Reality Television

Today young kids are not satisfied with just being part of the audience. They want to be in the limelight, they want to be upfront.

The most modern TV jargon, Reality TV, has been unleashed to Indian viewers.

However, the desi versions of Reality TV are slightly different from its western brethrens. Barring the stray show like Survivor, most Western reality shows have strong sexual undertones.

In India, there are various options – in yesteryears game shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati and Khulja Sim Sim gave unknown people their 15 minutes of fame – and money. Then came talk shows like Kuch Diil Se and Khulla Manch, which made people share the most intimate details of their lives just to appear on the box.

But the real McCoy at the moment is the reality-talent hunt show. Channel V did two Popstars series, then there’s Get Gorgeous (the hunt for a supermodel), Zee’s India’s Best, Cinestars Ki Khoj where they are looking for movie stars, MTV has done a talent show for their Ekta Kapoor-produced serial.

Perhaps the biggest change this year has been change in the mindset. In KBC days, it used to be cool just to be on TV. But today young kids are not satisfied with just being part of the audience. They want to be in the limelight, they want to be upfront.
- Saurabh Azad