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Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran

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Presented by
  
Suresh Gopi

Original language(s)
  
Malayalam

Country of origin
  
India

No. of seasons
  
4

Created by
  
David Briggs Mike Whitehill Steven Knight

Composer(s)
  
Keith Strachan Matthew Strachan

Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran (NAK) (English: You can also become a Crorepati) is a popular Indian television show that airs on Asianet based on the UK's hit game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The show first aired on 9 April 2012. Season one was completed on 23 August 2012 While the Second Season ended on 18 July 2013. It offers contestants 1 Crore (10 million) Indian rupees if they answer all 15 questions correctly.

Contents

The show is primarily in the Malayalam language with translated English questions; and is hosted by Suresh Gopi, a popular movie star from Malayalam cinema. Siddhartha Basu, KBC's brainchild, is the creative head of the NAK show. Key sponsors are Confident Group, Nissan , Nestle Munch, Vivo Smartphone and Vodafone.

Rules

The standard Millionaire format is used, with the Fastest Finger contest before the main game.

The money won after each question is roughly doubled from the previous amount won, exponentially increasing the amount won after each correct answer until the contestant reaches the final question, after which they win the maximum prize (1 crore).

Lifelines

A contestant can use a lifeline when he/she is undecided about which answer is correct. A lifeline can only be used once. The current lifelines in NAK1 are the same as NAK2

  • Audience Poll: If the contestant uses this lifeline, it will result in the host repeating the question to the audience. The studio audience get 10 seconds to answer the question. Audience members use touch pads to designate what they believe the correct answer to be. After the audience have chosen their choices, the results are displayed to the contestant in percentages in bar-graph format and also shown on the monitors screens of the host and contestant, as well as the TV viewers.
  • Phone a Friend: If the contestant uses this lifeline, the contestant is allowed to call one of the three pre-arranged friends, who all have to provide their phone numbers in advance. The host usually starts off by talking to the contestant's friend and introduces him/her to the viewers. After the introduction, the host hands the phone call over to the contestant who then immediately has 30 seconds to ask and hope for a reply from their friend.
  • Fifty-Fifty (50/50) (for season 1 & 2): If the contestant uses this lifeline, the host will ask the computer to randomly remove and eliminate two of the "wrong" answers. This will leave one right answer and one wrong answer, resulting in a situation of eliminating 50% of the choices as well as having a 50% chance of getting the answer right if the contestant is in a situation of making a guess.
  • Double Dip (for season 3): This lifeline allows the contestant to make two guesses at a question. Getting both answers incorrect results in the contestant's winnings dropping back down to the last milestone achieved. This lifeline differs from others in that once the player has chosen to use this lifeline, he/she must answer the question, and cannot walk away or use any further lifelines on that question.
  • Season 1

    Shyla C.K., a contestant from Idukki, made history by being the first person to win 50 lakh (US$74,000) on the show, the highest amount won until Season 2. Shyla correctly answered the 14th question worth 50 lakhs, but she quit on the final question. During special episodes Malayalam film and television celebrities are given a chance to participate. The celebrities who have come for season one are Suraj Venjaramoodu, Kavya Madhavan, Samvrutha Sunil, K. S. Chithra, the couple Jayaram & Parvathy, Ranjini Haridas with Guinness Pakru, and Vijay Yesudas with Swetha Mohan.

    The tagline of the season used for was Oru Chodyam Madi Jeevidam Maraan (English: One Question Is Enough For Life To Change)

    Season 2

    Second season started on 4 March 2013. Sangeetha, a handicapped woman from Painavu had scored 2,500,000 in the 3rd day of the 2nd season.For the first time in the history of the show, the season started 'All Asianet Serial Celebrities Week' which started from 15 April 2013. Sanooja Rajan was declared as the first Crorepati of the show. This sparkling moment was aired on Asianet on 30 April 2013.

    The tagline used for the season was Orarivum Cheruthalla, Deyvathinte Varamaanu (English: No Knowledge is Small, It Is The Blessing Of God)

    Kids Special Episode

    For the first time in the history of NAK, 'The Kids special episode' started on Asianet from 27 May onwards. It was also continued from 8 July 2013 due to the request of Audience.

    Season 3

    Third season kicked off from 29 December 2014(Monday) with the sparkling inaugural song of K S Chitra. This season started with a few differences from the last seasons. The timer from 1-5 questions is made 45 seconds and from 6-10 is 60 seconds. Also this season had introduction of a new lifeline called 'Double Dip' replacing 'Fifty-Fifty (50/50)' from the old seasons. And this season also given a 4th additional lifeline (not included as the main lifeline) called 'Code Red' which gives the opportunity for the contestant's family members to warn the contestant if they feel the answer is wrong.

    Season 4

    Asianet has officially announced the 4the season of NAK.The first question for entry was published on the channel 7th Nov 2016 at 6:30 pm. Suresh Gopi will host the 4th season too.The show was launched on 16th January 2017 with Sujatha Mohan and Swetha Mohan rendering allah thero Naah.

    Records

    Sanooja Rajan from Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram made history by winning the top prize (10,000,000) in Season 2. This made Ningalkkum Aajam Kodeeswaran as the second version after KBC to have a top score winner in India. Shyla C. K was the top scorer of Ningalkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran in Season 1, winning 50 lacs. This season also witnessed the game played by pairs other than Individuals while previously pairs game were allowed only for celebrities.

    References

    Ningalkkum Aakaam Kodeeshwaran Wikipedia