Govinda unleashed on Sony

By K. Kannan

NEW DELHI, JAN. 26.

For film star Govinda and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Entertainment Television, Mr. Kunal Dasgupta, ``Jeeto Chappar Phaad Ke'' which went on air at 8 p.m on Friday is more of a mega entertainment block-buster than a game show. The roles of star and star anchor have merged for Chi Chi -- the host's popular pet name -- to create the same effect that is often witnessed in a Govinda movie.

All the key Govinda men are associated with the game show, be it Ganesh Acharya, who paired up with the film industry's Dancer No.1 to churn out one hit song after the other from ``Husn Hai Suhana'' to ``What is Your Mobile Number?'' or Leslie Lewis who is remembered for the popular ``Janam Samjha Karo''.

Predictably then, the title song of ``Jeeto Chappar Phaad Ke'' has been choreographed by Ganesh Acharya and the music is by Leslie Lewis. The result is simply electrifying as Govinda himself proved on Thursday night at the Delhi launch of this show. With dancers from Ganesh's troupe swinging their hips, the unbeatable Govinda unleashed all his energy on stage.

Bollywood's badshah of big sets, Nitin Desai, who has handled enviable projects like ``Khamoshi'', ``Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'', ``1942-A Love Story'' and ``Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar'' besides Sanjay Leela Bansali's forthcoming film, ``Devdas'', has done the sets. With Derek O' Brien as the quiz master, quizzing and entertainment come together neatly fitting into the Govinda image.

The catchy foot-tapping signature song for ``Jeeto Chappar Phhad Ke'' has been penned by Ranjit Kapoor and Rekha Nigam, senior vice-president, Programming and Production, Sony. With Govinda showing off his dancing and acting skills, the hip-shaking title song in Shaan's inimitable voice introduces the latest sensation on the small screen with his promise of ``unlimited paisa, unlimited mazaa''.

With all this stupendous effort, Mr. Dasgupta asserts that he is not in competition with ``Kaun Banega Crorepati''. ``If I were a viewer and had to make a choice between two interesting programmes, I would damn the channels. I would like both of us to co-exist,'' Mr. Dasgupta says.

As for Govinda, he lets his anchor image speak for him. ``I would like to take the blessings of all elders before the programme goes on air as it is my firm conviction that nothing can be achieved without it,'' he said, when called upon to speak last night.

As a countdown to its launch, Sony organised a road show in the Capital earlier this week that included a Govinda cutout contest and distribution of branded memorablia like Govinda masks and pocket calendars. Post-launch promoters with huge Govinda cut- outs will be stationed at strategic locations in the city encouraging crowds to play ``flip a coin'' and ``cards draw'' and receive exciting giveaways this weekend.

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