/>The channel wars threaten to get bigger this year. While Star has cleverly hijacked the man behind Zee's two flagships shows Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Antakshari, Zee isn't crying over spilt milk.

The channel has quickly got its act together for a new antakshari with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contestants Sunil Pal and Himani Kapoor as the hosts.

But Star is unfazed. Says the CEO, Samir Nair, "Getting Gajendra Singh, the man behind Antakshari and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa was enough of a USP for us. We're designing our own music shows with him."

Singh is proceeding full blast with getting Star's Antakshari on the way. The pre-production work is on. The master-stroke is to get the original Antakshari host Anu Kapoor who has been virtually languishing since Antakshari was closed down to take over his role.

Jatin-Lalit's niece Shweta Pundit is expected to join Anu Kapoor to co-host Star's antakshari.

Says Samir Nair, "We're delighted to have Anu Kapoor. He has the musical knowledge, the singing voice, the passion and the sense of televised drama that we need. As for the telecast date, our antakshari begins in the first week of February."

There seems to be no insecurity about Zee rush-telecasting Antakshari. Laughs Gajendra Singh, "Why should there be any insecurity? All this time when I was with Zee there seemed to be no interest in reviving Antakshari after it was closed down two years ago. Suddenly, they are as keen to have the show back as we are to begin our antakshari on Star."

Interestingly the entire format and set design of Star's antakshari will be be different from Zee. Omang Kumar has been roped in to design the set for Star's antakshari. "I'm not looking at repeating my success with Antakshari at Zee. I'm looking at carrying it forward," says Gajendra Singh.

It remains to be seen which channel secures a better viewership for its antakshari. But the music season never seemeed more melodious.