The origin of course was India's original stand up comedian Cyrus Broacha's show 'Bakra'--a laugh aloud version of candid camera, with funny situations sometimes making you wonder whether the entire manner in which the show was done was too callous for the 'Bakras' or the victims! But I really liked that show for the simple fact that it made me laugh! Gratification obviously, but atleast I didnt have suffer and see tiny tv stars sobbing away to get those neccessary sms votes! But they have to do that. These poor guys have to make us laugh or cry,coz lots of moolah is riding on it. Nor did the show irk me with unneccessary long pauses between the declaration of a result to heighten the supposed excitement and also to put in an extra ad in between.Then there was the Channel V popstars show, which was quite engrossing, it was quite the cinderella story where you saw the girls undergo rigourous physical training and sing their way to stardom.
Next up was of course Indian Idol, where singers from various backgrounds competed for that Rs 1million contract and urged people to vote for them. Interspersed between some singing were some reality bits thrown in for that added emotional push to persuade viewers to reach for the cellphone to vote for Ravindra Ravi or an Amit Sana. I remember my mum telling me to sms a vote for Rahul Vaidya, and after he was voted out, my mom promptly stopped watching the show. Of course, these days my mum watches TV couples groove their way towards getting pats or brickbats from choreographer Saroj Khan. The judges of course add to the flavour of any dance competition and that has the added reality element to it. So you have Singers Alka Yagnik and Abhijeet arguing (looks quite staged) over their favourite kiddie singer contestant in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. A trade analyst says Television is all about creating the buzz. And indeed it is, so you have a Jhalak Dikhla Jaa where a tv starlet Akashdeep Saigal vents out his anger towards Farah Khan and other judges, when he's unceremoniously thrown out of the competition.
Print and television media go onto an overdrive, to make sure you know every detail of what happens behind these shows, adding to the hype and making sure that women in locals discuss why Shweta-Manav jodi (infamous now for the 200 sim card controversy) is better than say a Gauri-Hiten who dance in Nach Baliye. So are they doing it for the excitement, the adrenaline rush to perform, the supposed fame, or its for the money? Its generally always for the money honey! So while Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has a fifteen lakh cash prize, Jhalak Dikhla jaa had 50 lakhs, Nach Bailye has not yet declared the prize but it will be equally grand I'm sure.
A prominent TV show producer once told me that one should stop categorising Television entertainment shows into groups, because while doing that I convieniently forget that today TV news channels are far more about entertainment in the guise of reality, and they are more akin to Reality shows than reality shows themselves! All I could muster back was a feeble "Touche"! first published:October 28, 2006, 15:23 ISTlast updated:October 28, 2006, 15:23 IST
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So has Indian television got it right with reality TV? We had a spruced up Sa Re Ga Ma Pa where you had parents of young kids with amazing voices go up in arms in case their laadla or laadli didnt get the required amount of votes to make it to the next round. On Fame Gurukul you had mediocre voiced young lads and ladies crying themselves sore over nothing. In Nach Baliye you had TV stars doing their jhatkas and matkas to get that coveted 100 rupee note from Saroj Khan. While Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Shilpa Shetty and Farah Khan hugged all and sundry in Jhalak dikhla ja after a particularly rousing performance! And not to forget the ubiqitous bucketful of tears whether you win or lose!
The origin of course was India's original stand up comedian Cyrus Broacha's show 'Bakra'--a laugh aloud version of candid camera, with funny situations sometimes making you wonder whether the entire manner in which the show was done was too callous for the 'Bakras' or the victims! But I really liked that show for the simple fact that it made me laugh! Gratification obviously, but atleast I didnt have suffer and see tiny tv stars sobbing away to get those neccessary sms votes! But they have to do that. These poor guys have to make us laugh or cry,coz lots of moolah is riding on it. Nor did the show irk me with unneccessary long pauses between the declaration of a result to heighten the supposed excitement and also to put in an extra ad in between.Then there was the Channel V popstars show, which was quite engrossing, it was quite the cinderella story where you saw the girls undergo rigourous physical training and sing their way to stardom.
Next up was of course Indian Idol, where singers from various backgrounds competed for that Rs 1million contract and urged people to vote for them. Interspersed between some singing were some reality bits thrown in for that added emotional push to persuade viewers to reach for the cellphone to vote for Ravindra Ravi or an Amit Sana. I remember my mum telling me to sms a vote for Rahul Vaidya, and after he was voted out, my mom promptly stopped watching the show. Of course, these days my mum watches TV couples groove their way towards getting pats or brickbats from choreographer Saroj Khan. The judges of course add to the flavour of any dance competition and that has the added reality element to it. So you have Singers Alka Yagnik and Abhijeet arguing (looks quite staged) over their favourite kiddie singer contestant in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. A trade analyst says Television is all about creating the buzz. And indeed it is, so you have a Jhalak Dikhla Jaa where a tv starlet Akashdeep Saigal vents out his anger towards Farah Khan and other judges, when he's unceremoniously thrown out of the competition.
Print and television media go onto an overdrive, to make sure you know every detail of what happens behind these shows, adding to the hype and making sure that women in locals discuss why Shweta-Manav jodi (infamous now for the 200 sim card controversy) is better than say a Gauri-Hiten who dance in Nach Baliye. So are they doing it for the excitement, the adrenaline rush to perform, the supposed fame, or its for the money? Its generally always for the money honey! So while Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has a fifteen lakh cash prize, Jhalak Dikhla jaa had 50 lakhs, Nach Bailye has not yet declared the prize but it will be equally grand I'm sure.
A prominent TV show producer once told me that one should stop categorising Television entertainment shows into groups, because while doing that I convieniently forget that today TV news channels are far more about entertainment in the guise of reality, and they are more akin to Reality shows than reality shows themselves! All I could muster back was a feeble "Touche"!
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