I always insist, we should not be calling them reality shows anymore. As there is hardly any reality left in them. They are simply TRP driven, smartly scripted shows. Nonetheless this blog is not about whether we should be calling them reality shows or not. It is about past, present & future of reality shows in India.
There was a time in Indian television when Ekta kapoor’s saas-bahu soap were considered cool thing, they were discussed over dining table of Indian middle class families. It was not only acceptable but also desirable to watch those K series soups. Soup’s characters were more popular in household than the relatives. Soap bahus were ideal of the idle family. It was nation’s favorite pass time. Family outing, visit to relative & even temple were scheduled keeping Serial’s timing in mind. Prime time on all the channels was reserved for these serials, which shows a characters expression in all possible camera angle & speed. They were accused of not showing reality, critics argue no household has woman wrapped in expensive saris 24x7, as shown in serials. I doubt, has they shown the reality, would they still be as popular as they were. If viewers were so interested in reality, they would have switches off the TV & observe around them, what better reality than reality itself. But all, viewers wanted, was entertainment different from shown earlier. Some of us would watch them to avoid, not up to date, tag. To be part of conversation, we should have at least some knowledge of serials current state.
Then all of a sudden, Like bollywood thrillers, moods changed, of media & critics hence of public. Comedinas were earning their living by making fun of Saas-bahu serials. How these bahus wake up wearing heavy make up & expensive perfectly wrapped sarees. Also fun was made of how camera shows single reaction with varying speed,angle & background sound which runs into full episode. It was slowly reaching a limit when watching a serial was treated as moral crime. Even the people who still love them, don’t have the courage to watch them in presence of family, it was embracing to even admit it. I remember one aunt of mine , she was very fond of these serials. He refused to admit that she still watch those serials. She will avoid giving any clue that shows that she is still following them. All , to avoid any embarrassment. You fear to make yourself look fool, if you watched those serials. Media has power to change the perception & it has used that power to full extent in this case.
When India was watching those searials, west was experiments with new ideas of feeding celebrities & talented people to public with reality dose. It clicked instantly with curious viewer as they get the chance to peep into celebs & other common people’s life. It was all about hope, talent, boldness, money & off course TRPs. From “dancing, singing, talent shows to quiz & celebrity locked in house or jungle, everything was there.
TV followed the pattern of Bollywood movies to copy, or inspired as they prefer to call, from western counterpart. It gives them the liberty to choose those who have been successful. TV did the same for almost every hit show of west. There was a reality show on Indian television.
From “KBC , Indian Idol, paanchvi pass, roadies, big boss, iss Jungle se…. to Splitsvilla, sach ka saamna & all others were copied from west with little variation to suit Indian taste.
Every Indian channel has reaalitys how on prime time. some in news due to new format (Just copied) Ideas or celebrity judges.
Till now viewers are not fully bored of these reality shows, It is still cool to watch them. You can still discuss them on dinning table without any worry abour being embrassed.
Lets see what 2010 Holds for Indian TV’s reality fondness. Will they go saas-bahu way? I am sure they will, But may be little slowly. As they say excess of everything is bad, Length of blog included. That’s all, I have time for.
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