KBC in Tamil!

Behind every problem, they say, lurks opportunity.

Kaun Banega Crorepati being a case in point. For some reason, Madras appears to have been ignored by the producers, while listing phone numbers for participants from various metros. Possibly, this could have something to do with KBC's emphasis on Hindi, a language that has your true-blue Tamil seeing red.

But if Star TV gave Tamil Nadu the miss in baulk, actress and television producer Radhika sees in it a huge opportunity -- to launch the Tamil version of the big-money game show, that is, under her home banner Radan TV.

Thus, the Tamil version of KBC will premiere shortly, with former Mr Madras-turned-screen-hero Sharat Kumar anchoring. Sharat has his own fan following in TN, is equally comfortable in Tamil and English, and is thus seen as a good choice to play Amitabh Bachchan' s Tamil alter ego.

Interestingly, the producers, while reluctant to reveal details, do admit that they are paying Sharat far more than Amitabh earns per episode from Star TV!

Sharat is aware that comparisons with Amitabh's anchoring style will be inevitable once the show hits the small screen -- but he seems unfazed. Different language, different people, all call for a different style, he believes -- and reckons that he has what it takes to stamp his own image on the show.

Moving on, ace cinematographer and director Balu Mahendra (for Hindi audiences, he is the man behind the Kamal Haasan-Sridevi-starrer Sadma, a remake of the Tamil film Moondraam Pirai), has one of the most-viewed teleserials on Sun TV.

Kathai Neyram, produced by Media Dreams (the TV wing of Pentafour), is in the short-story, one-episode-per-show format. Rather than go for involved storytelling, though, Balu has been sticking with slice-of-life stuff, and has assembled an ensemble cast of highly talented actors and actresses whom he repeats in every episode.

Heading the cast is Maunika, who plays the female lead in every episode (and quite a few of the stories are woman-oriented), and an actress Balu himself had introduced to the big screen some years ago opposite Prashanth.

The highlights of the show are the stories themselves: very down to earth. And in order to keep the focus where it belongs, Balu has made a conscious effort to cut back on production values -- no glitzy sets, no fancy designer clothes, no razzmatazz.

Despite which -- or perhaps because of it -- the serial has built up a huge fan following. So much so that Sony TV has now approached Balu Mahendra to do a Hindi remake of the serial.

The small screen, in fact, seems to be opening up big vistas for Tamil cinema's best and brightest. K Balachander, doyen of Tamil directors, is already heavily involved in television production.

As is Vasanth, whose next feature film, Rhythm, is expected to hit the marquee shortly. Vasanth, who was KB's erstwhile assistant and acknowledges the former as his guru at every opportunity, is due to direct a teleserial shortly, while his wife Renuka has made her mark already, as producer of the serial Senior Junior.

And then there is Kutty Padmini, the precocious child actress who predated Sridevi, but didn't go on to enjoy the same success in an adult avtaar that her successor did.

Padmini shifted early to television production and, today, along with husband Prabhu Ne Paul, have quite a few serials on the small screen.

Now, she is ready to begin work on her next. A Tamil version of -- hold your breath -- Baywatch!

For those who figure that lush bikini clad women don't exactly jell with the straitlaced image of the Tamil woman, you are both right and wrong.

Baywatch, says Padmini, is the inspiration, and there will be lots of "glamour" -- industry-speak for extensive cleavage and leg shows. But if you are looking to see the Tamil version of Pamela Anderson, forget it. The serial doesn't quite intend to go THAT far!