Nidhi Taparia

L amenting the fact that you don’t live in India? Or that you live here but can’t play Kaun Banega Crorepati? Or that you made it to the show but still couldn’t play? Wipe those tears and switch on your PCs.

Ladies, gentlemen and wannabe crorepatis, KBC has hit the WWW.

Bahut Dekh Liya, Abhi Khelne Ka Hai. Computer ji, Main Bhi Kheloonga...That’s what the opening teasers of CroreMaster entice you with. Currently in beta, the crores aren’t up for grabs yet, but the excitement remains intact. As for the promised moolah, Ajit Menon, CEO, CroreMaster, says, "It will definitely be the maximum amount of money that we can afford to offer."

Take the Quizzing Site Tour

Croremaster is just a piece of the pie called MindFever.com, which promises a host of such quizzing games soon. A dream come true for all the KBC fans, it takes off where the show leaves, with a virtual Amitabh Bachchan look alike called Babu Moshai playing quizmaster.

Like his real life counterpart, Babu Moshai eggs all players on, convincing them that the money is just a few questions away. There are three of the now-familiar ‘lifesavers’ -- 4 ka 2, Ask Babu Moshai, and Random Poll – with the added advantage of no commercial breaks hampering the proceedings. This means that surfers can carry on quizzing endlessly and, God and GK willing, make it to the hall of fame at the end if they manage to aggregate a million points.

"We have said that the site was born because of KBC and its success. But the Net is not like astrophysics, where one can copyright a particular concept." Ajit Menon, Crore Master

Questions, alliances, prizes, sponsors and targets are being kept a secret. About copyright issues, Ajit says, "We have said that the site was born because of KBC and its success. But the Net is not like astrophysics, where one can copyright a particular concept."

Unlike the TV show, the CEO isn’t worried about competition either. "On the Net, the one who runs harder is the one who wins," he proclaims. Asked whether the show should have had an online version too, Ajit quips, "Maybe when Croremaster is big enough, they will buy it out from us."

Option Number Two, set to hit PCs by October 2000, is Lacpati.com. The site promises to give away a lakh daily to the person who answers 15 questions in the shortest time.

Prem Sawhney, Chairman of Zenergy, promoters of the game show, says, "We are expecting over one lakh hits right from the day we launch." And no, money won’t be tight because he adds that the company will have enough money not just to sustain up to 100 days of operations, but also the prize money for that period.

"For all its worth, Lacpati.com was thought of much before KBC even began, but the painstaking networking for top quality strategic partners has taken time," maintains Sawhney. The only downside is that those dying to get a shot at the pot of gold will have to shell out one rupee to be eligible. These payments can be made using Smartcc cards or redeeming Yenom, the net currency of UthPlanet.com. Talks are on with HDFC Bank as well.

The success of KBC has also made it easier for Lacpati to garner sponsors. A conceptual agreement with a popular FMCG has been reached, and negotiations are on with TV channel and a national daily for publicity.

For NRIs however, here’s some bad news. "While NRIs can take part, there will be no repatriation of funds to them," says Prem.

Questions for the show will come from the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Says Alok Wadhwa, Managing Director, Encyclopaedia Britannica, "We have a one year contract and are being paid per question."

"Of course, there are copyright issues here.These sites can get ready to face the music..." Ravi Nath Menon, Executive Producer, KBC

If imitations are the best form of flattery, so are spoofs, and KBC has more of them to reckon with than advertisements by Colgate and Smyle. Biznessmart.com, for example, an e-commerce portal for office supplies, ran its marketing campaign titled Kaun Banega Officepati. Taking you through questions concerning the needs and problems of an office manager, the right answers would lead you to an e-brochure and office material. "Sent to thousands of potential customers, the initial response has been very encouraging," says Pravin Narain, CEO, Biznessmart.com. Going by the current craze, that’s not hard to believe.

The man with the last word is Star TV’s Ravi Nath Menon, Executive Producer, KBC. "Of course, there are copyright issues here," he says. "They can get ready to face the music..." Though Star has a website dedicated to KBC, it’s static interface is no match for the rest. Now, however, faced with competition in the form of Zee TV’s Sawal Dus Crore Ka (which accepts registration online) the people at Star TV may have to opt for the World Wide Web too, and soon.

As for us hungry souls waiting in the wings for crores promised everywhere we turn, what else can we say but, ‘Click kiya Jaaye?’