanchvi Pass doesn’t engage, is that the set demands that Shah Rukh keeps walking around. For people to get absorbed on a quiz show on television, I think we need to see a “sitting” anchor, a la KBC. The constant movement disconnects the audience who are already vexed about the questions.

With crores of money riding on this show, Star obviously hopes it will manage a turnaround. The channel continues to aggressively push the show and is adding star quotient to its episodes. They have already featured Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar, Hiten and Gauri Tejwani on the show. Star Plus, to counter the IPL pressure is also running repeat telecasts of the show.

With the IPL matches getting over next month (June 1), and the initial hiccups taken care of, there is still hope for Paanchvi Pass and SRK to live up to the promises.