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Opportunities galore On reality shows

Opportunities galore On reality shows

Indian television has a frenzy of reality shows. The popular time slot between 8 pm and 11pm that had been earlier reserved for the melodramatic saas - bahu serials has been suddenly taken over by this genre of TV.

With shows like Boogie Woogie and Antakshiri, Indian television is no stranger to the concept of reality TV. However, this new brand of big budget reality shows came into its own with the come back of veteran actor Amitabh Bachhan in the popular show Kaun Banega Crorepati. This show glued thousands of Indians to their TV screens. Star power and a hope for riches served as the winning formula in this case. But, this was just the beginning of a new saga. Within a year’s time, a stream of these shows flooded the Indian television screen beginning with Indian Idol. Soon, almost every regional channel had come up with its own set of reality shows.

If we look at our very own Tamil channels, Jodi No 1, Super Singer and Lollu sabha in Star Vijay have been able to capture the attention of audiences. They have all taken the form of reality talent hunts whether it is in music, dance or comedy. As if that’s not enough, there are reality shows for people of all age groups. For instance, MTV Roadies, a great hit with teenagers is in its fifth season. Similarly, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs (Star Plus) is popular with the younger kids.

Despite the claim these shows make of depicting only what is real, there is a lot of drama and tears couched within to jerk the emotions of the viewers at home. It is precisely the dramatic nature of these shows that makes them appealing to the public. Celebrity judges robed in designer costumes and young attractive compeers to bring in the necessary elements of glitz and glamour are the attractions. A complete entertainment package, these shows send TRP ratings sky rocketing.

However, renowned music director A.R Rahman is reserved in his praise for the singers who emerge victorious in these shows. In an interview to The Hindu, he was quoted as saying “It is sickening to make them sing one line again and again. But a few sail through easily”. Though the present system of sms voting ensures TRP ratings, viewership takes precedence over talent. Singers like Sunidhi Chauhan and Sonu Nigam did enter the music industry and made it as a result of these talent hunts, but that that was before the onslaught of audience polls.

Here’s what some viewers have to say about reality shows. Roopa, a homemaker welcomes the current shift from tele-serials to reality shows. Though she admits that “It’s all hype and no reality”. She is an ardent fan of Jo Jeeta Woh Hi Superstar, a battle between professional singers.

Bhaskaran, a retired marketing professional is of the opinion that sms voting is definitely not a fair way to judge the contestants and in the end it’s the ones who succeed in ‘active canvassing’ that emerge as winners.

Anita Thomas, a school teacher vouches that these shows provide a platform for hidden talent. But she is unhappy with the way a lot of deserving candidates are voted out. “Judges’ marks don’t matter in the end “, she argues. Her daughter, a 23 year old engineer on the other hand, prefers MTV Roadies to these talent hunts.

Everyone seems to have found their own niche. While it’s the music and dance shows that are doing exceedingly well, comedy shows are also making their mark.

Production companies and mobile phone companies have made serious moolah as a result of these shows. It appears as if this new invasion to hit the TV screens is here to stay. If Soap Queen Ekta Kapoor herself is planning on entering into an acting-based reality show with Sony TV, need one say any more?

ELIZABETH PAULOSE

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