Reality programmes have become a part and parcel of television today. From the days of [V] Popstars which some claim to be the first “real” Reality programme, to today’s overtly real shows, this genre has made everyone sit up and take notice. There was a time when the long running series of Sa Re Ga Ma and Antakshari, were the predecessors of this genre of programming. Today reality television has totally taken over other genres on television. Channels like Colors, Real came into existence because of reality shows. Today these programmes are becoming more voyeuristic than ever.
If there were programmes like Kaun Banega some 7-8 years Crorepati (that in todays’ context will be an innocent programme) today it’s about someone getting married on television (read Rakhi Ka Swayamvar) or someone telling the truth on television (Sach Ka Saamna). And for the past few years’ programmes like Roadies have been the best show for youth. MTV, which produces programmes like Roadies, is the youth television of India with reality shows like Splitsville (a very pathetic programmes if I may add) which always manages to get top TRP’s and the recent started Stunt Mania.
With this seasons reality shows up on the block, our MP’s in Rajya Sabha have taken a stand and voiced how shows like “Sach Ka Samna” are against our culture and denies all tastes of decency and goodness that as Indians we are quite proud off. This has sparked a new controversy and the concerned channel has been sent a notice asking for a justification for doing such a show. It is high time that voice should be raised against these pathetic programmes. On the name of reality they portray anything. Bitching, backbiting, use of foul language have been made a part of our society now. Otherwise why would a show like “Splitsvilla” survive which makes a complete mockery of the concept of love or even why would everyone glue to their television sets to know who Rakhi Sawant is getting married to? Saying anything about “Sach Ka Samna” will require the use of words that would not be acceptable in a platform like this.
Interestingly, all these programmes are adaptations of concepts from other countries. This just goes to show that such concepts have universal appeal and can work anywhere. They also work because as social animals we like to know what is happening to others and get immense pleasure in their discomfort and sometimes also in their happiness. But it is the time to draw a line between what is pleasurable and what becomes obscene. It is time that the MP’s and even the common man speaks up and says that these things cannot be accepted anymore. The producers cannot bring out anything on the name of entertainment. This needs to be stopped somewhere and surely the time has come.
If there were programmes like Kaun Banega some 7-8 years Crorepati (that in todays’ context will be an innocent programme) today it’s about someone getting married on television (read Rakhi Ka Swayamvar) or someone telling the truth on television (Sach Ka Saamna). And for the past few years’ programmes like Roadies have been the best show for youth. MTV, which produces programmes like Roadies, is the youth television of India with reality shows like Splitsville (a very pathetic programmes if I may add) which always manages to get top TRP’s and the recent started Stunt Mania.
With this seasons reality shows up on the block, our MP’s in Rajya Sabha have taken a stand and voiced how shows like “Sach Ka Samna” are against our culture and denies all tastes of decency and goodness that as Indians we are quite proud off. This has sparked a new controversy and the concerned channel has been sent a notice asking for a justification for doing such a show. It is high time that voice should be raised against these pathetic programmes. On the name of reality they portray anything. Bitching, backbiting, use of foul language have been made a part of our society now. Otherwise why would a show like “Splitsvilla” survive which makes a complete mockery of the concept of love or even why would everyone glue to their television sets to know who Rakhi Sawant is getting married to? Saying anything about “Sach Ka Samna” will require the use of words that would not be acceptable in a platform like this.
Interestingly, all these programmes are adaptations of concepts from other countries. This just goes to show that such concepts have universal appeal and can work anywhere. They also work because as social animals we like to know what is happening to others and get immense pleasure in their discomfort and sometimes also in their happiness. But it is the time to draw a line between what is pleasurable and what becomes obscene. It is time that the MP’s and even the common man speaks up and says that these things cannot be accepted anymore. The producers cannot bring out anything on the name of entertainment. This needs to be stopped somewhere and surely the time has come.
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