Firstly, I hate reality shows. Ok, I hate Indian reality shows. I have loved and can’t get enough of shows like Fear Factor, The Apprentice, Pimp My Ride and so many others, but a majority of reality shows, especially Indian ones, are all about crying and bitching and gossiping and politics and so on. It is such a pain to watch these shows. Yes, I am talking about shows like Roadies, Splitsvilla, Some random persons Swayamwar, the list is endless.
Reality shows are not something new in India, but if you remember, crime based reality shows have been around on TV since a very very long time. Even before western channels made their way to India. I don’t know how they are categorized, but I would call it confrontation talk shows where they try to settle family and personal issues in public have been around a long time in India. Words can’t express how much crying goes along with these shows. I just hate em. I don’t understand who can stand to see so much crying and sadness. I think people feast on others’ misery and that’s what makes these shows popular. Also I feel that all this drama in these shows are scripted and made up. Which is even more irritating, as I leave it to the soaps to run according to script and don’t want to see such stuff in reality shows.
However, the other day, I was seeing the trailer of a show hosted by Kiran Bedi called ‘Aap ki Kachehri’. This is yet another of those stupid reality shows where they resolve family and interpersonal differences in public and in front of a TV audience. The host, Kiran Bedi, is a highly decorated police officer and a respected media personality. How she got roped in to host such a show is beyond my understanding. Especially, this one scene that showed a conflict between a husband and wife. Apparently the wife has been ill-treated and hates her husband and wants to get separated. As fate would have it, they land up in this reality show on TV where their case in put up for judgement in front of the public.
After some heated discussion between the husband and wife, the wife makes this statement – “I would rather be a Widow, than be a Divorcee”. My eyes opened up wide in astonishment when I fully understood what I just heard. The lady is actually implying that her husband should die and that too on public TV. If she had said that she would rather be dead than be a divorcee, I would have understood and empathized with her, but this was too much. I would even think that this lady has a criminal bent of mind and she should be taken into preventive custody in case she really decides to kill her husband off.
How can a normal person make such a statement, and how can the producers and the host allow such a statement to be aired on TV. The husband should have immediately filed a police complaint that the wife was threatening his life and have her taken into custody. I used to get more and more agitated each time the trailer ran while I was watching TV. It especially disappointed me when such an honourable lady like Kiran Bedi was hosting this cheap show. What is more interesting is that the show is extremely popular among the Indian public and its duration was extended from the initially planned 54 weeks on air.
Such is the fate of TV entertainment in India.
No Trackbacks
You can leave a trackback using this URL: http://blog.prashu.com/2009/12/kiran-bedis-messed-up-reality-tv-show/trackback/
4 Comments
All such “reality shows” exist everywhere. its just that they don’t get popular outside the country like others. even america is filled with its swayamvars and splitsvillas.
You can say, This show is basically Indian version of JUDGE JUDY.
And judging by your post, its doing it right
Dear Prashu,
Very aptly put. Nicely written and wonderful observation. Very few people can do that. Keep it up.
Well, as a matter of fact, that’s the reality of the Men’s fate in this Country.
Can you imagine the same callous response had the husband said the exact words about the wife? like, “I’d rather be a widower, than be a divorcee”?
Do you think people, media, NCW, Police, etc. would have let him live if such a statement was made on TV? Absolutely not.
Here apparently nobody took a notice, simply because such a statement came from a woman’s mouth and about a Man! In our society, there’s no value for a Man’s disposable life, so noboby cares of such public statements against Men!
Interestingly in our country it always shifts from one extreme to the other. Nothing can ever be done in moderation. In the past women were ill-treated and dealt with like slaves, and now they have enough protection to oppose god. Minorities and backward castes were treated very badly in the past, but now they have so much going for them and are treat so much like kings that it is a sin to be born a Hindu and/or among the upper caste.