Reality shows & its reality

[REALITY SHOWS & REALITY]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This project brings about the other side of the reality show. We are mostly acquainted to the positive side of reality show that reality show offers good employment opportunities to many people; it helps to explore one?s talent. But no one pays attention to the negative aspect of reality show. This project to certain extents tries to bring about the other side of the reality shows.

The objective behind taking this project is that reality shows are in trend these days. Most of the people prefer watching reality shows rather than the daily soaps. Hence the main objective of this project is portraying the ill effects of reality show on contestants as well as the viewers.

The contents of the project were mostly taken from the newspapers and from the internet. Where as the primary data is concerned , I was really obliged to have them collected from the celebrities (who have participated in the Reality shows) and also the youth viewers (college students between the age group of 17-21 age.)

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The limitation of the study could be that reality shows as a concept is very vast. Apart from it, there are also certain areas of reality shows which are not explored. Areas related to the mechanism of the show, the technical and the internal areas. It was difficult to concentrate on this area and bring it down on this project. The only aspects that were covered in this project were the effect of reality show on the contestants and the viewers.

After studying this topic, it has been noticed that reality show does not look the way it is portrayed. There are many more things that go along with the so term reality show. It has also been noticed that some reality show just have this name reality but in reality there is no reality.

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INTRODUCTION
Studying the international television scenario, the Indian counterpart has promptly caught-up with the latest trends. Reality Television has arrived in India and is here to stay! What earlier had been unimaginable is now very much shown on the television. Yes, the reality shows that are screening celebrities in their off-stage persona. Then whether it is their make-up, dresses, accessories or lifestyle, you get a brief idea about the person, who has been your favorite for years. Apart from the celebrities, sometimes people from the countryside capture the attention of everyone with their immense talent.

Reality shows in India, date back to the time when Channel V first started a talenthunt throughout the country to make a musical band. Reality TV soon got hold of the markets since people found the concept new and interesting, and moreover television soaps became irksome to most of them. From the discussion, it seems that Reality television succeeded because it bombarded the ennui and brought entirely different ideas, which gradually made them noticeable from the middling shows.

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That?s how Reality shows started in India and still doing well in the entertainment industry. Talent hunts, game shows, celebrity shows, documentary-style shows, and makeover shows, are some of the reality shows currently aired on the Indian television. Whatever different concepts these shows present, inherently all of them are working in the same direction as they place celebrities and ordinary people in real-life situations and permit others to take pleasure in the excitement of watching them.

These shows allow the viewers to be a part of them, apart from presenting the thrill of real un-edited action. Reality shows such as Nach Baliye, Jhalak Dikhlaja, Indian Idol, Sa Re Ga Ma and many others, have included audience through voting system. Though the reliability of these systems is always argued, the participatory factor positively brings show loads of following. These days, reality shows are in great trend on television but anything which is popular ought to stand the burden of perpetual criticism and analysis. And it is exactly what happens with popular reality shows. Be it about judges? prejudice or voting lines, controversies usually crop up.

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Reality Shows - Meaning

Is the era of soaps and family dramas on television coming to an end? Do people prefer a reality show to a prolonged television drama? Yes! The times are a-changing and the buzzword today is reality shows. These shows are all about formats and television programme producers see a huge opportunity in India for them. Real life, unscripted TV shows bring drama, comedy, or romance into people's homes! Many people watch reality for the fun of it. They can watch how someone; finds their true love, wins a singing career or makes some big bucks! A popular reality show is Indian Idol! On this show contestants compete by singing to get a career and then become an idol to millions of adoring fans. People love to watch how a guy chooses the perfect girl over many others. People take risks on fear factor to win a lot of money! Want to make some money? Test your knowledge on the reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati. You can win money for every question you answer correctly.

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With the unprecedented success of programmes like Kaun Banega Crorepati on Star Plus and Indian Idol on Sony, it has been proven that formats are a huge success in India. KBC and Indian Idol have made history in terms of people's participation and have been great revenue generators as well.

Reality shows are a popular genre of television viewing which shows participants in situations that test their nerves, intelligence, emotions and sometimes even integrity. These responses are all caught on camera and are therefore totally natural. Reality shows stand apart from other television shows because the responses are supposedly unscripted. They thrive on naked human emotions, and to an audience that thrives on voyeurism and hedonism. Reality shows are the perfect form of entertainment. In fact the TRP ratings of these shows are mostly on the higher side.

Television channels have been quick to recognize the lucrative deal that lies within this genre and have been fast in their responses. In fact Sony which has pioneered the most successful reality shows in India as Indian Idol and „Jhalak Dikhla Ja?, a dance based show, along with the very popular Big Brother, has endeavored to connect with the audiences and redeem its position as the topmost television channel via these reality shows.

Reality shows seem fun from the outside but the kind of stress that they put people through is not known. There is a lot of pressure on reality show participants mainly from the way they are produced. Let?s look at how reality TV makes reality happen.
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Let?s use one of the recent episodes of a game show as a case study. One of the contestants hurt himself very badly during the show and required 12 stitches on his chin. And so he had to leave the show. The producers were not in favour of getting a new contestant as it was against the rules of the game and asked the team to play on with remaining members. Then the focus was on the constant pleading from the team for a replacement and the point of the show seemed lost in the process.

All of the drama was shown in a way that would boost TRPs. Most of the shows have drama on their own but so much is staged to keep viewers interested. There is very little reality left in any of the reality shows. Dangerous stunts are staged and participants? lives are put in jeopardy to boost ratings. In the name of rules and regulations, a lot of drama and controversy is created because that is what viewers want.

Sometimes participants have to shoot day and night without rest and have to stretch themselves to get the job done. And yes, it?s for the fame and money that goes with it. But do the winners of reality shows really have a bright future to look forward to? In the end, it is just 15 minutes of fame that will be forgotten before you know it. All said and done, what everyone should know is that reality shows are scripted just like other shows and it is still all about TRPs – what sells is what gets staged. The time when you watch a reality show, think about how much reality is actually shown.

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A television reality show features talent from the ranks of 'ordinary' people and not professionally trained actors. Reality show producers typically shoot hundreds of hours of footage per episode and use creative editing to create a narrative thread. Subjects of a reality show may be given some rudimentary directions off-screen, but the point is to allow the performers to act and react as normally as possible. A reality show is not to be confused with a documentary, in which the subjects are asked to ignore the cameras and behave naturally. Many reality show producers encourage participants to play to the cameras as characters or use private taped conversations, called confessionals, as a form of narration.

For many years, the television industry favored scripted television programs over the unpredictable and potentially litigious reality show form. Early game shows featuring contestants selected from the audience provided moments of unscripted reality. Television shows during the 1960s and 1970s were usually scripted, with a cast of professional actors creating the characters. It was believed that a reality show featuring untrained actors working without a guiding script would be virtually unwatchable.

There would be no way to create a satisfying storyline ending precisely after the allotted half-hour or hour running time of a typical scripted show. The only network amenable to the idea of a true reality show in the 1970s was the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).

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Meanwhile, another form of reality show began to take shape. Producers of Big Boss recruited groups of twenty-something to live in a furnished apartment while cameras recorded every public moment of their lives together. The footage was carefully edited to create a satisfying arc of episodes.

Sharon Dutta, Film Director and Producer, currently involved in the Bangla reality show, Naach Dhoom Macha Le, says emphatically, "Reality Shows are pretty real even though at a baser level certain things are pre-determined. The idea in a game show is to make the episodes tougher as it moves forward. The arguments one witnesses on the shows are scripted to create drama. After all, the viewer is interested in the drama. Soaps have definitely taken a back seat.”

Certain formats seem to do well in India. It is the family oriented shows that seem to hit it off with the audience, like the two seasons of Kaun Banega Crorepati, the music based Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma and the dance reality shows Nach Baliye and Jhalak Dhikhla Ja. It is all about people's participation, journey to fame and a lot of passion and emotion," says Tarun Mehra, vice president (marketing) Zee Network.

Shailja Kejriwal, executive vice president of content, NDTV Imagine, says, "Reality shows turn out to be nine to 10-times costlier than daily soaps. But it is worth incurring heavy costs on these shows since the returns they earn are almost in the same proportion, turning out to be more profitable ventures than daily soaps."
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In fact, experts opine that with the falling number of SMSs and audience interest, reality shows no more rules the idiot box. "The viewers have now become more discerning and choosy as the number of reality shows is increasing by the day. With the exception of some programmes, the viewer's interest has declined", says Ashish Paul, V-P, Communication, Essel Group.

"Reality shows see the dreams of millions of Indians come true. The moneyspinners can be in the form of quiz shows, panel shows, celebrity guest shows which give the audience the power to decide the next move and also be a part of the great show," explains Sanjiv Sharma, one of the reality show producers.

In competition-based programs such as Big Boss, Fear Factor and Roadies, the producers design the format of the show and control the day-to-day activities and the environment. In this completely fabricated world producers use carefully designed challenges and settings to encourage drama.

With the coming of the Indian Idol, the path of television changed forever. A remake of the famous British hit, Pop Idol, which has set record in all countries, registered very high ratings in India as well. "It is a drama that unfolds in front of you," says Gavin Wood, director of production, India Freemantle Media. He further adds, "The idea should be original and entertaining."

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Says Nilanjan Banerjee, director of the Bangla rock show Bandwagon, "Reality shows are as real as can be. For music based reality shows the participation and competition is real. To heighten the drama and to make it more attractive, judges and the anchors are fed certain ideas”.

"For the director, there is one proven track. An example would be the constant bickering between music composer Anu Malik and singer Alisha Chinai in the music reality show Indian Idol 2007. In Sa Re Ga Ma, music director, singer and actor, Himmesh Reshammaiya created the drama and in Voice of India, music director, Lalit and singer Abhijit Bhattacharya were always tearing each other apart. One thing is for sure, that the anchor has a script to follow."

"Indian Idol was a complete reality show: a reality show and a talent show as well! It was a result of a cleverly constructed screenplay, which empowered the audience to select their personal favourites so it clicked,"

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Reality television is a type of television programming that presents unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors.

Reality television frequently portrays a modified and highly influenced form of reality, utilizing sensationalism to attract viewers to generate advertising profits. Participants are often placed in exotic locations or abnormal situations, and are sometimes coached, to act in certain scripted ways by off-screen "story editors" or "segment producers," with the portrayal of events and speech manipulated and contrived to create an illusion of reality through editing and other post-production techniques.

Another type of reality TV is "reality-competition", or so-called "reality game shows", in which participants are filmed competing to win a prize, often while living together in a confined environment. In many cases, participants are removed until only one person or team remains, who/which is then declared the winner. Usually this is done by eliminating participants one at a time by voting. Voting is done by either the viewing audience, the show's own participants, a panel of judges, or some combination of the three.

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A well-known example of a reality-competition show is the Big Boss, in which cast members live together in the same house, with participants removed at regular intervals by either the viewing audience or by the participants themselves. There remains some disagreement over whether talent-search shows such as the Idol series, Indiaa's Got Talent and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa are truly reality television, or just newer incarnations of shows such as Star Search. Although the shows involve a traditional talent search, the shows follow the reality-competition conventions of removing one or more contestants per episode and allowing the public to vote on who is removed; the Idol series also require the contestants to live together during the run of the show (though their daily life is never shown).

Influenced by corporate profit motive MSNBC reported that writers for reality television do not receive union pay-scale compensation and union representation, which significantly decreases expenditures for corporate producers and broadcasters. Reality television programming is often financed by American corporations driven by a profit motive to generate profits for corporate expansion and to increase profits for corporate financial investors. Many of the actors in reality television are compensated for their appearances.

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Misrepresentation of the term "reality" Some commentators have said that the name "reality television" is an inaccurate description for several styles of program included in the genre. In competitionbased programs such as Big Brother and Survivor, and other special living environment shows like The Real World, the producers design the format of the show and control the day-to-day activities and the environment, creating a completely fabricated world in which the competition plays out.

Producers specifically select the participants and use carefully designed scenarios, challenges, events, and settings to encourage particular behaviors and conflicts. Mark Burnett, creator of Survivor and other reality shows, has agreed with this assessment, and avoids the word "reality" to describe his shows; he has said, "I tell good stories. It really is not reality TV. It really is unscripted drama."

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HISTORY OF REALITY SHOWS
The origins

The first reality based show that appeared in the USA was Candid Camera, by Allen Funt. This show caught unsuspecting people in comic situations. The resultant unguarded responses were very popular among most people and the genre of reality television was born. Other shows such as Beat the Clock, Truth or Consequences also came up during this time. These shows were unscripted and gave viewers much more entertainment than the other serialized dramas that were shown.

In India the reality based shows caught on with the immensely popular show „Indian Idol?. This was a song based show which attracted scores of aspirants from all corners of the Nation. A similar pattern was followed by Channel V which resulted in the formation of an all girl band called Viva. The band caught the fancy of many as it was marketed and positioned on the lines of the Spice Girls. Viewers lapped up the emotions and the enthusiasm shown by the participants. The acerbic and caustic remarks of the judges added punch to the show and contributed to high TRPs.

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Perhaps the most awaited and talked about show was Kaun Banega Crorepati. The lethal combination of a winning format (it was borrowed from the popular „Who wants to be a Millionaire?) along with the very popular host Amitabh Bacchan and the marketing gimmicks of Star Television, this was a show that was a trendsetter of sorts. It brought in huge revenues for the company.

Reality Shows - Reasons for Popularity

All television channels have one basic aim that of capturing as much of the consumer market as it can. Consumer preferences dictate a lot of viewer content that is rolled out. The kind of sitcoms and soaps, the content of shows, is all factored by consumer preferences. Creative and marketing heads of a channel usually work alongside ensuring that the viewer gets what he wants and the channel gets to maximize its profits.

Reality shows come into the prime time slot, which is between 7-9 pm. These are therefore made for adults and create a platform for adult fantasies, aspirations and emotions. Viewers get to see participants undergo a gamut of emotions in specially created situations (most of which are created to elicit strong reactions) and this appeals to the innate voyeuristic tendencies of viewers.

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Secondly, reality television often has aspirants from the interiors of the country. The very sight of a person from an obscure place, who has little else other than his talent to bank upon, is enough to fuel emotional hearts and the imaginations of the people. This propels television rating points and the show and the channel both stand to profit.

Thirdly, reality shows give the audience a breather from the same run-of-the-mill kind of soaps. At one point of time, Balaji Telefilms, a production house, had almost all the serials (on prime time, on all the major channels) dealing with family dramas. Popularly called the „saas –bahu? genre of serials, these serials had become very predictable and similar in content across channels. After all, with the same creative team working on all the serials, it is not very surprising that the content became run-of-the-mill. Reality shows provided the much needed break and relief.

In addition, there was an enormous amount of money that had to be won in all reality shows. Sometimes there would also be a contract with a music label or a film production company, like in Zee Cine Stars Ki Khoj or the most popular show on Indian television, Kaun Banega Crorepati based on the popular show „Who wants to become a Millionaire?. This would again charge the viewers emotionally.

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Another reason for the popularity of these shows would be the anchor or the host. The host of these shows would invariably be a popular film actor or singer…any body with a star power and popularity base that cut across rural and urban India. By roping in Amitabh Bacchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Star TV had a winner in their hands even before they got started with their show.

Viewer enthusiasm often translated to votes which meant that the television company had a winning format in their hands, a format that translated to revenue and profit. Hence reality shows became the norm for companies. People also happily took to them and this made the entire structure successful enough to be replicated.

The biggest reason so far for the immense popularity of reality shows is that it provides a perfect stage for aspirants to show case their talents. As successful persons from the field of beauty and entertainment often say when they come to these shows, this kind of a platform was unavailable till some time back. Aspirants had to seek out Godfathers or do the rounds of production houses. Reality shows give an avenue for people to showcase their capabilities and cut short the struggle to stardom and success. A case in point would be singers like Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghosal, Sunil Pal; all successful persons in their chosen field who came into the entertainment limelight through these reality shows. The „Nach Baliye? show brought in to the limelight spouses who had not exploited their talents so far. Tina Hussain became a family name after winning the show and won herself a place as an anchor and host for a couple of shows.

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Reality shows have also helped resurrect the flagging career of many yester year stars and even those who have not yet tasted enormous success. This is a way to get back in to the memory of the audience. As the adage goes, any publicity is good publicity, so also these stars come to these shows for increasing their visibility on the small screen. Rakhi Sawant was shrewd enough to recognize this and played a melodramatic queen to the hilt in the popular Big Boss. Her ways in the house no doubt irked most people in the audience, but her ouster meant that the show would have become very boring. Hence she was brought back in to the show. Reality shows thus play with audience emotions and their curiosities and add and alter the format depending on the market information.

Reality shows pose a win-win situation for every one involved; the contestants, the production houses and the television channel that airs these shows. It is thus not very surprising that reality shows are occupying the maximum air space these days. Its fun, it?s easy and it is truly participatory in more ways than one. A viewer invests as much of his time, emotions and money (through the votes he sends) as that is invested by the participant. Scripted dramas often have less of twists and turns as those that happen on reality shows. Hence they are viewed by most people who enjoy a legally allowed peep into other people?s lives, especially those who happen to be celebrities.

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Mechanisms of a Reality show

In addition to all the high TRPs why does a channel prefer to air reality shows? The answer lies in the fact that these shows are money spinning mechanisms that generate a lot of revenue for the channel. To start with, the basic format of the show requires one to vote for his or her favourite candidate. The voting can be cast through a text message or SMS or through a phone call which usually is a special number. These sms?s and phone calls cost much more than their ordinary counterparts. Television channels have a tie-up with the telephone companies in this regard and this generates a lot of money. Hence the more the votes, more is the money that comes in.

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The Return of Reality Shows
If there was one phenomenon that marked the television world in India in 2007, it was the return of the reality shows with a bang. 2006 saw a steady decline in the interest in reality shows, main reason being the winners getting lost in the crowds. Though the Big Boss drama did manage to generate some interest, it was not enough to overtake the serials.

That is what Sa Re Ga Ma managed to do in 2007. So much was the interest generated in this reality show that the audience preferred watching it over Kyun Ki…a serial that has been on top of the TRP charts for the last six years! But what was different in this year's shows that helped it overcome 'epics' like Kyun Ki? Nothing - except the fact that there was an overdose of them. If Zee had Sa Re Ga Ma, Star came up with Voice of India, not to forget Indian Idol from Sony, which meant, even if you wanted to watch something else, you had little option but to lend your attention to these shows. Plus, there is also no denying the fact that the quality of singing improved amongst the contestants, thereby leading to more interest.

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The unnatural death of serials:
Not every year sees so many mega serials being launched on television. The first half of 2007 saw a plethora of serials being launched, only to be taken off air within a few months. In an age when any serial worth its salt completes 1000 episodes, a run for a few months is nothing short of a mega-flop.

Take Kulvadhu for instance. Launched amidst a lot of hype and hoopla and armed with biggies like Milind Gunanji, Kitu Gidwani, Kulvadhu was Anuj Saxena's (Maverik Productions) first television venture. But it died an unnatural death due to low TRPs. Same was the story for Rishton Ki Dor, Kabhi To Nazar Milao, Durgesh Nandini, Aisa Desh Hain Mera, Resham Dankh, Twinkle Beauty Parlour, Jeete Hain Jiske Liye – all of them launched with an army of promotional salvos, but failed when it came to standing the test of time. A weak script was the culprit in most of the cases. The Indian television audience, it seems, is tired of the run-ofthe-mill family dramas and want something different.

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New channels on the block:

If you thought, the traffic jam on air was limited to metropolitan airports, think again! The satellite situation is no better. And a large part of the blame can be attributed to the geometric progression at which television channels are growing.

The year 2007 saw channels like 9x, Bindaas, Zee Next and NDTV Imagine as the big ticket launches. While the general entertainment channel 9X (promoted by exSTAR head honcho Peter Mukherjea's wife Indrani Mukherjea) is the latest kid to hit the block, all the others are specialized channels with a niche market. With so many channels aiming at various niche markets, one wonders whether the consolidation movement going on in the other industries (airlines, pharma etc) will start raising its head here as well. The year also saw many head honchos of television channels changing sides for greener prospects. Balaji creative whizkid Sandeep Sickand left Ekta Kapoor to join Sony, only to quit after few months. Sameer Nair, COO of Star TV India put in his papers to move on to greener pastures.

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Mega Makeovers:
What was unimaginable for the last six years happened in 2007 – the iconic Tulsi (played by Smriti Irani) changed! After a thorough search, and equally rampant rumours, Gautami Gadgil (better known as Ram Kapoor's wife till recently) replaced Smriti, who (officially!) went on a break only to form her own production house and act in newer serials. While, Kyunki's popularity did not nose-dive, it did come down from the numerous position it was retaining for more than half a decade.

If this was not enough, Balaji also replaced Cezanne Khan (as Anurag Basu) in its prime time serial Kasauti Zindagi Ki with Balaji loyal and Kyun Ki star Hiten Tejwani. With Hiten's popularity as Karan skyrocketing every day, acceptance in his new role was much smoother than Gautami Gadgil's. Kasauti also saw another replacement in the form of Vikas Sethi, replacing Manoj Bohra, who shot to fame with his role of Prem in the same serial.

But why suddenly so many changes in the cast? And why are people like Smriti Irani and Manoj Bohra who were comfortable in their roles and have cemented their positions opt to move ahead? Reasons vary from fights with producers to the quest for making it bigger. While Irani quit Kyunki due to a combination of both factors, Bohra quit purely because of a tiff with the producer. Ditto for Cezzanne Khan, who had infamous on and off set fights with Shweta Tiwari (Prerna).

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Most Popular Reality Shows on Indian Television
MTV Bakra
No one can ever forget Cyrus Broacha?s grinning face and the confusion and

bewilderment created amongst his victims. A wicked show with witty pranks followed by loads of laughter. MTV Bakra is a show based on the classic hidden camera show „Candid Camera?. The show helped Cyrus Broacha to become MTV?s main face. The show was an instant hit as it brought humour and fun to the small screen.

MTV Roadies
The meanest reality show on Indian television. „MTV Roadies; has travel, adventure, drama and also a dash of voyeurism. The auditions are deliberately acrimonious to test the participant?s attitude, tolerance and patience level.

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Kaun Banega Crorepati
Amitabh Bachchan?s stint on television that was perhaps the first reality show on Indian television to garner humongous audience response. The second season of the series was hosted by Shahrukh Khan but did not seem to fare just as well. Kaun Banega Crorepati is the Indian take on the UK game show „Who Wants to Be a Millionaire??. The show saw the Big B debuting on the small screen. The show first aired in 2000 and was hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

STAR Voice of India

Star Voice of India is an Indian television singing competition. It was the first Indian singing

competition produced by STAR Plus. The show was directed by Gajandra Singh, creator of the famous Sa Re Ga Ma Pa series.

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Indian Idol
This show has been one of the most popular reality shows on Indian television and perhaps due to the voting factor. With boys next-door turning into ultimate singing sensations, this show already has completed four seasons. Indian Idol is a popular television show on Indian television, a singer talent contest to determine the best undiscovered young singer in the country. It is based on the International Idol series format, launched by UK show Pop Idol. First time aired in 2004 in Sony.

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa
What started as a humble talent show hosted by Sonu Nigam soon metamorphosed into an ultraglam, dramatic reality show with the various celebrity judges like Himesh Reshamiya, Alka Yagnik, Abhijeet and Ismail Darbar constantly at loggerheads with each other. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, formerly known as Sa Re Ga Ma before Shaan?s debut, is a musical contest show on Zee TV. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge is one of the oldest and the most reputed show on Indian television. This is one show, which brings into limelight the real talent.
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The most notable and prominent singers & winners that emerged from the contest are Shreya Ghosal, Sanjeevani Bhelande, Kunal Ganjawala, Shekar Ravjiani, Bela ShendePriya Bhattacharya and more on Zee TV- Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

Big Boss
The Indian version of UK?s Big Brother was the most sensational and controversial reality show in India. Although long forgotten Actor Rahul Roy emerged as the winner, it was people like Anupama Verma, Aryan Vaid (due to their on-air love-affair) and Rakhi Sawant (due to her in-your-face attitude) who got instant recognition from this show.

The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
This hunt for India?s biggest comedian created a laughter riot on air with almost all its contestants enjoying tremendous popularity. The show was judged by Shekhar Suman, an eminent TV personality and Navjyot Singh Siddhu who was famous former cricketer.

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The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is one of the very successful reality shows on Indian television. It is a competition of stand up comedians that is presented on STAR One.

Nach Baliye
An original concept that involved celebrity couples trained by their choreographers battling against each other in an entertaining dance competition. The show has celebrity judges like Saroj Khan, Malaika Arora Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Kunal Kohli, David Dhawan, Isha Koppikar and Vaibhavi Merchant. The first season was extremely popular and so was the second one, however the third season seems to be losing its charm. Nach Baliye is an annual series dance show on the Indian STAR Plus channel. Its contestants are couples who are generally TV stars in their own right, often from the Television industry. The show has unique concept of celebrity couples competing against one another. Major names in the television industry were given a platform to showcase another side of their persona.

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Boogie Woogie
Sansui Boogie Woogie is an Indian television dance show that airs on Sony Entertainment Television. The show is hosted by popular film and television personalities Naved Jaffrey and Ravi Behl, who also co-created the show with Javed Jaffrey, who appears as the permanent celebrity judge.

Jhalak Dikhlaja

This was the Indian version of the hit show Dancing With the Stars, which was also very popular. Sony Entertainment Television brings “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa” with new celebrities and well known faces to perform with professional dance partners on a highly competitive stage.

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Reality shows seem to be a huge trend on television, but anything that is popular has to bear the brunt of constant criticism and analysis. Controversies about these reality shows being 'planned and scripted' or the voting lines being a hoax continue to rise every now and then. Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction, they say! Well as for television, don?t be surprised or shocked as of yet…something far more real and far more strange might be on its way…till then...Enjoy Reality TV!

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TYPES OF REALITY SHOWS
Celeb-Reality: Reality shows with celebrities are a rage with the audience. Examples: Nach Baliye, Jhalak Dikhlaja and Big Boss

Prank-Reality: Reality shows that involve pranks played on ordinary people and capturing their unexpected reaction. Examples: Chhupa Rustam, MTV Bakra

Game Shows: Reality shows that are based on games and offer a handsome sum of money to the winner. Examples: Kaun Banega Crorepati, Dus Ka Dum

Talent Hunts: Reality shows that are looking for talented people be it singers, dancers or even actors. Example: Indian Idol, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Channel V?s Pop Stars, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Fame Gurukul, Boogie Woogie

Job-hunts: Shows that are synonymous with live on air interviews are listed under this category.

Makeovers: Reality shows with make over stories. Be it a personal makeover or a home make over, these shows are very popular with the audience.

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Dating-Shows: Reality shows that gave a platform for dating men and women on air. Example: Lux Perfect Bride, Star Vivah Social Experiments: A relatively new genre of reality television that involves interaction of distinct social groups. Adventure / Fear based shows: TV shows that challenge the participants with difficult and weird tasks. Example: Fear Factor, Fun on the Run, MTV Roadies

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Big screen actors participating in Reality shows
Small screen is no more small. If anything, it has become the battle field for some of the biggest big screen actors. Gone are the days when small screen meant Ekta Kapoors and the likes mindless soap operas with one sari clad weeping women and a bitch. These are the days of reality shows, shows that extend beyond exercising one?s vocal cords or shaking a limb. TV shows such the survivor, the amazing race, fear factor created records of their own in the West and now Indian television is fast trying to tread this reality road. Channels are fighting tooth and claw with one another, trying to woo the audience with every possible means- from the attraction of a star studded judges panel or host, to the lure of offensive amounts of money and even the romance of playing with ones fears, they are offering it all. In this flood of reality shows, three stand out above the others, owing to sheer star power- “Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain”, “Dus ka Dum” , “Khatron Ke Khiladi” and most recently Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao

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REALITY SHOWS : FOR & AGAINST
In contemporary world various forms of entertainment play a huge role. Lots of people find them pleasurable, yet among them are those who believe it is dangerous. That is why when we consider the reality shows we have to see both the benefits and the risks.

On the one hand, reality shows may be considered to have many advantages. To begin with, it could be a fast track to becoming a public person. If the program is popular enough, a participant has a great chance to make an astonishing career. Secondly, taking part in it is always connected with big money to be won. So having an appropriate tactic is almost the only thing you need to become a winner. What is more, people decide to participate in such programs so as to test their own strength and ability to live in an extreme condition. Then they can use their experience in the future life. On the other hand, it seems that drawbacks of reality shows are also crucial. Firstly, during the program you have extremely little privacy due to the ubiquitous cameras. Therefore, every person who watches the show knows everything about its participants, their problems and affairs. Moreover, the stay there is granted to be stressful, because of many reasons. One of them can be conflicts with other participants; the other is separation from home, for instance. And as we all know, the stress is not good to anybody.

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To conclude, the person deciding to take part in one of reality shows has to consider the advantages and disadvantages. Right now neither of the sides seems to outweigh.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:
• Offers an opportunity to gain instant exposure, fame or money. • Gives a chance to narrate a story or promote a cause. • Helps in increasing one?s confidence level and self-awareness. • Enhances the analytical abilities of the viewer. • Gives high levels of entertainment and thrill.

Disadvantages:
• Invasion of Privacy. • Generates social, moral and ethical conflicts in the viewer. • Embarrassment, Humiliation and Loss of Reputation of participants. • Invokes legal action for libel, slander, trespass, fraud and negligence resulting in bodily harm or damage to property.

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THE TRUTH ABOUR REALITY SHOWS
Reality shows are touted as different from the soap operas that were immensely popular till sometime back. The difference lies in the unscripted nature of these shows. Participants are allowed to express themselves freely, whether it is to eliminate some other contestant or to voice other concerns and emotions. This undiluted exhibition of human emotions is what appeals to most people leading to the higher TRPs.

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The modus operandi of these shows has raised several ethical questions. The main point that is raised is that do these reality shows really show what these shows really profess to show. Insider information about these shows has led to startling revelations.

The reality shows are not entirely scripted. Infact the footage for the entire day is collected and then edited in a manner so that it follows a definite sequence. Most of the participants, even the audience is asked to emote in a certain way. Participants, especially in celebrity based shows are given a certain brief to follow where they have to draw up their character according to a given set pattern. For example, Kashmera Shah and Rakhi Sawant were told to behave as a trouble maker and as a clown who goes about amusing people respectively.

There are also romantic liaisons that are built up so that audience interest is kept alive. There is also an element of envy, competition etc that are added to keep interests on an upward accent. In short every thing about reality shows is not really „real?, its manipulated, contorted to suit a story line and emotions are peddled and used with an amazing lack of scruples. A lot of times the winners fade into oblivion. The emotions that were manipulated often land the participants into a lot of distress when they go back to where they came from.

On the flip side to these arguments, participants these days know what to expect and sort of steel themselves for all the ensuing drama. Even then, should we be as an audience ready to give in to our voyeuristic tendencies so much that it is at the cost of other people and their families?

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Need for Regulations and Transparencies
The reality show industry is a market that has huge potentials. It is a money spinning enterprise with a huge potential to capture the imagination and emotions of the audience. This industry is estimated to be 100 crores in worth and this is only expected to grow. In this scenario it is of utmost importance to regulate this sector so as to mitigate the exploitative potentials and pitfalls that go with an industry having such characteristics.

Restructure Content: The first and foremost thing that producers need to do is to regulate the televised content. The editing table needs to be such that it includes people with an eye on quality. There is little sense in televising content that borders on vulgarity because after all television is a powerful medium with an outreach that far outdoes other forms of entertainment. What is to be shown and what is to be left out is a crucial decision and there should be an element of morality in the entire procedure.

Make selection and elimination procedures transparent: Secondly, critics also point out that the selection procedures and elimination procedures are often shrouded in controversy. The most controversial candidate, though not the most talented often remains in the race for a very long time. The reason for this is very obvious-it brings in revenue. As a show which seeks out talent, this is definitely one of the points that are hotly debated. Even news channels have included segments debating this controversy. Like how come Qazi Tauqeer managed to get the crown in Fame Gurukul? Prashanst tamang and Dibbendu Barua both got the coveted prize and the same questions were asked.
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It is not a coincidence that all these people belonged to a minority religious group or came from states that are still not considered as „mainstream India?.

Money: Finally the whole aspect of a reality show is about money. Hence it is shrewd business sense to generate more controversy as it translates to hard cash. All these aspects are hidden from the consumer that is, the audience. This makes the entire exercise most „unreal? justifying the call to make these shows more transparent.

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SHOULD REALITY SHOW SURVIVE?
This format is extremely popular all over the world and also in India. It was Indian Idol that propelled reality television to another level in terms of viewer engagement, involvement and interactivity. Reality shows have a clearly defined destination and the journey is peppered with all kinds of emotions. These shows have the ability to emotionally involve and engage the viewer while entertaining them.

Reality formats provide real people with opportunities to realise their dreams by putting them on a bigger platform and eventually awarding them for their talents. So long as these shows continue to stir up universal emotions like love, hate, anger, greed or jealousy, they will succeed in addressing a large cross-section of the audience.

Reality shows are here to stay, especially because of their one-of-a-kind appeal and unique content which are different and clutter-breaking. Also, entertainment and showbiz are meant for a large audience. If it becomes a national frenzy as was the case with Indian Idol, we have certainly achieved what we have set out to do.

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What makes this concept so popular is the content which is totally different from dramas and sitcoms. It allows viewers a certain degree of control over the outcome and creates a large degree of involvement as they follow the fate of their favourites. The canvas is large, attractive and along the lines of a huge spectacle which creates a sense of occasion on the small screen.

Although many of us believe that an overdose of reality shows is becoming a little hard to digest, television channels have loads of reasons to stick to the model. The shows offer wholesome entertainment for the entire family and there will be several derivatives as we go forward. They will continue to have a large number of viewers tuning in for their shares of fun, emotional connect, drama and celebrity access. Reality shows of the same kind may see some level of fatigue and eventually, viewers will stick to the ones they enjoy most.

Reality shows are doing pretty well at the moment but with so many of them running on every channel, this concept may soon lose its sheen. This rat race doesn?t surprise me, though. After Maine Pyar Kia struck gold at the box office, action films took a backseat and everybody started making romantic movies. The same thing is happening here as well.

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I agree that a lot of drama happens on the sets. However, it?s all real as contestants work so hard to meet deadlines and standards, and a single mistake can ruin it all. During Nach Baliye, we used to rehearse till the wee hours of the morning and when I hosted K for Kishore, I could completely relate to the participants as I had gone through the same grilling before.

Reality shows have not lost their charm at all. But there are too many of them and viewers certainly can?t follow all. But there?s always a lot of variety available which would attract people. For instance, I may like dance shows while a friend of mine may prefer a comedy. So these shows are bound to do well so long as producers are innovating interesting formats and adding the right spices at the right time. If channels are getting good TRPs by involving all that drama, there is nothing wrong in that. What?s more, Indian audience always loves such stuff. I really don?t blame people if they break down in front of the camera. There is so much of stress and pressure that it is bound to happen.

This concept seems to have a decent shelf life. At the same time, an overdose will do more harm than good. Shows like American Idol have become so popular just because they plan their gaps wisely and keep the essence of the reality shows alive.

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'Sach Ka Saamna' has run into trouble

In what might be a first one in India, the host of a reality show is set to sit on the hot seat and experience the pounding of a contestant?s heart. The television industry is a buzz with rumours of Rajeev Khandelwal being on the other side of the line and answering questions about his personal life on Sacch Ka Saamna, the show he hosts. Rajeev says that there is no sacch in the rumours, but our sources from the TV channel insist that seeing Rajeev on the hot seat is indeed in store for viewers. Rajeev says, “First of all, I never contest on reality shows. Secondly, I am hosting this one ... How can I be on the other side? It?s like asking Mr Shah Rukh Khan to be on the hot seat on Kaun Banega Crorepati. And thirdly, I don?t have the courage to reveal my innermost secrets to the whole world, not even to myself.” Hours after the furore in the Rajya Sabha over the reality show Sach Ka Saamna, the Information and Broadcasting ministry issued a show cause notice to the TV channel that airs the show.

Ministry sources said the notice has been issued as the channel allegedly violated clause 6 (1) ADIO of the programme code, under which they consider the show offensive to good taste and decency.

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Kamal Akhtar of the Samajwadi Party said obscene questions are asked by the anchor (Rajeev Khandelwal), citing the episode in which a woman was asked whether she would have a physical relationship with another man. All this while her husband and other family members looked on. When she said no, the polygraph test said the answer was wrong, prompting Kamal to wonder how that would make the woman?s husband feel.

The channel has to reply to the notice by July 27. When BT contacted the channel?s officials, they said they were yet to decide the plan of action. But the show?s producer, Siddharth Basu, said, “I don?t want to comment on the issue. But we respect the law and will see that everything is resolved. If any changes are required to be made in the show?s format, we?re ready for that.” BT asked industry insiders whether the I&B ministry?s action was justified.

Rajan Shahi, producer, Bidaai The audience has the remote control and the power to switch channels and watch what they want. It?s ridiculous for a bunch of politicians to feel that society will be corrupted because of one show. There?s nothing vulgar about Sach Ka Saamna and the show?s participants are mature adults who are there of their own free will. Politicians should resolve other issues like crime, the remote for which is not in the hands of the audience.

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Ghajendrra Siingh, producer of game and reality shows Indians, especially politicians, are hypocrites. We want to do everything, but won?t talk about it openly. At least this show provides a platform to those who want to speak their mind and there?s an audience that wants to watch it. Politicians want attention and will associate themselves with anything that is being talked about.

Mona Singh, actress When the judiciary has made gay rights legal, why is there such a hoo-haa about this show? When Indian society has come so far, we should stop saying that we?re a conservative country. Such shows are real eye-openers. I?m sure politicians are scared they may be called on Sach Ka Saamna, so they want to ban the show.

Pintoo Guha, producer of various shows on social issues There are certain channels on which such content is acceptable, such as Splitsvilla and Roadies, which are aired on a music channel. But Sach Ka Saamna gets aired on a family entertainment channel, which is not ok. Producers today have pushed the envelope a bit too far for TRPs.

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THE EFFECT OF REALITY SHOW ON CONTESTENTS
Reality show stunt lands 23-year-old in hospital
BHOPAL: Another youth has fallen victim to the lure of television reality shows. Anjaar Khan, 23, fell unconscious after he attempted to stay underwater in a glass reservoir in the qualifying round of a reality show at a mall in Indore on Sunday.

He was admitted to hospital and put on life support. Doctors say his lungs are filled with water and has very low blood pressure and pulse rate. He hasn?t regained consciousness since the stunt. Anjaar, who had come to Indore from Sagar district in search of a job, took up the challenge to hold breath and stay underwater for as long as he could at the promotion event of a Fear Factor reality show. The glass enclosure was 4x7 feet in dimension.

ASP, Indore, Mahesh Jain said: "This was one of the preliminary rounds of Khatron Ke Khiladi, an action-based reality show. Contestants had to remain underwater for as long as they could hold their breath. The winner was to be taken to Mumbai for the actual shooting and the real contest. Anjaar was underwater for about four minutes. When he was brought out, he was unconscious."

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Indore police have arrested three persons identified as the organizers of the promotional programme and employers of Creative Marketing Limited of Mumbai. A case under section 336/34 (endangering life) has been registered. Shahid Khan, with whom Anjaar was staying in Indore, told police that he had left home at 10am on Sunday. When Anjaar didn't return by 9pm, Shahid made frantic calls on his mobile phone. Someone answered and informed him about the incident. "Shahid rushed to the nursing home where some people told him that Anjaar was admitted," said Dilraj Baghel, chief inspector of Tukogunj police station.

"His condition is critical. His mother reached Indore this morning," said the cops. Doctors in the nursing home told reporters that Anjaar was admitted with his lungs submerged in water. Even 40% of oxygen given to him wasn't reaching his body. The water in his lungs has subsided somewhat after the treatment.

Police said the selection round for the reality show began on Friday. Nearly 50 people had tried the underwater stunt. "We have examined the spot. Since there was no fee involved, many tried the stunt," said cops.

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Teen paralysed after rebuke on reality show
KOLKATA: The next time you drag your son or daughter to music or dance competition, remember the face in this photograph. She is Shinjini Sengupta, a 16-year-old class XI student of a reputed Kolkata school, who can now neither speak nor move.

She wasn't like this even a month ago. She was a good dancer and acted in tele-serials and had even appeared in a Bengali film.

Participating

in

a

dance

competition on a Bengali TV channel recently, Shinjini was rebuked by the judges of the show during the shooting on May 19. The teenager never recovered from the shock of being publicly chided.

She slipped into depression and then lost her speech and finally even the use of her limbs. Shinjini was flown to Bangalore's NIMHANS on Friday evening.

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"The doctors here have not been able to diagnose her problem. She can't speak or express herself. An MRI and a CT scan have been done, but we still don't know what she is suffering from," said Sibani Sengupta, Shinjini's mother. Till three days ago, she would write if she needed something. Now she has even stopped that.

Psychiatrists admit that Shinjini's case, though an extreme one, is not rare. "Quite often we come across such cases. Depression is one of the factors behind a number of illnesses. Shinjini was biologically vulnerable," said psychiatrist Debashish Roy.

On May 19, Shinjini participated in a popular dance contest aired from Monday to Wednesday on a Bengali channel. Shinjini didn't break into tears like some of the other participants after being scolded by the judges.

"On returning home, she said she felt like singing loudly. I asked her if she was upset. She just said that she had fought hard to hold back her tears. After that day, she was not her usual self," Sibani said.

She almost stopped eating and slept for most part of the day. When awake, she listened to music. "Being our only child we never stopped her from doing what she wanted to do. Education was our first priority. If she could manage to learn dance without hampering her studies we were okay with it. Now, I don't know what we will do. All parents should learn a lesson from us," said D K Sengupta, Shinjini's father.

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Some days later, Shinjini was at Fun City shooting for a tele-serial. That was the first time her parents realised she was facing a medical problem. "She couldn't say her dialogues. The director was a bit surprised since she hadn't behaved like this ever before. We thought she was deliberately doing this. Then we realised that there was a problem," Sibani said.

She managed the shoot that day but that was the last time that she appeared before the camera. Shinjini even refused to watch episodes of the dance contest where she had appeared.

"We took her to a psychiatrist. She was given medicines which made her drowsy and there was not much improvement in her condition. Since she had stopped eating, her health deteriorated as well and we had to take her to a nursing home," said her father.

On 11 June, she was taken to a nursing home and later shifted to Calcutta Medical Research Institute. After five days at the hospital, the family members decided to take her to Bangalore for treatment. Shinjini was in class VII when she won a prize for dance in school.

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Suicide bid on reality show set
KOLKATA: A 21-year-old girl attempted suicide by consuming poison on Monday at Nehru Children's Museum, where a TV reality show was being filmed.

This is the third time in recent months that reality shows have made headlines for the wrong reasons. In end-June, Shinjini Sengupta, a teenage contestant of a dance show, was left semi-paralyzed reportedly after being rebuked by judges and on August 9, the crew of the Fatafati Filmi Fight show allegedly threw a hotel staffer to his death in Midnapore.

It is not clear whether Monday's victim, Tanubha Shah, a Shyambazar resident, was a participant in the reality show that was being auditioned at the museum premises. Some alleged that the suicide bid took place after she was publicly rebuked by the show's judges. Others deny this. Incidentally, the producer of the show also produces Fatafati Filmi Fight, whose crew is accused of having killed Hotel Ritz Bengal employee Prasun Adhikari after a drunken brawl.

Tanubha reached the museum with her boyfriend on Monday afternoon. What happened thereafter is not very clear.

Some say she had a heated altercation with her boyfriend before storming into the third-floor washroom around 3 pm.

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Tanubha had apparently called her mother from her mobile and told her that she was committing suicide a few moments before she gulped the poison. She was found lying on the bathroom floor, frothing in the mouth. Tanubha was rushed to a private hospital in a critical state by participants of the reality show.

The museum authorities denied there was any pesticide in the washroom. Some claimed Tanubha had carried the poison in her bag. DC (south) Rajesh Subarno said police had not received any complaint. "We have, however, sent an officer to the hospital after we heard about the suicide bid," he said.

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ARTICLES
THE HARSH REALITY OF REALITY SHOWS…. ( DNA – July 18,
2008) Realty shows are in the news for all the wrong reason these days. Last month, a 16years- old girl was left temporarily paralysed after she was humiliated by the judges on a dance-based reality show on Bengali channel. Shinjini Sengupta could not take the public chiding for her lackluster performance and went into depression. The country was still coming to terms with the incident when reality shows claimed its second victim Anjar Kahn, 22, almost drowned while participating in a a show in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where contestants had to stay under water for as long as possible. Khan had to be rushed to hospital and put on a ventilator. The battle for eyeballs and TRPs has seen reality shows undergo a sea change: spats among judges have become the norm; participants are subjected to snide remarks and harsh criticism. The pressure on the shows to perform with audience is having a debilitating effect on those who participate in them. The participants are not only made to undergo massive makeover to look more glamorous, but they also have to deal with tremendous emotional and psychological pressures. “This industry is a tough place to survive” says Dharmesh Jatania, who participated in dance reality show.

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A REALITY SHOW IS NOT WAR, IT’S JUST A GAME. (Recommendation for Participants)

Reality shows have come under the scanner after two contestants suffered major injures recently. While the first, a 16- years-old girl, was struck down by a temporary paralytic attack after being publicly chided by the judges for her poor performance in a dance competition, the other was 22-years – old man who almost drowned while trying to stay under water. In their bid to attract more TRPs, reality shows are going all out to grab public attention. But the recent incidents have highlighted that little is being done to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of participants. Dr. Harish Shetty, consultant psychiatrist at LH Hiranandani Hospital, tells Aniruddha Guha what channels can do to make things easier for participants.

What steps should be taken by channels and production houses to reduce stress among participants? Reality show organisers must make the participants undertsnad that the show and its result are not the be- all and end-all of life. Winning or losing depends on the compatibility between a particiant?s talent and the judge?s decision. Participants should be told to be raedy for surprises. There will be highs and lows. Contestants must be ready for both. The show is meant to be joyful experience.

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Joy need not always be about success. Participants must be taught to embrace success and failure with equal grace. In addition to these, the channel shold ensure the presence of a counsellor on the sets. At the same time, it should not be a ploy to increase TRPs. I remember seeing a show which broadcast it?s participants being counselles. Some things are best kept away from the cameras.

What can channels do to maintain a conducive environment on the sets? Channels need to realise that TRPs cannot be attained at the cost of a participant?s mental health. Hitting below the belt should be avoided. While shooting, a participant needs to be facilitated with three things- humour, genuine appreciation, and breathers. Humour keeps the atmosphere less tense and helps the participants to deal with pressure better. Appreciation acts as a confidence booster. Breathers should include games played between participants, which are different from the format of the game. For example, if it?s a dance show, a word game or maths quiz should be encouraged. All these go a long way in keeping particcipants in a healthy frame of mind.

What steps can participants themselves take to combat stress? The most important thing to keep in mind is that when particpants compete in a reality show, they are not appearing for the IAS examinations, nor are they fighting a war. They are competing against evenly matched contestants.
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Another thing they need to remember is that public memory is short. Any imapct they think they are making is for a very short time. A victory does not exactly make them the talk of the town, or superstars. They will still be faces in the crowd. Participants should communicate their feelings and state of mind with close friends and family before and after the show. The family plays a very important role. It should instil confidence while not scaring participants with humongous expectations. Even Aamir khan and Sachin Tendulkar have failed at some point in life. Lastly, they need to divert their attention to activities other than those on the show, like excercising, hanging out with friends, and praying.

Reality shows featuring children have been criticisedn for insensitive behaviour. Comment. Children need to be handled, literally, with kid gloves. They are not mature enough to handle the pressure. Expecting them to behave like grown-ups in unfair. A counsellor at hand at all times is a must. In fact, reality show involving minors must not only counsel children, but also their parents. Children must be made to realise that the show is an extra- curricular activity and not part of their schooling. It should be made clear to them that their performance on the show would have no impact whatsoever on their lives. Judges, or for that matter anybody on the show, who mistreats or humiliates a child should be arrested on the spot for violating child rights.
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Anything for a high TRP...
Recently, the host of Brazilian crime show, Canal Livre, and state legislator Wallace Souza was arrested on suspicion of commissioning at least five of the murders to boost the TRP of his show and prove his claim that Brazil?s amazon region is awash in violent crime. Police also have accused Souza of drug trafficking. Singer Mika Singh pulled down cocontestant Jay Bhanushali?s pants in the show Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachchao, leading to much drama.

Former cricketer Vinod Kambli ruffled feathers when he criticised the BCCI and questioned Tendulkar?s the integrity of Sachin friendship.

The past few months have seen a flurry of activity on the TV front, as the telly churned out one controversy after another. The TV audience have been treated to moments of adrenaline rush while they watched celebs live among reptiles and dangerous beings in the jungle. They waited with bated breath to see which lucky guy will be the one to win Rakhi?s heart in her swayamvar. But all in all, the one thing that became clear was that television could go to any lengths to garner the much needed TRP.

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While the case of Wallace Souza has shocked the world, closer home the Indian audience are not novices to TRP garnering strategies. ishQ Bector, a contestant in the reality show Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachcao feels that the Mika and Jay episode, though eyebrow-raising, is definitely not scripted. “Mika is a crazy dude, I guess it?s in his nature to be a thorn, but he is damn entertaining. Apart from the Jay episode there was also the time when he tried getting fresh with Negar. That was priceless,” laughs Bector.

But unlike Iss Jungle... the show Sach Ka Saamna found opposition from every corner, from the first episode itself, thanks to Kambli?s outburst. The show transformed the telly into a 21 inch confessional, and people tuned in to watch „real? drama unfold.

Contestant Bobby Darling who was a celebrity contestant on the show says she chose to sit on the hot seat to divulge details of her “misunderstood life.” “There?s nothing scripted on the show. A contestant is aware that details of his/her life will be made public. But such is the format. The show reunited me with my Dad,” says Bobby.

But television alone cannot be blamed for stooping to new lows for the much needed TRP. “We have to remember that the society in general has turned into a voyeuristic one,” says actor Eijaz Khan. “Today people love to see others in pain. How else can you explain such high TRP for such shows?” asks Khan. But he warns that the day might not far when a “Souza like episode could happen in India.”

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As contestants of shows like Splitsvilla and Roadies have confirmed in the past that they can do anything to be in the limelight, channels seem to have no qualms exploiting the situation. Be it Shweta Tiwari and Negar Khan?s bold bathing scenes in Iss Jungle... or people confessing to extramarital affairs and murderous thoughts on TV, looks like anything is okay to grab eyeballs. That?s the reality of TV. [email protected]

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Reality Shows for spoil real family life???
The Indian version of "The Moment of Truth", an American reality TV show, is in danger of going off air after a government notice said the show's content was indecent. "Sach Ka Saamna" (Face the Truth), was the subject of heated parliamentary debates, with some lawmakers demanding a ban on the show. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued a show cause notice to Star Plus channel on Wednesday, asking it to explain why the show shouldn't be taken off air.

"It has been observed that the anchor of the programme seeks answers to questions regarding infidelity, incest and other taboo subjects that are not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition, especially keeping in view Indian culture and
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ethos," the notice sent to Star Plus said. "Sach Ka Saamna" features participants who have to answer questions of a personal nature in front of a live audience and their friends and family to win a sum of 10 million rupees.A polygraphic test indicates whether the answers are true or false. A false answer means an exit from the show.

The government notice said the questions caused "great embarrassment" not only to participants and their family members but also to viewers and were not suitable for unrestricted public viewing. Star Plus channel has been given time until July 27 to respond to the notice.

A spokeswoman for the channel declined to comment on the issue. "Sach Ka Saamna", is already one of the most popular programmes on Indian television."We've got a great response to the show and ever since the launch we've got over 4,500 calls from people who want to participate in the show," Vasudha Jha, VP, Corporate Communications for Star India, said.

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Real Face of Reality Shows!!
Musical reality shows are supposed to showcase the reality when it comes to the singing prowess of participants.. But what is the present face of reality shows? And what does the future have in store... Not so long ago, a Musical Reality Show meant a platform where new talents showcased their talents and treated viewers to a wonderful musical treat and were also exclusive.

But today, such reality shows are a fad that has gripped every channel possible. These shows are dime a dozen, and almost every channel has such a reality show to offer, some presenting new faces while some are recycling old faces that had caused a stir when they had come the first time. Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar (JJWS) ended this week to be replaced by Star Voice of India while Indian Idol fourth season is scheduled to get started shortly. The age old SaReGaMaPa by Zee TV has already rolled out its latest SRGMP Challenge 2009 for this year. Waar Pariwaar on Sony TV, Junoon on NDTV Imagine are few others that are on air at the moment.

Some channels have even gone on to capitalize on the past contestants? popularity to belt out few more shows mixing singing with dancing like Chak De Bachche on 9X and Ek Se Badkar Ek on Zee. But do the shows offer anything new? Do these shows really have any aim? How much do these shows really help in giving the music industry the much needed playback singers?

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Moreover, how real are these „Reality? shows? With respect to the script, the many reality shows pervading our television don?t really qualify as reality shows because they are supposedly scripted with participants coached to act in certain ways by off-screen handlers, and events on screen are manipulated through editing and other post-production techniques. SRGMP this week saw Ashaji putting down her mike after making a statement which through sound effects and video editing was made to look as if she was banging the mike. Was that what really happened?? Mentors or the judges? fighting have become part and parcel of all these shows. Junoon started with an envious judges? panel but even that has taken the same path of showing controversy among the judges. Waar Pariwaar tries not to end any week without some drama or the other. But worse being that such shows are started in haste without proper planning or format structuring leading to sudden change of formats midway.

Whatever we are seeing on television is nothing new, including the selected songs by the contestants. A country like ours that boasts of such a vast musical heritage sees a recycle of the same songs time after time in different reality shows of different channels. Most of the organizers of such shows seem to be looking to make money out of viewers who send daily SMS to keep or evict contestants. Mostly this voting is dictated by the popularity of a contestant among the masses rather than quality of singing.

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The sustenance of such shows hinges on the involvement of viewers who vote to keep the show going and most feel aggrieved at the end of such shows. Either they are found complaining about more of drama and less singing or about the amendments made on the show of which they are oblivious.

Keeping all these aside, the saddest part of these shows are when the essence and objective of such shows get defeated as in most cases the winners fail to a make an impact in their field of reality. What is the future of this fad? Shall we see better, improved shows, or will a singer coming out of such shows be able to carve a niche in the musical world in the coming days? Will there be something interesting to look forward to? This is a question only the producers and creators of such shows can answer, provided they have an answer...

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Reality TV goes wrong
Three employees of an event management firm in India have been arrested for putting the life of a reality TV show participant in danger, police say. Anjar Khan, 22, took part in the show in the central Indian city of Indore where contestants were asked to stay under water for as long as possible. He collapsed and is in hospital in a "serious condition", doctors say. Reality TV shows have become huge hits in India with thousands queuing up to take part in them.

Something wrong
Mr Khan participated in a programme at a shopping mall in Indore on Sunday to publicise a new reality TV show "Khatron Ke Khiladi" [Dare devils] where participants were dared to remain under water in a huge glass tank. He was inside the water tank for some minutes before the organisers realised there was something wrong and he was pulled out. Reports say he lost consciousness in the tank and had water in his lungs. He managed to walk a few steps but then collapsed. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he has been on artificial respirator ever since. "He was brought to the hospital with a major part of his system such as pulse and blood pressure in an extremely critical condition," Dr GMR Shah of Mayur Hospital told. Dr Shah said Khan would continue to be on ventilator for some more days although his condition had shown some improvement. According to reports, no doctors or paramedics were present at the mall when the incident took place. Officials say the organizers did not have permission to hold the contest.
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PRIMARY DATA
QUESTIONS Are you paid for participating in reality shows? Manomay Bhattacharya Siddhesh Pai

YES

NO

Do such shows increase your stress level?

YES

YES

Are you pleased with the judging or voting system?

NO

YES

Do the comments of the Judges affect you?

NO

YES

Do you think the Reality Shows are scripted? How much hours do you practice before your performance? Do you think Reality Shows can help a new comer to pursue his career?

YES

YES

2-3
YES

6-7
YES

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A Brief Introduction about Manomay Bhattacharya
Manomay is the fifth generation of JADUBHATTA. In this ambience, therefore, the debut of a young Bengali singer in the field of music and that too truly deserves praise. Manomay Bhattacharya has a sweet voice and he is no flash-in-the-pan. He has had solid training in music at the age of 4 under the vigilant guidance of father Sri Dhrubadas Bhattacharya, a disciple of Subinoy Roy, and mother Ila Bhattacharya, a disciple of Ratneswar Mukherjee.

A Brief Introduction about Siddhesh Pai

Siddhesh Pai is Dance India Dance contestants. He is a dancer by profession. He has participated in many reality shows; Dance India Dance, Nach Le With Saroj Khan etc. Siddhesh pai is a background dancer and aspires to be a dancer and a choreographer.

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Conclusion:
From the above collected data, we can arrive to the conclusion that celebrities participate in reality show just because they want to get a break from their regular schedule and most importantly it provided them money along with more fame. Also that these days reality shows are in trend they do not mind participating in these shows as they also can be in the limelight.

They also cannot arrive to a conclusion whether the shows are scripted but yes most of them feel that they are formatted and others do feel they are scripted and the results are also predicated.

Secondly reality shows are just a mean for celebrities to earn more money, as these reality shows do not affect their career. Reality shows only do provide more fame to the celebrities. People recognize them as an individual by their name and not by the character they play in the teleserials. Whereas the new celebrities would eagerly wait for the opportunity to be a part of these shows as it gives them exposure and more employment opportunities.

Hence celebrities wait for an opportunity to be a part of reality shows because they can thus get an opportunity to show themselves and their talent. Basically celebrities do only have gains from reality shows irrespective of what impact it has on the society.
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CONCLUSION
Reality shows are a never ending concept because if one reality show on television comes to an end the other with an overall new concept starts. Hence it is very difficult for the viewers to get bored of reality shows. Every reality shows are based on different ides and different concept, even though they are of same kind. E.g. Nach Baliye and Jalak Dikhla Ja both of these reality shows are of the same kind i.e. they are dancing shows. But the concepts of both the shows are different from each other. In the former one, celebrity couple performance based on the teaching of their choreographer where as in the later one the celebrity dances with the choreographer.

These days there is a new reality show coming up on channel “Colors” Zara Nach Ke Dikha, which involves a cricketer dancing with a celebrity. This is a overall new show coming up and with a new concept. But there are some negative thoughts also along with it. Initially the cricketers used to earn money from endorsement of a product, even then they were accused that they didn?t put in more of practice if they lost a match. Now if they come in a reality show which would require more time for practice it is natural for the accusers to accuse that India lost because the cricketers did not put in time for practice rather they were busy in reality shows.

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Reality shows though entertaining it has many side effects with it. As a viewer we enjoy watching reality shows but in reality many participants suffer. Especially children because they have to sacrifice their studies and then come all the way to Mumbai for reality shows leaving their studied behind. It is not sure that every children coming and participating in reality show will win. It?s eventually that only one participant that wins while others get emotionally hurt and walk off. It is different that they get exposure along with fame but at the age of 10 – 15 it is very important to concentrate on studies rather than anything else.

Finally to conclude, we can say that every coin has two side so does everything, it can be used for productive purpose or it can be used for unproductive purpose. It lies in the hands of the user. So is the case of reality shows it is finally the participants and the viewers who have to decide whether the show is productive or unproductive. As a viewer we need to understand what is good and what is bad and based on this we need to accept what is good for us and reject that is bad.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
SECONDARY DATA:
Internet:

www.timesofindia.com www.rediff.com www.indiainfo.com www.buzzle.com

Newspaper:

Times of India DNA Mumbai Mirror

PRIMARY DATA:
Phone Interview.

Manomay Bhattacharya Siddhesh Pai

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