Ahead of a busy day at the studios, Suma is having a hurried breakfast after sending her children to school from her Gachibowli residence. These couple of weeks have been eventful for the witty anchor. While she’s reviving Genes on ETV later this week (July 23), she’s mighty excited about her show Sell Me The Answer (Septhe Naakenti) on MAA that commenced the previous week .
“The only things that play on my mind when a new show starts are: Not repeat myself, manage my shoot dates and time for home well. The last thing I think about is the audience accepting it,” a confident Suma says.
Speaking of the interesting strategy that channels follow with her shows, she explains, “After 100 episodes (besides 30 episodes in Tamil), Genes was taken off air when its TRP was at an all-time high, so that the curiosity is sustained. Cash , following a similar strategy, will have a break after 200 episodes to accommodate Genes . Slots work when they’re short and divided into seasons.”
Meanwhile, Sell Me The Answer, first aired in the UK and ideated by BIG Synergy’s Siddharth Basu team in India, is hitting Telugu television screens after a successful run in Malayalam and Bengali. “The concept is so intriguing that it doesn’t demand much from me,” states Suma.
In the show, a celebrity has to answer 11 questions (based on general knowledge and topical issues), for which he/she can seek help from a candidate selected (called ‘trader’ in the game) from volunteers in the audience. Each of the traders try convincing the participant of their abilities. As per their deal, the trader who gets a correct answer gets a share of the celebrity’s earnings. “This is like pakka bargaining you see in the Koti bazaar; that’s the show’s primary USP and an aspect anyone can connect to.”
Sell Me The Answer will help forge a unique connection between a celebrity and a normal person across several age groups, unlike her earlier shows that focused on specific audience groups like women ( Star Mahila, Pattukunte Pattu Cheera) and celebrities ( Cash ). Interestingly, Suma has even sung a promotional rap number Sell Me The Answer, with Raghu Kunche. “S. P. Balu garu messaged me saying that the song captured my identity. I couldn’t have been happier!”
Suma’s uniqueness lies in her ability to be spontaneous and generate clean humour. “For this, I thank the time I entered the television industry and the lines I draw for myself when I choose a show. I don’t talk anything that degrades anybody. I use my invisible scissors and become a ‘content-editor’ when things go astray,” says the veteran.
How does she handle the occasional ‘slip of the tongue’ moments? She smiles, “I tightly tie my tongue before any show. Now my tongue is so tuned that it knows when to pop up and when not to.”
All that Suma bothers about is her work for the day and keeping track of her children. “I am only concerned with their homework, lunch and tiffin boxes, and dance and music classes at best! What was I before 20 and what will I be after 60 never affects me at all,” she quips, in her signature witty style. She also confesses husband Rajeev Kanakala shoulders a major chunk of the off-screen work at their production house.
A down side to her popularity is the invasion of her private space during public appearances. She has to not only deal with social-media rumours, but also tackle people who bother her with personal questions — on Rajeev, kids and even her in-laws! Sometimes strangers accost her on the road, strike up a conversation and ask her to crack a joke.
How does she beat work stress? By doing ‘normal little’ chores at home — cutting vegetables, paying bills, hugging her kids, taking care of her pet. “I’m like any other working woman. It’s just that I’m in a profession where I’m seen more.” Are films on the cards? “A big no, if I’ve to be another sister or a vadina ,” she signs off.
