Reality shows: Battle for TRPs

Out of work actors/actresses tried their luck on the idiot box with these shows. With each passing day, the shows become more synthetic and need artificial resuscitation to sustain them. There are mega stars too, who add to their fan base

CJ: kalos

Mon, Jul 20, 2009 11:06:14 IST

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Reality Shows India :

THEY ARE reality shows but there is nothing real about them. Beyond the curiosity value, they don’t last. Sustaining viewers’ interest becomes difficult if not impossible and gradually these shows take recourse to gimmicks.

It all began with Big Boss that left Shilpa Shetty (a star with no roles turned socialite) a household name in UK and India. The show opened floodgates for Indian reality shows.

Out of work actors/actresses tried their luck on the idiot box with these shows. With each passing day, the shows become more synthetic and need artificial resuscitation to sustain them. There are mega stars too, who add to their fan base.

In the evenings, serials are watched avidly and viewers are curious to know what next! The reality shows haven’t caught up like a wildfire. With nothing new left to be done and needing eyeballs, it seems like a battle for the TRPs. With new channels being launched practically each day, competition is heating up.

Anything to gain viewership. After all, there is only 0.1 difference in ratings between the top three - Colours, Star Plus and Zee – channels. The new kids on the block (Colours) are beating the veterans (star Plus, Zee). Desperation for the numero uno position leads to the battle for the TRPs.

Reality shows by themselves are not bad. But they need to be well-made keeping the viewers’ tastes in mind. Just presenting a show with all odd elements thrown in is not what a viewer wishes to watch.

Salman Khan truly is a super(b) star. His Dus Ka Dum is eagerly awaited. Even if there are no celebrity guests on the show, watching him is enough. He could elicit responses from Kapoor sisters about vegetable prices to joking with Katrina Kaif about (un)tying sarees to of course Mallika Sherawat, who made shapeless (probably tasteless too) chapattis. She is another starlet turned socialite. Salman sustains interest and is in the happenings of the show. The best part is guests are not paid to appear on it.

If there was a swayamvar for Katrina or Kareena, the viewers will stay glued to their TVs. It won’t matter if the end result is Salman and Saif. With all due respects to Rakhi Sawant, the show Rakhi Ka Swayamvar is more fake than real. (Does Rakhi have any roles to bank on or she is another socialite)?

It is every girl’s (even boy’s) dream to get married to the right partner. But is it right to pay models to appear on the show as prospective grooms? That’s simply not done. And to sustain interest, the show takes recourse to gimmicks. Even if Princess Diana had remarried, it would have made big news. But Rakhi Sawant! Give us a break, man!

Another paid reality show is Mujhe Is Jungle Se Bachao on Sony. Pray tell us what is the need for this show? If they wish to be saved from the jungle, then why go there? And that too in designer gear. Wow. The show is stage managed with fights, designer tents, controlled situations, et al. Is this a part of a city or converted jungle? All out of work actors can be seen here, some unknown names too. And all are being paid between 20 – 75 k depending on their market value. The less said about this show, the better. I may as well voice the viewers’ sentiment: Mujhe Is Show Se Bachao! Amen

And finally the much tom-tomed show of Rajiv Khandelwal’s Sach Ke Saamna. It opened well with the highest TRP ratings (wonder if it can be sustained in the long run.) Everybody has secrets and skeletons in the cupboard. If someone can claim otherwise then a show can be made on that and that will be indeed the show. Having holier than thou attitude doesn’t make sense in today’s times. And who is interested in these non-newsworthy guests’ truths.

Stealing has become state of the art. While some steal taxes, others steal hearts. Be it rich or poor, they all know what they steal. It cuts across all strata of the society. Lying is another state of the art. It comes so easy that one is not exactly aware when s/he lies and claims it to be the truth.

Wonder if there is a rapist or a murderer or an arsonist on this show. So what will Rajiv ask Shiney Ahuja, “Did you ever have the experience of raping your maid?” (We already know the answer.) Or to Charles Sobhraj, “Did you ever murder the French tourists as claimed in media reports?” (And we may end up witnessing a live murder demo – you know of who.)

What drama this, man! The guests are already aware of the 50 questions out of which 21 are asked. The questions are tailor-made for the guests. And the price for washing the dirty linen in public is a purse of Rs 1 crore. (This is too cheap a reward for breaking relationships as a result of speaking the truth).

The first lady guest with murderous thoughts failed. The second guest, an actor Yusuf Husain, confessing to stealing linen from hotel rooms too failed. Let’s see what the future holds. The show looks too studied. The lady couldn’t believe she failed when she spoke the ‘truth’. Ditto for the actor. Seems like the polygraphy machine is being partial. So, who can we trust if not a polygraphy machine?

And the guests look well to do (a crore should be a pittance for them.) so why will they reveal their bitter ‘truths’ for a mere Rs one crore? (Why can’t these guests speak the truth to the people concerned in private instead of in public? Mere phookat ka publicity, eh!) Or have they been paid to appear on the show? Won’t surprise me. It is another matter Mahesh Bhatt and Ranjit among others refused to appear on the show for the lack of lolly.

We can of course trust Rajiv Khandelwal. Finally when none of the guests will win the coveted Rs one crore reward, he will himself undergo the polygraphy test and reveal the answer to, “Were you a twosome with (S)Aamna Sharif?” What say you, Rajiv? Can you do Saamna of this Aamna fact? (The battle of this aamna saamna will be tough for Rajiv.)

Rajiv, you don’t need to answer it right now. Wait for your turn. And we want the truth and truth alone with or without the polygraphy machine. Are you ready to face this challenge Rajiv? You stand to gain Rs one crore! OMG! That’s something to die for (rather speak the truth for.)

Suffice it to say these reality shows lack the bite. With huge publicity and marketing gimmicks, these shows do generate initial interest. But gradually the viewer wanders off to the serials. It remains to be seen whether these reality shows achieve their objectives? The battle for TRPs was never this fake and so obvious too.

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