14 lakh entries for a quiz, & AR Rahman's TV debut | #101
Also, an upcoming sci-fi quiz 👽➡️
Hello friends
When VP Singh became the Prime Minister in 1989, he wanted to liberalize the programming on the state broadcaster Doordarshan by focusing more on current affairs and culture. He asked his friend and documentary filmamker Siddharth Kak for ideas. Kak pitched a film about the Gharanas of India. A secretary at the Information & Broadcasting Ministry suggested covering different places of India in separate segments and said, ‘You will cover a lot more of India in one show.’
This was the genesis of a much-beloved Indian TV show that is still revered to this day. This week’s edition is a trip down memory lane, and an ode to Surabhi.
Things we learnt this week 🤓
Siddharth Kak was finalized as the host but he felt the show needed a co-host. One of the suggestions was Renuka Shahane, then a budding actress. She had just finished shooting for Circus - starring future superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Unsure whether she wanted to take up the role or not, she spoke to Aziz Mirza, the director of Circus, who advised Renuka to audition. For the part, she was given a 5 page document on the Brihadeshwara Temple, all written in pure Hindi. After learning the script by rote, she started her audition confidently, but blanked after the first few lines. She smiled her way through the rest of the audition, never losing her composure. That was enough to convince Geeta Siddharth, wife of Siddharth Kak, that Renuka Shahane was the right choice.
Shah Rukh and Shah Hane, in Circus In the first season Renuka Shahane, was only the host of the ‘Sawal Jawab’ section. It makes her one of the first Quizmasters on Indian Television. She also doubled up as an assistant director although in later seasons she became a full time host.
Siddharth Kak, on a trip to the USA, heard a track on an American highway and was mesmerized. He learnt that the composer of that track was an Indian - L Subramaniam. When it was time to compose a soundtrack for the show, the only name on his mind was L Subramaniam. On learning that the maestro was in India for a concert, Siddharth Kak met him and explained the concept. L Subramaniam agreed and the iconic tune was born. To complete the loop, the first episode featured a profile of L Subramaniam.
Speaking of music, the very first national TV interview of one Mr Abdul Rahman aka *the* AR Rahman. Check out this profile of the ace music director - who was addressed as Abdul Rahman.
No mention of the show can be complete without mentioning the quiz contest. It was so popular that India Post decided to monetize the phenomenon and launch a competition postcard (something that was double the price of a normal postcard). Once they received 14 lakh entries for a quiz - a world record. The man in the picture below Firaz Ashraf, was initially hired to count the postcards, but later became a valued member of the team, translating Siddharth Kak’s English scripts into Hindi. We can only aspire to that level of popularity 😊
Quiz Alert 🔎
From Star Wars vs Star Trek to the singing sands from Dune, if sci-fi is what feeds your brain then we've got the perfect thing for you! IWTK's Sci-fi quiz hosted by Gautam Shenoy along with panelists Berty Ashley and Arushi Kapoor on 24th April, 4 PM - 5 PM!
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Would like to share something. When I grew up in the nineties, one of the Sunday morning regulars was the Bournmita Quiz contest hosted by Derek O' Brien, where students from schools all over India would participate. As someone from a State Board school in a small suburban town, watching the student teams from the elite schools, dressed in dapper blazers and conversing in impeccable English was mesmerizing.
The host Derek O'Brien (now a member of Rajya Sabha) was an amazing Quiz Master. He was passionate about sharing knowledge and would often add interesting tidbits after the question was answered.