Opinion: Has aha's Unstoppable with NBK lived up to its promise?

aha, without a doubt, deserves credit for embarking on a new chapter in the streaming space in the production of non-fiction content, especially with talk shows. From anchor Suma's All is Well to Samantha's Sam Jam to Rana Daggubati's No.1 Yaari and recently, Unstoppable with Nandamuri Balakrishna, aha has brought in the biggest names in showbiz to OTT and grabbed eyeballs. In specific, Unstoppable with NBK proved to be a genuine surprise, especially with the opportunity it presented for fans and movie lovers to have their beloved star speak sans filters. However, has the show lived up to its potential?

With Balakrishna at the helm, it's always the case of 'expect the unexpected' and Unstoppable was never expected to be a conventional talk show. The show is a revelation particularly for showcasing the lighter, humourous side to the star. Despite his larger than life persona, one can't miss his 'child at heart' innocence and undeniable wit in the show. His fans and movie lovers clearly know what Balakrishna is behind the camera and the actor, politician hasn't had any apprehensions in being himself on Unstoppable, whether politically correct or not.

Talk shows work well when there is a element of mischief, no pretension, and the guests don't try to be overly formal. On that front, Unstoppable with NBK, can be termed a success. In all the three episodes of the show, it's however apparent that the creators have tried a little too hard to pamper the egos of the host and the guests. Mutual praise has become a constant feature and it's slightly worrying that the vibe of pre-release events for movies (where everyone praises one another) has rubbed onto this format too. 

The guests on the show, like Lakshmi Manchu, Nani, director Anil Ravipudi and Brahmanandam may have talked highly about Balakrishna out of respect genuinely, but one can't escape the feeling that everyone is going the extra mile to be too nice to one another. At times, Balakrishna's enthusiasm gets a little too much to handle and the show doesn't have enough gravitas for earnest, real conversations to unfold. The show is content in sticking to a format but the free-flowing quality in the conversations is amiss. The guests have a good laugh, play brief games with the host, help the needy. 

The questions can also be smarter and edgier. It's obvious that the creators have been bogged down by the stature of the personalities on the show and they've gotten too conscious about it. The show is largely similar to Sam Jam in terms of its format and it's time that the creators came up with something out of the box to breathe a new lease of life. Unstoppable with NBK is high on energy, emotions and humour but needs more honesty to strike a chord.