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Vote for reality
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Is sms-based voting the right way to decide the winners and losers in a realityshow? SUDHISH KAMATHtalks to some fans and critics
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THRILL PILL Real or unreal these shows are entertaining all the way
Your TV remote control has competition. From the other slab of circuitry that occupies your palm most of the day.
Never before have mobile phones dictated control over television content and programming more. Thanks to the high-drama high-suspense reality shows that have managed to keep the audience hooked on the mandatory song-and-dance staple of entertainment around the country, more and more TV addicts are taking SMS-based voting all too seriously.
That Indian Idol polled seven crore votes and accounts for a huge chunk of revenue for the channel is probably old news now. Insiders insist reality shows are the biggest money-spinners. More than any soap on TV.
Closer home, however, TV buffs may not be able to tell Amit Paul from Prashant Tamang but they surely know all about the Simbu-Prithvi spat on TV.
Simbu, one of the judges for Vijay TV’s current season of Jodi No. 1, recently staged a walkout after an emotional outburst from Prithviraj who didn’t take the judge’s comment too lightly. Dressed like Krissh, dancing for “Dhoom Again”, TV star Prithvi believed he “rocked, sizzled and burnt,” contrary to Simbu’s opinion that he didn’t like the performance.
After some dramatic background score that showed Simbu walking out and reaction shots of the horror-struck audience, the show returned with Simbu giving one of the most emotionally revealing speeches of his career, where he admitted: “I don’t know to act…” When the camera isn’t rolling, he added.
But guess what, the cameras were rolling. At least six of them capturing every word and action of the judges and participants.
Drama always translates into votes. And votes translate into revenue for the channel. Nisha, a final-year Electronic Media student, says that it is not really all that hard on the wallet. “Twenty votes in a month are equal to what you would spend on a movie ticket. It is no big deal because you get to participate in the process. It is democratic and I would do my bit to see a talented contestant win. And sometimes, I vote because I love Rakhi Sawant.” Rakhi Sawant is competing in “Nach Baliye” (Star Plus).
There are many others like Nisha, only that they may not admit to voting because they believe it makes them look ‘uncool’. Like Darshan, who records TV shows religiously, even if he’s going to be catching the show 5 minutes late. “(Mir Ranjan) Negi rocks in Jhalak Dikhla Ja,” he says, trying to disguise the mock-appreciation for the hockey-champion. He’s just voting for the man’s spirit rather than talent, he admits, after blurting out that he does vote sometimes. However, he watches these shows because they entertain him and not because they are a showcase for talent. The latest episode in Jodi No.1 made him catch all the action he missed on Youtube. “I have never laughed more all my life.” He got hooked on Tamil shows after catching an episode of Miss Chennai/Chennai Man accidentally. “Hilarious. You have to watch to believe,” he says before going on to mock some of the participants.
Then, there are also the cynics.
Like blogger Ganesh a.k.a. Sagaro, who believes that the voting system is skewed towards people who come from small towns because people in the city have other things going on in their lives. “People from the cities hardly vote. People from small towns and hills are thrilled that they are being represented and vote in big numbers. Also, the judges come with their biases. It’s a farce. Reality contests have only one winner. The TV channel. The rest of them are losers,” he says.
Nagapooja, third-year student of Biotechnology, Anna University, says she watches these reality shows but doesn’t vote for them. “I don’t vote because I feel it is really a wrong way to decide who should stay and who should go. It doesn’t make sense because each person is allowed to vote any number of times.” The only time she voted was when one of her friends was participating in a beauty contest reality show. Not everyone believes that the reality shown on TV is for real.
Singer-anchor Chinmayi, host of Vijay TV Super Singer Junior, endorses reality TV saying that the emotions are pretty real. “It is natural for parents to cry during the show watching their kids cry. It is the whole environment. Reality shows are building up suspense that reaches a crescendo for every participant and at some point of time there is an emotional reaction. Judging a Tamil show is like a dog’s job. Supporters of participants getting eliminated would hate you. And judges have seen the struggle and have an emotional attachment to the participants, so it’s not easy on them either.”
People tend to forget that the cameras are rolling within the first five minutes of recording, she says. “With six cameras capturing everything going around, everything is put together on the editing table. Only after editing, do we get to see the larger picture. Also, sometimes, channels use their discretion to ensure no one is portrayed in bad light.”
Bad light or good, real or unreal, nothing can be more entertaining than the sight of two celebrities in a cock-fight. Bring it on.
What’s up for vote?
Jhalak Dhikla Ja (Sony TV): The cat has nine lives. So does Mika, who, despite his two left feet, has managed to stay on thanks to his loyal fans on a voting spree.
Nach Baliye (STAR Plus): Rakhi Sawant and Kashmira in the same contest? Just a matter of time before things heat up again.
STAR Voice of India (STAR Plus): Where have all the women gone? Watch the final four face-off as the contest gets into its end game.
Jodi No.1 (Vijay TV): Will there be more drama left post-Prithvi? As long as Simbu stays on, you can be guaranteed a few laughs. Voting for the Wildcard round began on Saturday.
Maanada Mayilada (Kalaignar TV): This dance competition featuring dance masters Kala and Brinda with a guest star every few weeks. Now showing: Namitha!
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