“I am so excited...,” that’s the first thing Poornima Indrajith tells about hosting the new show, ‘Kuttikalodano Kali’, a “ first-of-its-kind” quiz reality show on Mazhavil Manorama. It is more like a homecoming for the actress-cum-television anchor who has established herself as a celebrity fashion designer through her label, Pranaah.
What made her wait for so long? “After I hosted ‘Katha Ithuvare’ (Mazhavil Manorama), I did get a lot of offers, most of them on the same format. I was not enthused about it. I had set a benchmark for myself as an anchor and I was waiting for something different,” says Poornima, who was last seen as judge on the reality show ‘Ugram Ujwalam’ on the same channel.
What made her say yes to the new show is children, Poornima says. “I really wanted to do a show for children. It is unfortunate that we don’t have shows that cater to children alone. Whatever shows we have for them tend to treat them as adults. So, by default, the children watch shows that are meant for adults. I had several concepts in my mind and even had discussions. Finally when this concept came up, I was so glad that they thought of me. My first love is cinema and television. I am an artiste first. This is food for my soul. I have explored myself in this medium and the audience have been a part of it,” she says.
Coming to the show, she says that it is a test of intelligence and how smart and fast you are. The adults are pitted against the children in the age group of nine to 15. “It is not just testing one’s general knowledge,” she says.
There are five rounds in all in which a four-member team of adults take on a group of seven kids. “We have shot episodes with Merchant Navy personnel, teachers, lawyers, techies… who play for a big prize money that is related to the age of the kids The best part is that it is different from other reality shows where children carry the ‘burden’ of being a singer or dancer,” she adds.
Poornima admits that the anchoring the show is no cake walk. Right from announcing the name of the show (“they made me do it several times”) to dealing with a boisterous group of children, she had a tough time. “I had to go for a grooming session for the show. And once we started shooting, it was all about matching up to the energy and spirit of the children and the adults. I had to keep on cheering and encouraging both the sides. The show is so tightly packaged that there is no moment to relax. There is no drama, everything is spontaneous. I had almost lost my voice for a few days after shooting the initial episodes. It is always fun to be with children. I think I am a hands on companion for kids having grown up watching my mother run a school for 48 years. I strongly believe that I am still a child at heart,” laughs Poornima, a mother of two girls.
So the fashionista that she is, will we get to see her fashionable side on the show as well. “No. I will be myself on the show. I don’t want audience to discuss about what I am wearing. It is normal for people to relate me with the brand. In fact even if I wear a T-shirt there are people who ask if it is a Pranaah product!” she says.
And what about coming back on screen? “I would love to. This is the best period in Malayalam cinema and I don’t want to lose out on that. I am completely open to doing any substantial role that comes my way,” she signs off.
‘Kuttikalodano Kali’ airs on Thursdays and Fridays at 8.30 p.m.
