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Clash of the titans

Udaya Bhanu who charmed the audience with her adventure outing shows is back again to anchor another gold rush show

READY TO ANCHOR Udaya Bhanu

As channels vie for a slice of the viewership, two top ranking anchors of Telugu telly find themselves pitted against one another. has managed to weather the initial criticism and seems to have succeeded in turning Brain Of Andhra into a popular show. Though her out and out imitation of Amitabh Bachchan's style and lingo from his hugely popular quizzing in Kaun Banega Crorepathi did invite jeers, and the early episodes put the research effort for the quiz show in a rather poor light, the super-anchor has managed to get wider acceptance for BOA.

And now the channel has some competition with Zee Telugu coming out with a promise of the gold rush in Nee Illu Bangarm Ganu. The show is anchored by Udaya Bhanu another leading name who has earned a wide fan following with her charming outings in adventure shows. Her efforts including a complete change of attitude and even outfits, which seems to have helped the show in gaining an initial foothold. The coming days appear to be interesting as the two leading lights of Telugu telly clash in their inimitable ways to draw more viewers for their respective shows.

Talking of BOA, one fails to understand the rationale in the camera cutting to the co-anchor whenever a participant wants a help line. The co-anchor makes a small announcement about the option and then shows a dramatic thumbs up to say best of luck. Drama does add to a quiz show but not a jarring effect.

Stars on TV

Given the popularity of the idiot box, even big screen stars and moviemakers use it to further their products. Of late, one finds that the release of every new film is preceded by a host of interviews and chats with the actors and technicians going gaga about their just to be released ventures.

In these curtain raisers, most of the `stars', `established stars', `budding stars', `new sensations' and `find-of-the-season' end up responding in English. Even the best of efforts by the anchors to make them speak a little Telugu fails, with their queries in Telugu being answered in English by the stars of these Telugu films.

At times, some actors and actresses do make an effort to intersperse the chat with some Telugu but they usually end up in a rather funny mix of languages. The other day one star, explaining his character in a new movie, kept struggling with "Nenu lavullo padthanu". Haven't they heard of a Telugu equivalent for the expression, one wonders.

T. LALITH SINGH

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