Mumbai:
Veteran actor and anchor Annu Kapoor,who hosted Antakshari for 12 years, wants to revive theclassical format of the musical gameshow on television throughhis soon-to-be-launched production house.
"If I get a chance, I will try to do it again with mycompany. The format might be a little revamped to match thecurrent trends. But the simplicity, the Indianness, the basicvalues along with the entertainment quotient will be retainedby us," Kapoor told PTI.
Debuting on Zee TV in 1994, Antakshari had ruled TRPsfor more than a decade as it struck an instant chord with theaudiences due to its 'desi' appeal.
Co-hosting with the 'girl-next-door' Renuka Shahane, theinimitable Kapoor brought in his wit, warmth, ingenuity to theshow.
But with the invasion of international formats on TV,Antakshari was left behind in the race.
Kapoor, 54, who also anchored Meri Awaaz Suno, is nowhosting classical music show Idea Jalsa Music for the Soulon Zee TV.
"Shows like Antakshari and Jalsa are very close to myheart because they are sans controversies, Rakhi Sawant orvulgarity. They reflect the true Indian culture and valuesthrough the medium of music," the NSD alumnus said.
Antakshari was pulled back in 2005 from Zee TV, only toreappear in fresh avatars on Star One and then Star Pluschannel.
However, none of the versions made by veteran directorGajendra Singh managed to re-create the old magic.
"Antakshari has a very glorious past. If we can revive it,its good. Else its name will remain revered in the historybooks forever," Kapoor said.
Producing films along with TV programming, his company'Amadeus Entertainment' would be launched in March.
Lamenting the lack of originality in televisionprogramming, Kapoor claimed that the small screen has so farseen only four popular programmes which were completelyoriginal in nature.
"We had Buniyaad, Tamas, Ramayan, Mahabharatand then we had Antakshari. The rest are all copycats ofWestern television," he said.
"If I get a chance, I will try to do it again with mycompany. The format might be a little revamped to match thecurrent trends. But the simplicity, the Indianness, the basicvalues along with the entertainment quotient will be retainedby us," Kapoor told PTI.
Debuting on Zee TV in 1994, Antakshari had ruled TRPsfor more than a decade as it struck an instant chord with theaudiences due to its 'desi' appeal.
Co-hosting with the 'girl-next-door' Renuka Shahane, theinimitable Kapoor brought in his wit, warmth, ingenuity to theshow.
But with the invasion of international formats on TV,Antakshari was left behind in the race.
Kapoor, 54, who also anchored Meri Awaaz Suno, is nowhosting classical music show Idea Jalsa Music for the Soulon Zee TV.
"Shows like Antakshari and Jalsa are very close to myheart because they are sans controversies, Rakhi Sawant orvulgarity. They reflect the true Indian culture and valuesthrough the medium of music," the NSD alumnus said.
Antakshari was pulled back in 2005 from Zee TV, only toreappear in fresh avatars on Star One and then Star Pluschannel.
However, none of the versions made by veteran directorGajendra Singh managed to re-create the old magic.
"Antakshari has a very glorious past. If we can revive it,its good. Else its name will remain revered in the historybooks forever," Kapoor said.
Producing films along with TV programming, his company'Amadeus Entertainment' would be launched in March.
Lamenting the lack of originality in televisionprogramming, Kapoor claimed that the small screen has so farseen only four popular programmes which were completelyoriginal in nature.
"We had Buniyaad, Tamas, Ramayan, Mahabharatand then we had Antakshari. The rest are all copycats ofWestern television," he said.
