MUMBAI: Fame Gurukul @ MTV. Before lawyers out there start licking their chops, a clarification. The music channel has NOT stolen the idea of SET's latest reality show Fame Gurukul. What it has done is stitch together a programming and promotion deal with Sony.
Buoyed by the success of its big ticket reality show Indian Idol, Sony is pushing its new offering in the genre in all ways possible. Gurukul is slotted on SET at 8:30 pm Monday to Friday.
Quizzed on the tie-up, MTV marketing director Vikram Raizada said, "MTV believes in providing platforms for people to exhibit their talents. MTV stands for music and Fame Gurukul is essentially tilted towards music. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to tie up."
Fame Gurukul @ MTV launches 11 July on the channel. The show will beam on MTV at 9 pm for 15 minutes from Monday to Wednesday and for half-an-hour on Thursday and Friday.
Raizada points out that everything MTV does is basically based on youth passion. "With our music channel having its finger on their (youth's) pulse, it makes sense for this marketing/content tie-up."
Sony’s latest reality talent venture, Fame Gurukul is a show in which, after some auditions, 16 participants were chosen. These young people study in an academy for three months where each of the students will learn the nuances of singing and dancing.
Each student is given a random song that he/she has to practice for a week after which the candidates have to render the song at a show.
At this juncture, the jury checks out each candidate and decides which of the students have to leave the academy or the gurukul.
MTV does its own 'Gurukul' spin
Raizada explained that the MTV show is not a repeat of what is shown on Sony, but the music channel's version of the Sony show with a spin to it.
The high point of the show would be an insight into what's going on at Gurukul and the contenders who are eliminated will be shown on the MTV show with their reactions and expectations.
Raizada feels that that it's a good programme because it helps people who have the gift for singing, but do not have the wherewithal to record their music.
"It is ultimately a marketing tie-up and we are looking at having a campaign by the end of the week that will help promote Fame Gurukul on Sony. We are here to build the property," Raizada explained.
The campaign has been designed essentially to attract eye balls on Sony and MTV and will be used on-air as well as for outdoor promotions. At the end of each episode, Sony will promote the MTV show with a scroll that runs ‘there is 'more' to be seen on MTV’.
All characters who appear on Fame Gurukul, including presenters of the show, Mandira Bedi and Manav Gohil (chief of the academy), Ila Arun and jury members Javed Akhtar, KK and Shankar Mahadevan would appear also on Fame Gurukul @ MTV. VJ Sophie would add some zing to the show.
Fame Gurukul is the Indian name for a licensed adaptation of the Spanish reality show, Operacion Triunfo. This Spanish show has been sold to networks in countries including Russia, Italy, Britain, Greece, Mexico, Brazil and Portugal where networks are doing their local versions.
