KBC comes back on a STAR channel

Vijay TV, STAR India's Tamil GEC, is set to launch the Tamil version of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in February 2012.

Vijay TV, the Tamil GEC from the STAR stable, is gearing up to launch the Tamil version of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in February 2012. The show, Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi, will run for 80 episodes, and will be produced by Big Synergy. For the record, until now, Vijay TV has only shown the dubbed versions of the first, second, and third seasons of KBC, which appeared on Star Plus.

Unlike the latest seasons of KBC on Sony Entertainment, Seasons 4 and 5, which underwent a touch of innovative transition in their formats, the Tamil adaptation of the show will continue to adhere to the original version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

Therefore, sticking to the original format, the show will give away a cash prize worth Rs 1 crore. As the contestants move up the money tree, the questions will get increasingly difficult, with a total of 15 questions leading to the Rs 1 crore jackpot. The 10 'fastest finger first', will play for the whole week. There will be three lifelines to help contestants.

Following the original format, KBC in Tamil will have the audience poll lifeline, in which the studio audience helps the participant to answer a question through voting pads. In the phone-a-friend lifeline, the participant gets to phone a friend to help answer a question, and for the 50-50 lifeline, two incorrect answers from the four options are removed. There will also be two safe havens at question No. 5 and question No. 10, assuring the contestants a minimum prize money of Rs 10,000 and Rs 3,20,000 respectively.

The Tamil version of KBC will be aired from Monday through Thursday, as a 90-minute slot. It will occupy the 8-9.30 pm time band.

Vijay TV's general manager K Sriram tells afaqs!, "This is truly the first international format that will hit the Tamil television screen. The programme will be a game changer not only for Vijay TV, but also for Tamil television."

To strengthen the channel's viewership, Vijay TV plans to launch two fiction shows around the telecast of KBC's Tamil version.

ITC Sunfeast has come on board as the title sponsor for the game show. The channel is on the lookout for a total of 10 associate sponsors.

Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi will be hosted by Tamil cinema actor Suriya. This will mark Suriya's debut on television.

Sriram says, "Suriya is easily one of the biggest stars in Tamil cinema, and he is the biggest USP of this show. There is a great brand resonance between brand Suriya and Vijay TV. Both brands believe in differentiation, and in being innovative."