Quiz break

Describing the show as a “TV event”,Rajiv Vyas ,founder-director of Msky says,“Quiz shows,whether BQC or KBC,have always been popular with audiences everywhere. Test the Nation has already become the top rated show in 51 other countries and we’re bringing it here because we know it’s something viewers will love.” Test the Nation will pit groups of people — teachers,car mechanics,students — against each other in a bid to see who has the highest knowledge quotient.

It could be speculated that what made KBC,and ultimately all quiz shows,cool was probably the huge sums of money that were involved. But one suspects that the sheer accessibility of the show—the fact that anyone could call up the show,answer a few questions and win substantial sums of money — was part of the charm. Test the Nation seeks to take that accessibility to another level. Vyas’ fellow founder-director Mozez Singh says,“This show is going to be a great equaliser. You’ll have all groups of people — not just students or highly educated professionals — answering questions which will range from the technical and scientific to the basic and practical. It’s ultimately going to be about more than just GK.” Along the way,Singh hopes,the show will also break some stereotypes. “We tend to think that teachers are bound to be smarter than cabbies or that Bengalis are more intellectual than Punjabis. But now is the opportunity to see some of these myths being busted.”

The details about the show — the start of production and the choice of host — are yet to be finalised. “We’re still in talks with broadcasters about the nitty-gritties,” says Vyas,“but we assure you — not only is this show going to be informative,it’s also going to be edge-of-the-seat entertaining.” That’s just the breather viewers are waiting for.