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Enter KBC...

Exit moviegoers!

Living movie legend Amitabh Bachchan, who drew millions to Indian cinema halls in the 1970s and 1980s, is now being held responsible for luring them away, industry officials said on Wednesday.

Bachchan's hugely popular game show on Star TV, Kaun Banega Crorepati, has prompted a plunge in cinema box office revenues across the country. KBC has enjoyed unprecedentled ratings since its July 3 launch.

The highest prize money handed out so far has been five million rupees won last week by a Calcutta-based cloth merchant. But KBC's success has been detrimental to cinema halls, with habitual moviegoers preferring to stay at home and watch television.

"There is a significant dip in collections on the days the show is aired. The 6 pm and 9 pm shows are the worst hit," said Udharam Thadani, president of the Theatre Owners' Association. "Nobody is interested in coming to the theatres when the game show is on," Thadani said, adding that BO revenues were down by as much as 50 per cent.

Thadani said he had gone so far as to ask Bachchan's son Abhishek to get his father to change the timings of KBC! "The show can be aired either in the morning or an hour later than the present time in the night. If things continue,, our trade will be almost finished. Amitabh Bachchan has such a magnetic, compelling personality. A lot of people just watch the show to be able to see him perform."

Film industry analyst Vinod Mirani agreed that movie viewership had been "severely hit" by KBC: "Both the evening cinema shows affected by KBC used to be highly patronised by families. The impact of KBC has been severe." Mirani said KBC had snatched viewers not only from movie theatres but also from other television channels.

"Once in a while something like this happens in which almost the entire population gets excited and involved. Slumdwellers, people living in upmarket areas, the middle classes -- all watch the show keenly."

The success of the Bachchan show has forced rival television networks into a game show "prize war." Yesterday, Zee Telefilms announced the launch of a game show with prize money worth 100 million rupees -- 10 times that offered by KBC. It will air in October.

"Our show is not a copy from any international game show, but an original concept developed inhouse. It will be transparent and easier to contest in," Zee chief executive officer R K Singh said.

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