Sony on top in three metros – thanks to KBC and Amitabh Bachchan

Sony on top in three metros – thanks to KBC and Amitabh Bachchan


New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) The fifth season of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ hosted by megastar Amitabh Bachchan has catapulted Sony TV to the top spot after opening at the Television Viewer Ratings (TVRs) of 5.24.


The show, which went on air Aug 15, opened with 5.24 TVRs in the three metros, taking Sony to the top spot in three metros Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata, according to Television Audience Measurement (TAM) ratings.


‘We are delighted with the performance of KBC. These numbers show that we have yet again touched a chord with our viewers,’ Sony Entertainment Television Business Head Sneha Rajani said in a statement.


‘The impressive opening numbers for KBC is an emphatic endorsement of our promise of delivering wholesome family entertainment,’ she added.


Amitabh emerged victorious among Dharmendra and Hrithik Roshan, whose shows ‘India’s Got Talent’ and ‘Just Dance’ opened at 4.5 TVRs and 4.0 TVRs, respectively.

Concern over the robbery at Anat’s house, birthday wishes for Jaishree

Jalsa , Mumbai      Aug  20,  2011         Fri 11 : 56 PM

Concern over the robbery at Anat’s house, birthday wishes for Jaishree and grateful thanks to Shankar for the execution of the blood bank and its success in the UAE. Also thank you Reeham for the gifts sent through Shankar …

The exhaustion of yesterday was carried forward and even though there was no shooting as such, I did have an early start due to a fresh endorsement that I had to attend - Force Motors Ltd., launched their new car, an SUV called Force 1, and I had to be there as their brand ambassador.

Its remarkable that an SUV with such high technical worth and input should be available at the most generous price of Rs 10.65 lakhs only ! This is quite an incredible proposition. I sat and drove by at the launch and it was truly great. Have ordered a couple and hopefully will be in possession of them by September after ‘Ganpati’.

Also the Supreme Court of India, the highest legal body of the country cleared the film ‘Aarakshan’ for release form areas where it had been banned, reassuring all of us and the people in general that the rule of law prevails in this country. The reasons given by the honorable justices was that once a film has been passed by the Censor Board no State or organization has the right to ban it. Which is something that we had been saying from day one. I do believe that this late clearance shall affect the collections of the film, because 11 days in the life of a film in todays time can be a lifetime. Will those that opposed the film and stopped its distribution and exhibition now compensate the producer for deliberate and illegal procedures used for harming the financials of the product ? I guess not …

Anyhow … the film has received both critical and box office acclaim and this is good. It is indeed a pity that those that opposed the film never even bothered to see the product before deriding it. Had they done so they would have realized that the film indeed is in fact pro them and their reasons for their anger is so unjustified. In fact during my conversations with Prakash Jha, he told me how the various factions that had expressed their anger and dissatisfaction over an unseen film were now asking that the script of each film be sent to them for clearance before going on the floor !! That is quite audacious ! They would have to rewrite the Constitution of this land before that can be complied with ! So in fact what it tantamounts to is that there is a suggestion of a body which shall function above the governance of the country and more, the Constitution of the land ! Nothing could be more ridiculous than this !!

The initial guess ratings for the KBC have emerged and show signs of being good. Indeed the channel says that it is now the best non fiction opening ratings of all shows on all channels. So .. a gentle cheer and a feeling of some reassurance. The shoots and recordings of the episode however continue at a vigorous pace, and the charm of meeting an exciting contestant from some part of our country, has become a moment of great expectation and desire. The cheers from the audience in the game show that come along voluntarily has been stupendous. They are a knowledged lot and most patient and accommodating. There are time delays at times dure to the rain and the electronics that fail as a result, but they remain steady and steadfast, bearing all this just to be a part of this historic game show that continues to  draw great interest even after 11 years of its initiation !!

I wish to express my gratitude to those that support the game and continue to do so year after year, season after season. Your interest generates interest in us to give it more than what our capacity may be, but when you spur us on we elate and expand and indulge. That really is the reason to keep coming back. Trust me. You make the show !!

The figure of a million and 50,000 followers on Twitter has gone by unnoticed by those that generally notice it. It is good that they feel so. I would like it it to be so - unnoticed and of little consequence. It indicates I need to do better. And I shall try !!

Love to all …

Amitabh Bachchan

What can one say when one settles down to write at this late hour Big B

Jalsa , Mumbai       Aug 18 ,  2011        Thu 11: 57 PM

What can one say when one settles down to write at this late hour. I have no words to express myself. No feelings after the numbness of what I have just seen and heard. And what I hear and see is the result of KBC in its prime. In a programme specially designed for ‘another chance’, not just in the realm of guided and compulsory protection, but in an effort to bring some sanity among us, we have had in the hot seat two young ladies from our own land that have shown just incredible bravery !

Rukhsana and Stanzin. The former from J&K and the other from Leh in Ladakh. Rukhsana is the one that we have heard often enough. She the young 20 year old daughter that took on the might of the terrorist in Kashmir, slammed her way through among them and taking over from one of their rivals shooting him down.

The latter a young pretty face from Leh Ladakh, suffering from the sudden cloud burst that occurred in their region some years ago, but its tragedy and strain not leaving her - she lost her entire family and belongings in that deluge, dead and gone forever.

They both came to the Hot Seat, among the guests sat Shankar and his gang from Dubai and what an interesting episode we recorded.

Their bravery and their resolve to fight against all odds, brought a lump in our throats as each narrated their horrific experiences.

Rukhsana and her family living in a most modest house, held in Kashmir, were attached by the terrorists of the region. She instead of succumbing to their threats, stood up and fought them, a group of six,bringing down one by firing a bullet from his own gun. Amazing stories to know the depth of thinking of these people, their belief and their valor. Just an amazing lot of incredible people, whom nothing can bring down ever.

And the pretty Stanzin from Leh, where she had to face, that her entire family was wiped out by the storm and dangerous cloud burst that occurred some years ago and still remains as an enormous tragedy, even today. For her to come down to Mumbai and to get an opportunity to play on the show despite her huge loss was most commendable. And she played well.

We the people of the city and affluence, of being shown the door each time you seek opportunity, can be the most formidable blunder ever made, according to us and to our minds. We have today forgotten what the poor in this country live and survive upon. Each day I meet some on set who narrate the stories of indiscipline, loot and vulnerability and am helpless and moved by their gestures. We can make attempts to help them but never shall be able to address them completely.

May all those that make effort and those that are completely subjugated by oppression, rise above all this and face the hostility of a Nation at war with its neighbor. May our efforts be true and deliverable .

Amitabh Bachchan

Kaun Banega Crorepati 2011 Episode 1 15th August 2011 Full Episode

Kaun Banega Crorepati 2011 Episode 1 15th August 2011 Full Episode

I move robot like from situation to situation BigB

Jalsa  , Mumbai  Aug  17 ,  2011       Wed  11 : 57 PM

I move robot like from situation to situation. They are the reason for commitment and comply. Once accepted it must be treated like God’s own word. I will not think that there may be consequences. Consequences become pertinent, only if the consequence is questioned. You can question one for one, but doubt if you could question for two or more. Singularity of purpose in your ideal, is ideal. When you drift, you might as well be the part of a river that flows continuously - never able to build upon it. The flow of the water would I believe shift the very basis of your thought. And flow you must, else stagnate and rot in our own thinking.

Catching or riding a boat that flows and drifts by, would tantamount to assistance. Assistance is borrowed strength, it does not have the appeal of ones individuality. When you shall break free, there will always be resistance. Riding free is not a common sight. It disturbs the equilibrium and so is despised. Joining it at someones behest is diminishing also. Take the strain to tighten the rope, before we pull it over to our mark and rejoice its victory. We can team up and anchor up the mightiest at the end, wound up as it were to be victorious. But when the rope is equally balanced by weight on both parts, that piece of handkerchief that ties us down to a mark before it crosses it to declare victory, it is then a suitable tug-of-war ! At the end of the struggle though when the better team wins, the victorious fall down by shear effort of the strain.

I need to respect the strain, the pull of gravity and strength. I need to pull that handkerchief mark in the middle to our side and prove victory. Nothing else matters in the end. The issue shall never be revisited. The grounds shall change as will the will. What could have been a gain shall assume a loss. Loss of face and energy.

Purpose must be acknowledged. Will must be observed. But the tug of war shall be incomplete if there is no one to mark that handkerchief in the middle - that directive that shall decide finally who won !

In life do we really win ??

Amitabh Bachchan