Paanchvi paas hit hai

Caught the first episode of Kya aap paanchi paas se tez hain and I think it's a winner. Yes, it is completely old wine in a new bottle - KBC with a 'cute kids to help you out' but it's good fun to watch. Esp the idea that grown ups are allowed to 'cheat' ie use options like 'Taank jhaank' and 'Copy' to reach the next level.

Unlike KBC the show does not have a solemn feel to it - Shahrukh Khan is completely in his element. And there is no ghost of Amitabh lurking in the background.

Of course the Qs aren't really from 3rd and 4th standard textbooks. Sample this:
Category 1st standard, English: The English word for tulsi is ..... (answer is Basil)
Category 3rd standard, Science: Which part of the seed in a plant becomes the root. (options were Radicle, Lamina, Petiole. Answer: Radicle)

Nowhere in my daughter's 3rd standard textbooks did I see such detail. And she is studying in a CBSE school which is supposed to have higher standards than state board ! The kids are definitely 'coached' on the answers.

But as Nivedita says,"Aise hi kisi ko paanch crore de denge kya." Guess the 'paanchvi paas' bit is just to indicate these are relatively easy questions - you've covered all this at some point in your school life. It's just that you don't remember anymore.

Like this lady who came on tonight who happened to be a teacher. Poor thing, knew most of the answers but was never 100% sure and bowed out after winning 2 lakhs. What intrigued me more was why looked like she had just escaped from her own wedding - bright yellow kanjeevaram saree, blood red glass bangles and enough sindoor to give TV bahus a complex.

But Shahrukh Khan in his little waistcoat and the kids on the show were adorable. Besides, teacherji had such a nice smile. If more teachers laughed like that in their classroom we would all be more tez for sure.