Reality shows have a new high

REALITY SHOWS like Indian Idol, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Star Voice of India are truly enigmatic. They have a magnetic effect on the audience and become hot topics of conversation doing rounds at dinner tables, college canteens and lunch hours. They focus on discovering and nurturing the hidden talent form various corners of India and transform the deserving candidates into professionals. These reality shows seem to be a publicity gimmick cashing upon the celebrities participating in them. Does this mean that the respective channels hosting these so-called celebrity reality shows are deceiving the audience just to boost their TRP ratings and generate publicity for the characters participating in them?

Celebrity reality shows are the latest craze in the world of entertainment. They are also a great means of generating revenue and are helping various channels to raise their TRP ratings.

I don’t think there is anything real about the celebrity reality shows. They are nothing more than a revenue generating trick for the various television channels. All these people performing in them are celebrities and they are definitely doing this for money. There cannot be a comparison between reality talent hunt shows like Indian Idol, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Star Voice of India and celebrity reality shows as those platforms are meant for discovering new talent which is genuine but the latter is fake.

Celebrity reality shows enable the audiences to relate with the stars in a rather realistic manner. It is on the sets of these shows that they get to see a non-glamourised version of the stars. People start believing in what is shown to them. They are happy to see the drama queens and kings of popular Indian soaps, desi pop stars and models without make-up and striving to win a competition. But what stands out is the fact that how real is all the back-stage drama depicted on-screen? Where do these shows stand in front of reality talent hunt shows and what makes the audience fall for them?

The other day, I was visiting a friend. I could hear her mother conversing over the phone, drooling over Rakhi Sawant and Kahmira Shah’s performances in Nach Baliye. She even cancelled a dinner visit on account of missing her favorite celebrity reality show in the night.

I feel that celebrity reality shows should not be given the same weightage as talent hunt shows but they are not a medium to fool people. I agree that celebrities are participating in these shows from all walks of life but then they also have to face tough competition from each other. They are also human at the end. I can only say that these shows are not entirely made-up but also have some shades of reality.

Celebrity reality shows are not only a mode of entertainment but are also backed with controversies and target the emotions of the audience. If you see your favorite star dancing with a broken foot or back-pain, you are compelled to vote. Moreover, these shows depict stars appealing for votes as if the competition means the world to them. Certain stars in the past have done whatever they could to win these competitions.

Written by: Digvijay