#Review: Staying TRUE to the idea, 'Ted Talks India - Nayi Soch' should be on your must-watch list

The concept of the show is inspired from the official media organisation TED (technology, media, entertainment) who posts talks from important people from the respective fields for free under the slogan of 'ideas worth spreading.'

Here we analyse the winners and losers from the premiere episode of Ted Talks India - Nayi Soch by Shah Rukh Khan.

I cannot imagine a better host than Shah Rukh for the show and yes, I have considered Amitabh Bachchan too. With the perfect subtlety, poise and the right touch of occasional humour, Shah Rukh steals the show as a host and that too with finesse.

Another co-related point which I want to add is Shah Rukh's ability to listen to the speaker diligently which is heartwarming to see as a viewer. And we definitely need to give credit to the cameraman of the show who beautifully captured these moments. Unlike other shows, it is not the cliched bad-editing-for-awards-ceremony angle; in fact the angle suggests that Shah Rukh is not here to just be an eye candy. But he is one of those hosts who will not only listen to the speaker, but will also understand the credentials and even highlight the important points of the talk too.

I couldn't have been happier to not witnessing a quintessential public figure in the whole line-up after knowing how Karan Johar was supposed to be the first one to come on the show. Of course, that's essential later, but when we talk about making an impact and staying true to the concept, the show excelled with some of the finest people coming on board and sharing revolutionary ideas. I mean who would have thought that pollution can in fact be converted to recycled to ink and that can be used? Or how the 'slum' (nope, not going to call that anymore) and the numerous bastis (manmade shelter settlement) being eradicated is not the solution, but enhancing them with government schemes is the real idea. If you haven't been enlightened yet, then I wonder what will.

Having been a viewer of the original Ted Talks, I wouldn't have been too happy with Hindi being the language to communicate otherwise. However, I admit my mistake as I couldn't have been more wrong on how the language of Hindi was as crystal clear as any language can be. Shahrukh's prowess over the language and the amazing enunciation that the speakers exercised made the talk not only intriguing but also urging you to not get your attention diverted.

Sneha Khanwalkar's appearance (my fan moment) was a little surprising as I immediately judged the show to take the 'there-is-a-need-for-entertainment' factor coming into play. However, I was proved wrong again when Sneha's talk was in fact the perfect marriage of eye-popping technology meeting sensational thoughts. There was a constant smile on my face while watching and listening Sneha speak and yes, it was entertaining too without  being OTT.

One of the biggest challenges that a knowledge based TV show faces is to sustain viewers' attention while they discuss intellectual and brain-racking matters. But remember how things are made so much easier by representing a diagram while you're studying? The same has been done here too. The Infographics used are literally the best infographics I have seen and trust me, I have made several flow charts to know the difference. Imparting the needed information with eye-pleasing colours and sleek fonts and of course, accurate statistics, just does the trick. A special shout-out to the team of graphic designers who made them!

The conclusion of the winner points for the show ends with probably the most important factor that the makers would have intended to do - spreading ideas and making you think. With no hullabaloo and tenuous treatment to the presentation, you as a viewer, at the end of the show will be compelled to have a thought or in this case, many thoughts.

Not entirely a loser point, but if there is one negative that I would have to mark the show for then that is how the number of speakers coming on for the first episode seemed a little too overwhelming. Counting Sneha, we had 6 speakers in a one hour show and that for Indian viewers will certainly be difficult to soak in.

It is finally great to witness the 'nayi soch' campaign of Star Plus being put to practice in the most fantastic manner. Even if one may not be literally convinced to get up and be the change after watching the show (because, that's how WE are), the show makes you think and analyse things and that, for a start is truly amazing.