Tired of watching regular song-and-dance talent hunts? Lending a new lease of life to non-fiction TV are shows like Fear Factor—Khatron Ke Khiladi, Dadagiri, 10 Ka Dum, Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain and the forthcoming Hole In The Wall. Clearly, game shows have created a niche for themselves. From adventure to wit and humour—these shows are offering enthralling content as well.

Of the newly-launched game shows, Khiladi on Colors, not only rides on the popularity of Akshay Kumar and the 13 beautiful celebrities, it also gives equal weight to daring stunts and testing mental strength of contestants. Dadagiri on Bindass boasts taskmasters who bully participants, even subjecting them to psychological pressure. Dadagiri strives to relive the ‘ragging days’ of college. It combines intelligent quiz rounds and tough tasks.

Similarly, forthcoming show Hole In The Wall, which is all set to be telecast on Pogo from July 28, seems promising. The show has a clutter-breaking format where contestants have to pass through huge cut-outs in a moving wall or they risk falling into a pool of water below. Hosted by Cyrus Sahukar, the show will tickle many a funny bone. As Krishna Desai, director, programming, Turner International India, says, “It isn’t a regular game show. It encourages kids to think bigger.” Of the game shows launched months ago, Dum and Paanchvi Paas, ask witty questions to the participants.

So does this mean that game shows are en vogue? TV professionals differ. “The two can never be compared as each has its own set of viewers. Game shows might be in, but that does not mean that days of song and dance are over,” says Srikant Malladi, supervising producer of Colosceum, a production house. According to people associated with small screen, song and dance goes well with the Indian audience. “Singing and dancing is part of our culture and we connect with them,” says Ashvini Yardi, programming head of Colors. However, she adds, “People have stopped innovating with these shows because of which freshness has gone. Viewers are now looking forward to interesting content.” Shalini Shethi, programming head of Bindass echoes:

“Interactive television is in.”

According to her, “Interaction is not only song and dance. It goes beyond that. Everybody should think of Step Two and be a bit experimental.”

Siddhartha Basu, CMD of Synergy Adlabs adds, “Viewers deserve out-of-the-box-thinking on programming, and far more innovation and variety, than is presently the case.”