by Subhash K Jha

The decision is sudden quick and meant to be a major damage controller.

Following the furore over the accidental or not-so-accidental blackening out of Abhishek Bachchan's performance during the live telecast of the Filmfare awards on Saturday, Sony Entertainment has decided to re-telecast the event this Saturday March 4 from 8.p.m.

The decision has been taken at the highest quarters at Sony Entertainment following the outrage expressed over the bizarre occurrence.

Sony's official spokesperson Anupama Mandloi however tones down the purpose of the damage-control exercise.

"Of course we've taken the decision to re-telecast the Filmfare awards because Abhishek Bachchan's performance couldn't be seen by our viewers. But the other performances like Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai were also vital to the shows. And those who missed the earlier telecast would've the chance to catch all the live excitement."

What measures are being taken to ensure that the telecasting fiasco on Saturday doesn't recur?

"We can only do what we have to do. Namely telecast the event. Since we had no hand in the break of signal on Saturday we can only hope it won't happen this time." Says Anupama.