Factual
Taj Mahal, Eiffel etc: ‘Monumental Challenge’ on Sony BBC Earth starts on 23 Oct
MUMBAI: Towering over cities and landscapes, six unofficial national symbols get a makeover. Watch as Big Ben, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, the Santiago de Compostela, the Bund and the Taj Mahal are restored to their full splendour in this series, Monumental Challenge on Sony BBC Earth starting 23 October 2017, Mon-Fri at 8 pm.
In this series, viewers will have access inside these monuments and get to meet the army of people who keep these landmarks in tip-top condition. These include emergency repair workers, expansion visionaries, and event planners for VIP clients. Combining stunning footage, impressive CGI, riveting historical background and lots of lively characters, Monumental Challenge gives fresh insight into the worlds’ most iconic landmarks – revealing the highs and lows of making these monuments great again.
The series has a special episode featuring the seventh wonder of the world, the mystic Taj Mahal in India. The herculean task at hand is to give a facelift to this 400-year-old monument. This is a 21st century story about a 17th century fairy tale palace in a state of disrepair where the heroes are scientists and archaeologists who face daily battles against modern day evils – acid rain and marble cancer, diesel fumes and other poisonous gases – eating away at its 400-year old walls. Is this a challenge just too monumental or do these behind the scene magicians work their wand through all the despair?
MUMBAI: India’s most famous hot seat is about to welcome an unlikely first-timer. For the first time on Hindi general entertainment television, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla will appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the iconic quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
The special episode marks a rare meeting point of boardroom heft and prime-time television, bringing one of India’s most influential business leaders face to face with the country’s most enduring screen legend. It is a crossover that blends intellect, leadership and popular culture, all under KBC’s familiar spotlight.
Birla’s appearance dovetails neatly with the show’s current theme, Jahaan Akal Hai, Wahan Akad Hai, which celebrates the confidence that comes from clarity of thought and knowledge. His presence lends weight to the idea that sharp thinking and conviction are as vital in life as they are in the quiz chair.
In a thoughtful conversation with Bachchan, Birla shared an upbeat view of India’s economic journey, pointing to the nation’s rapid growth and the scale of opportunity opening up across industries and communities. He spoke of momentum, ambition and a future shaped by enterprise and ideas.
The episode is not all serious talk. In lighter moments, Birla confessed his long-standing admiration for Bachchan, calling him his favourite actor and admitting to a touch of nervousness at answering questions in front of the Shahenshah himself. The candour adds a human touch to a man more often seen in headlines than on television sets.
The special episode airs on Monday, 29 December at 9.00 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
