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On a reality check

SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY

Reality has kept its date with the small screen this year. All channels seem to be celebrating the victory of the anonymous common man this year.

PHOTO: Shashi ashiwal

DANCE FOR MONEY! Gala sets, glamour-dance and yet a reality show. "Nach Balliye" brought tears and smiles to audiences and performers both.

Way back in 1993 when Zee TV came up with "Antakshari", it was such a novel idea. And viewers lapped it up. Entertainment on television, till then, was the job of the actors. Aam janta having fun on the box and providing the same to millions like them in their drawing rooms seemed such a wonderful thing. And even now, if you tell an "Antakshari" fan that it was but a reality show, he would almost doubt you. Such is the pleasure of a first experience! But in 2005, even a kid in a cable TV household would be able to tell you what the term means. So much so, he might be able to give a few names who tried the medium to chase their dreams. Understandably so, for this year particularly saw a volley of reality shows across channels, with a wide spectrum of themes like music, dance, acting, business ideas, modelling, humour, veejaying, general knowledge, et al. Be it "Indian Idol 2", "Fame Gurukul", "SuperSinger", "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge", "Super Sale", "Dial One", "Business Bazigar", "Pogo Amazing Kids Hunt", "Hungama Captains", "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge", "MTV Roadies," "Kaboom", "Get Gorgeous", "Dance Dance", "Kaun Banega Crorepati 2", "Nach Balliye"... the list seems endless this year.

Suddenly, the smiles and tears, the fulfilment or rejection of the aspirations of the man on the street became the main means of mass entertainment on the Indian tube. So much so, they are now inching into the space of family dramas, otherwise a prominent feature across these channels. Siphoning off their share of advertisement revenue too.

Deepak Segal, Executive Vice President, Star India, feels, "Reality TV definitely is the biggest thing on Indian television now, particularly in 2005." Many factors work for the success of these shows, he says. The behind-the-scenes drama, besides an easy format, is the main attraction.

"In India, you don't have to stage manage it. By nature, we are emotional people and so, rona-dhona, gale-lagna comes so easily to us. All one needs to do is to keep the camera rolling." Besides having a popular medium to have their one-minute of fame, be it through failure or success, what Segal feels works for these shows, is also the prize.

Making quick bucks

"In the game shows particularly, the lure of making quick bucks drives them to keep trying the phone lines," he says. Also true of other shows, feels Niret Alva of Miditech, the Delhi-based production house that is currently producing several reality shows across channels. His shows like "Indian Idol" and "Fame Gurukul" on Sony TV have made quite a few unknown faces crowd-pullers, he states. "And the uncertainty of these shows as to who will finally make it to the top is something that keeps the excitement going too," says Niret.

With the experience of reality shows including "Indian Idol", "Fame Gurukul", "Dance Dance" and "POGO Amazing Kids Show", Miditech is all set to launch "Sesame Street" on Cartoon Network and "Extreme Makeover" for Sony TV early next year. "Also, there are a few more ideas we are talking about for the next year," he says.

Though Segal too is not ready to come out with the names or time frame for any future shows, he also promises reality shows not just on Star One but on Star Plus soon. And these movers and shakers of Indian television seem to state that if 2005 has seen the takeover of Indian television by a reality sweep complete, year 2006 will see it graduate to having shows with home-grown ideas.

"I certainly feel the next step of reality TV here is the birth of home-grown ideas. The channels will go less and less to shop abroad for reality formats," says Niret. Segal too is lining up yet another home-grown idea for Star Plus after the rousing success of the just-concluded "Nach Balliye" on Star One.

So, does that mean it is the end of the story for family dramas on Indian mass entertainment channels?

"Certainly not," says Segal. He thinks there will always be a section of viewers here who would prefer to watch family sagas.

Ashwini Yardi, Programming Head of Zee TV too feels, it is the case. Chasing the theme of women-oriented serials, the channel has launched a couple of serials this year and is planning one or two more next year.

But reality TV has the advantage of touching an instant chord with the viewers for it is them that the shows are celebrating.

Better still, because they are clapping too thus ringing in TRPs too.

Reality checklist — 2005

Zee "Ankatakshri" was the first reality show in 2003 followed by "Indian Idol-Part 1" on Sony TV in 2004, a super-hit show

Then came "SuperSinger" and "Fame Gurukul" which were lesser spicy in flavour

"Indian Idol 2", "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge", "Super Sale", "Dial One", "Business Bazigar" set the tone.

"Pogo Amazing Kids Hunt" and "Hungama Captains" were the first children reality shows

Star TV made its falling TRP rising with "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge"

Dance-related "Kaboom", and "Nach Balliye" stole the show.

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