Siddhartha Basu

Quizmaster-producer Siddhartha Basu is back where it all started for him and the television quizzing history of India. Big Synergy’s new quiz show Sports Ka Superstar, to be produced by Basu and hosted by Mini Mathur, will air on Doordarshan, where Quiz Time had originally aired. Basu talks to t2 about the bi-weekly show, which will be telecast on Doordarshan National from mid-June as the precursor to the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi.

The general perception is that the Doordarshan days are over. Yet you are producing a quiz show for the channel. Why?

The reach of Doordarshan, as a terrestrial free-to-air channel remains massive, the largest in the country. More attractive is its mandate as a public service broadcaster, with social objectives beyond those that are purely commercial. When we had an invitation from the present Director General of Doordarshan, Aruna Sharma, to produce quality shows for DD, it was an opportunity for Big Synergy to do our own formats and connect with a huge audience, many of whom are beyond the grasp of sattellite channels.

Was it the nostalgia that made you say yes? What are your best memories of Quiz Time?

Nostalgia had nothing to do with it, though I have very positive memories of that first outing as quiz master. When that went on, we were a single channel country, and for the first time, independently produced shows went on at nine every evening. I was still in my twenties when Sunday 9pm became quiz time for a whole year, and for two seasons subsequently. It had a huge following for an English language programme, and the simple national inter-college quiz, went on to become quite a rage. As its face, all the bouquets as well as brickbats came my way. It was a big break for a documentary filmmaker and theatre person, but I’ve been dogged by questions ever since!

Why a lady host for the show?

As you’ll soon see, Mini is a master conductor, and hosts Sports Ka Superstar with an easy flair, completely on top of the content, thoroughly enjoying the quiz and making it an entertaining affair.

It’s been ages that you have hosted a quiz show yourself. Why so? When can we expect you to come back in front of the camera?

I’ve never fancied seeing myself on camera, or in the mirror for that matter, so I hope my hosting days are behind me. I’m much happier being a mentor on shows, and playing coach. I’ve had the good fortune of working with some super talent on Synergy shows — among them Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Boman Irani, Rajeev Khandelwal, Soha Ali Khan, and now Mini Mathur. It’s quite a list, by any reckoning.

How would you rate the difficulty level of the questions on the show?

Sort of mid-range. It’s positioned somewhere in a median between the contestants, who’re all pretty regular quizzers, and the average sports-oriented viewers.

Since it’s a precursor to the Commonwealth Games, will there be a slant towards the history of the games in the questions?

It’s generally on sports, with some on highlights of the Commonwealth Games, and a fair amount of questions on the 17 sports disciplines comprising the Games.

What are the other TV shows Big Synergy is planning at this stage?

Other than Sports Ka Superstar, the next mega hunt of India’s Got Talent has been announced on Colors. There are a couple of other shows coming up.