Scratching your head? Stumped? Sneaking in a Google search on your phone before responding? Don’t worry … you’re not alone! But, the larger question is – How well do we, as Indians, know our country? Even before that, do we truly know the very state we live in?
Putting the spotlight on India’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, geographical expanse, the technological breakthroughs and the innumerable milestones we have crossed on our path to being the ‘India Shining’ we’re proud of is Zee TV’s next non-fiction offering ‘Mind Wars’. Over 25 years after its previous knowledge franchise – the immensely popular Bournvita Quiz Contest, Zee TV presents audiences with a game show that challenges every viewer to test their knowledge about their own country.
Promising a deep-dive into India like never before, Mind Wars invites young students from different states of India representing four zones – North, South, East and West to compete against each other in a battle of knowledge about their own state and then the country at large to win the title of a Champion. Picking on their brains and checking their IQ (‘India’ quotient) will be an actor- turned-quizmaster Shreyas Talpade who has been roped in to up the entertainment quotient of the show.
Shreyas Talpade said, "I am excited to be a part of ‘Mind Wars’ as it allows me to do something very different from my past projects. I belong to a generation that has grown up watching ‘Bournvita Quiz Contest’ on Zee TV and I look at this show as a great opportunity to bring back the excitement and the competitive streak we would feel as kids while watching other bright kids participate and compete on a quiz show on national television.
I look forward to interacting with some of our country’s brightest young students as I become a part of their journey of discovering India on a much deeper level through the game show. The content, I hope, will be as refreshing and engaging for the audiences as much as it has been for me as a host. I started my career with Zee TV and this is almost like returning home. I have always been an ardent fan of the channel for bringing unique concepts like Antakshri, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Dance India Dance, India’s Best Dramebaaz among others to the audiences. This show is sure to keep the viewers hooked and educate them about so many aspects of their own country while also being thoroughly entertained.â€
Speaking about the show concept, Zee TV Business Head Aparna Bhosle said, “Children are the future of our country and it is crucial that we, as broadcasters, do our bit to ensure that they get to know about their country, their roots, the possibilities and the opportunities the land and its people accord them. Through the format of Mind Wars, we wish to initiate and inculcate an exploratory spirit about their own country amidst our youngest generation.
The show is also an excellent avenue for us, as a channel, to connect with children through a school contact programme as we have schools from every nook and corner of the country sending in their brightest representatives to participate in the show. In terms of content, it adds a new and exciting dimension to our current mix of weekend offerings.â€
Spread across 21 weeks, Mind Wars challenges the knowledge of each team about their own state and progressively moves towards other neighbouring states and then the country at large. Â The competition is amongst kids studying in schools ranging from standard six to ten. From the very first episode, the format allows a total of 4 teams, comprising 2 students per team, wherein they will be given a chance to answer questions on History, Geography, Culture, Sports,
Entertainment, Currents affairs and Arts, each in the context of at least one Indian State. The adrenaline rush will set in as teams move from owning one state of their zone to another and eventually into the zone of another team by giving correct answers and moving up the pyramid to the finale of the show. However, the pre-requisite to winning a tie breaker is to own your state before you move to answer questions about other states.
Produced by Essel Vision Productions Limited, the show will feature 84 teams and 168 students as they compete against each other to qualify for the Semi-Final and Finale of the show. The show will not only be a viewing but an interactive gaming experience on ZEE’s digital platform – Zee5 for its audience as they can participate from the comfort of their home by answering questions asked about various states of India and win prizes.
Starting 26th January, tune in to Zee TV every Sunday morning at 10 AM and find out answers to all your questions about India on ‘Mind Wars’!