Like Bigg Boss, Rise and Fall also has a voice guiding the contestants on what they should do as they move ahead in the game. Like The Traitors had a special room for the ‘Circle of Shak’, Bigg Boss has an assembly room. Here, there is a red room where difficult decisions are supposed to be made. The only difference in Rise and Fall is that the 15 contestants are divided into Rulers and Workers. While the Rulers live in a penthouse with all the luxuries, the workers live in a basement where survival is a struggle. From simple food to a limited supply of water, workers need to take the daily indignities and find their way up.
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The concept of Rise and Fall
Built on the premise of economic disparity in our society, the show highlights how with great money comes great power. The show kick-started with contestants competing to choose between a golden suitcase and a silver one. The golden suitcase had Rs 6 lakhs in it, while the silver one had Rs 1 lakh. After fighting and justifying their choice, every contestant got to pick a suitcase for themselves. Six contestants who chose the golden briefcase became rulers, while the remaining nine were relegated to the basement. The rulers chose seven people to start their game as workers, and the remaining two joined the rulers.
With this, the prize pot that the rulers started the game with was Rs 38 lakhs, while the workers started their game with zero. On day one, workers had to make a hard choice. To win back the Rs 7 lakhs they had earned in the first episode, they had to sacrifice some amenities from the basement. Eventually, the workers gave up their beds and won Rs 7 lakhs, but in the very next task, they lost Rs 5 lakhs to the rulers.
The actual game is that the Rulers need to preserve and grow their prize pot if they don’t wish to fall to the basement, while the workers need to earn that very prize pot if they want to rise in ranks. For now, it’s all confusion.
Ashneer Grover as a host
While the concept of Rise and Fall is complicated, Ashneer Grover’s presence in the show is also not helping much. In fact, Ashneer fails to hold the audience’s attention. His presence on the first episode of the show didn’t make an impact. It also felt like Ashneer himself has no clue about what he is supposed to bring to the table as he moderates this game. There were several instances in the premiere episode where Ashneer looked uncomfortable when contestants got into heated arguments. He tried hard to come across as stern, but his authority didn’t come through. In the palace of Rise and Fall, it is ‘Ashneer lost in wonderland’.
The contestants
Rise and Fall has 15 contestants – Kiku Sharda, Arjun Bijlani, Dhanashree Verma, Kubbra Sait, Aahaana Kumra, Aditya Narayan, Pawan Singh, Anaya Bangar, Akriti Negi, Noorin Sha, Bali, Aarush Bhola, Arbaaz Patel, Nayandeep Rakshit, and Sangeeta Phogat. While the contestants are all strong-headed, some personalities seem lost, while others are too overpowering for the cameras.
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So far, some contestants who have come across as genuine and sensible are Kiku Sharda, Pawan Singh, and Anaya Bangar. Others who seem to be sitting on the fence include Kubbra Sait, Arjun Bijlani, Aahaana Kumra, Nayandeep Rakshit, Sangeeta Phogat, and Noorin Sha. And others who are just evidently doing things for the camera are Arbaaz Patel, Bali, Aarush Bhola, Dhanashree Verma, and Akriti Negi.
While the contestants are all powerful personalities, their vibe is very skewed. Some are extremely vocal and busy plotting all the time, while some just want to be mere observers and follow the majority. Others who are sitting on the fence at this moment may be playing it smart, but they do come across as confused.
What works for Rise and Fall?
A different concept and strong contestants are what make this show appear to have the potential to make a mark in the captive reality space. But how it pans out further is really crucial. Another likeable thing about the show is, it’s evident that there is no script in place. The way the contestants have been interacting with each other points out that there is no one giving them directions on what to say and what to avoid.
What doesn’t work for Rise and Fall?
The concept is different, but also complex, so the makers need to establish it well. The show’s progression is very slow, and at this point, it’s also looking very biased. The first task given to the workers seemed impossible and was a wasted effort at making content for the OTT audience. A fair game, with the rulers not just being asked to judge workers’ performance, but also fight it out to save their powers, would actually pique interest. Ashneer Grover’s involvement in the show can also help it work.
While Rise and Fall has the potential, for now, the show is that worker in the basement who really needs to work hard and rise to the penthouse. Rise and Fall streams on Amazon MX Player at 12 pm, Monday to Sunday. The show also airs on Sony TV at 10:30 pm.
Ashneer Grover hosted Rise and Fall review (Photo: MX Player / Instagram)