Ganguly's Dadagiri on Bengali TV show

24 Jul, 2009
Hindustan Times
Indo-Asian News Service
Kolkata, July 24, 2009

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly is all set for another inning, this time on the small screen, as he gets set to anchor a quiz-cum-reality show in Bengali.

Ganguly is anchoring a Bengali quiz cum reality show 'Dadagiri' on Zee Bangla, and considers it a new challenge.

"Playing cricket is one type of challenge. Commentary is another. This programme is another type of challenge. It is exciting. I am learning every day," he said.

In the show, Ganguly comes face-to-face with participants drawn from all the 19 districts of West Bengal, who have to answer questions posed by the cricketer.

Ganguly said the 64-episode programme will be somewhere between a reality show and a quiz show.

"The participants will be tested for their presence of mind, ability to comprehend questions properly," said the left hand batsman, who has inked a three-year contract with the show organisers.

To cash in on Ganguly's appeal as a cricketer, different portions of the show have been given cricketing nomenclature like selection, toss, powerplay and cover drive.

"It has been a fantastic experience so far. Interacting with so many people coming from diverse backgrounds, each different from the other mentally and emotionally is a big challenge," he said.

Talking abut his experience of the shooting so far, Ganguly recalled a cancer patient who came to take part in the show. "We handled him with a great deal of sensitivity. Unfortunately, he bowed out early."

Asked how he prepared for the show, Ganguly replied: "Oh! I had to prepare really hard!"