MUMBAI: Star World is set to accommodate an indigenously produced show after a long time, to give the only desi produced programme Rendezvous with Simi Garewal currently on air, some company.

Siddhartha Basu's Synergy Communications will be back on Star by this April or May with a child talent hunt. Star officials however said the time slot and the exact date of launch of Child Genius is yet to be finalised.

After the dud Neena Gupta anchored Kamzor Kadii Kaun that followed the blockbuster Kaun Banega Crorepati in early 2002, Basu and Star had stayed away from each other, although Basu did make University Challenge for BBC World mid 2003.

Now, Synergy has been roped in to produce India's Child Genius, a 27 episode TV quiz contest to find India's brainiest child. The hour long weekly will have contestants answer questions on verbal and non- verbal reasoning, maths, science, natural world, geography, history, mythology, literature, comprehension, spellings, arts, English language and general knowledge. Apart from the title, prizes worth Rs 50,00,000 are at stake.

Siddhartha Basu

Provisional test centres have already been set up according to zones and the written selection test will be conducted on 8 February. Star has thrown open its website indya.com for applicants to download forms and apply online, the last date for which is 21 January 2004.

Synergy founder and ace quizmaster Siddhartha Basu himself will anchor the proceedings.