Love, romance and loads of personal trivia, that's the USP of Star Plus' latest venture, Jodee Kamaal ki. The first episode telecast last Staurday (4 March) at 9:00 pm was a treat to watch. With guests giving out candid details about their personal lives and cheering each other as the show progressed, it made an interesting hour of fun and laughter.

Syed Kirmani, Habiba, Rakshanda Khan and Mohinder Amarnath and Bickoo

In the first episode, we see a very flamboyant K Srikkanth, with his funny anecdotes and straight from the hip comments; we see a restrained, yet articulate Mohinder Amarnath; and not to forget, Syed Kirmani whose comment about Bollywood (read Salman Khan) aping his hairstyle was perhaps the quote of the episode!

What really works for Jodee...(at least in the first epsiode) is the fact that the guests hold nothing back! They husbands blush while revealing a personal detail, the wives cover their faces when their better halves are saying something embarassing and above everything else, they are comfortable with each other! This is an aspect of the show that must have taken a lot of research. This particular episode would have gone kaput, if not for the excellent chemistry the three cricketers shared among themselves! They teased one another, but showed equal comfort in sharing the details of their lives in front of one another.

Srikkanth, without doubt was the star of the episode! In his rather non-existent Hindi vocabulary, the former batsman took digs at his friends as he completed the given chores in ten seconds flat. When quizzed by Rakshanda how he did them in such a short span, he quipped, "I take longer time to do more important things!" making both the host and his wife, Vidya, turn red with embarassment!

At his candid best: Srikant with his wife Vidya

The best part of the show was when the couples dance together on popular numbers to impress the audience present (who were to vote for them). Kirmani and his wife, Habiba were the cutest couple on stage...as they made their moves in tandem with one another.

Another thing that strikes a chord with viewers is the extravagant set that exudes a feeling of grandeur, yet managing to retain a warmth that's so crucial for a show like this at the same time. Rakshanda as a host is just good enough! But again, her success depends so much on the response of the guests. Remember how Batliwalla...fell apart due to non-happening guests.

Lovely duo: Kirmani with Habiba

This was just the first episode and no one can question the fact that it provided wholesome entertainment. But again, this is primarily because little's known about these couples, while the other telly couples who are slotted to come on the show in the future, have, in different points of time revealed much or all about themselves and their spouses at different points in time and that might hurt this show as far as holding on to viewers interest is concerned.

On the whole....this is a show to look forward to...and although, it cannot (for obvious reasons) measure up to the standards set by KBC2, it does manage to strike a chord with the viewers.

Pics courtesy indya.com