Post Ramayan and Hum Log era, Indian television has undergone transformations in leaps and bounces. In the early nineties, having channels DD1 and DD2 were considered a luxury. I remember my childhood days when every Saturday and Sunday I sat in front of the television to watch He-Man, Mahabharat, the afternoon regional movie and the evening Bollywood movie. The shrill sound from the rainbow colored screen on DD1 and the Hindustani music telecasted as a mark of respect for two days after the death of an eminent political leader were considered synonymous with Indian television. As I see it today, television was considered innocent. Limited and watchable programming lured us to the television screen every week slowly becoming a part of our mundane life.
The late nineties experienced the introduction of satellite television, opening the flood gates for more than a dozen channels. From an univision programming of news, soap operas, epic series and movies we moved to specific viewership format, where each category of programming had its own channel. With time the epic series and regional movies on weekends were taken over by daily soaps; the Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and the Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The innocence was being lost by shows depicting family feuds, vendetta, murder, horror, infidelity and excessive emotions. What's surprising is that the TRP's were at their highest during this period. Gone were the days of Nukkad, a simple and joyful tale dealing with the struggles of the youth to make a living in a harsh social and economically challenging environment. We related to characters of Kadar Bhai, Dhukia, Khopadi, Ganpath Hawaldar and many more, who played real life character, who had real life problem and expressed real life emotions.
The dawn of the 21st century again brought about a big transformation to television in India. It bought in the MTV culture, which captivated the youth of the nation and exposed it to the vast pool of music, fashion and celebrities. India as a whole was undergoing a revolutionary transformation in every field, from science, sports, commerce to fashion. People were slowly getting exposed to western culture through television and print media. Television show anchors underwent a lingual switch from Hindi to English. Daily soaps had moved from crowded society locations to villas. Actors and actresses were traveling in Mercedes and BMW’s with their cycles, bus passes and rickshaws stored in some far away abandoned warehouse. The traditional Indian attire was replaced with D&G, Armani and other famous Indian fashion houses. On a whole the colors of Indians television had shifted from black and white to high definition!
This high definition society was flaunting its new avatar (identity) to the world. International programs and news made us more aware of our surrounding. Kids spoke fluent English thanks to cartoon network, a young techi was accustomed to the British and American accent thanks to Friends and Yes Minister and a home maker decorated her shack into a palace thanks to teleshopping networks and home keeping programs. These are just few of the examples how the transformation of television in India changed the face of the country. All these changes were welcomed with open arms with few cries of hypocrisy. Until……………..
The late nineties experienced the introduction of satellite television, opening the flood gates for more than a dozen channels. From an univision programming of news, soap operas, epic series and movies we moved to specific viewership format, where each category of programming had its own channel. With time the epic series and regional movies on weekends were taken over by daily soaps; the Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and the Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The innocence was being lost by shows depicting family feuds, vendetta, murder, horror, infidelity and excessive emotions. What's surprising is that the TRP's were at their highest during this period. Gone were the days of Nukkad, a simple and joyful tale dealing with the struggles of the youth to make a living in a harsh social and economically challenging environment. We related to characters of Kadar Bhai, Dhukia, Khopadi, Ganpath Hawaldar and many more, who played real life character, who had real life problem and expressed real life emotions.
The dawn of the 21st century again brought about a big transformation to television in India. It bought in the MTV culture, which captivated the youth of the nation and exposed it to the vast pool of music, fashion and celebrities. India as a whole was undergoing a revolutionary transformation in every field, from science, sports, commerce to fashion. People were slowly getting exposed to western culture through television and print media. Television show anchors underwent a lingual switch from Hindi to English. Daily soaps had moved from crowded society locations to villas. Actors and actresses were traveling in Mercedes and BMW’s with their cycles, bus passes and rickshaws stored in some far away abandoned warehouse. The traditional Indian attire was replaced with D&G, Armani and other famous Indian fashion houses. On a whole the colors of Indians television had shifted from black and white to high definition!
This high definition society was flaunting its new avatar (identity) to the world. International programs and news made us more aware of our surrounding. Kids spoke fluent English thanks to cartoon network, a young techi was accustomed to the British and American accent thanks to Friends and Yes Minister and a home maker decorated her shack into a palace thanks to teleshopping networks and home keeping programs. These are just few of the examples how the transformation of television in India changed the face of the country. All these changes were welcomed with open arms with few cries of hypocrisy. Until……………..
Reality shows seem to be ruling the roost on Indian television. You mentioned many shows that have questionable content in your blog but I just want to focus on one in particular . The flavor of the season and now infamous show, 'Sach Ka Samna'. With the advent of this show, Indian television has truly entered into unknown territory. While telling the truth is a commendable act, are we ready to face the repercussions? Are we forgetting? This is still India! We are still a country that prizes an individual's reputation and dignity above all. Hence, it is a little disturbing, to say the least, that we watch in morbid fascination, as common individuals voluntarily strip themselves and their families of that in front of millions of strangers. To what end? To make a quick buck?! And we encourage this! It is a little unnerving what the Indian viewer is metamorphosing into.
ReplyDeleteIn a bid to grab viewership and increase TRP ratings, channels seem to be simply transplanting shows from the West and feeding it to the Indian audience, without pausing to wonder if the format is suitable or not. All they have to do is throw in a substantial amount in prize money and you have people rushing in hoards to participate. I can't help but wonder, what we are ready to do for money? Does the end justify the means? Will we watch anything that channels throw at us in the name of entertainment? While I do not condone the state regulating what we watch, when and where do we draw that line, of what is acceptable and what is not? In some cases, I think, it is imperative it should.
Your point is taken Zarakaupu, but why target one show? Why the oversight on one and ignorant behavior towards the other so called unacceptable shows? you cannot argue that this show has run alarm bells when many of the other shows mentioned in the blog are either telecasting their second season or in production of their next season. Why not pull the plug on them? How did the issue of telling the truth to the world gain such an astronomical importance that the government has slap a notice on the television show.
ReplyDeleteWere they cathcing up on their parlimentary nap when other shows running moving the TRP needle up and the morality needle down?
I understand your point on the fact that our politicians have chosen to isolate and oppose the telecasting of this particular show whilst there are others that have questionable content. I have only two words for that 'vested interests'.
ReplyDeleteI chose to comment on the show as I, personally, found somewhere, some values are getting eroded. The participants of the show may take part in it of their own accord and for their own reasons; fame, money and so on. I take issue with the fact that fame and money seem to be taking precedence over the values that make us unique as a society. And what about the consequences? You ask if we are a nation that is afraid to tell the truth. I ask are we a nation that forgives if the truth does come out? We applaud the people who have gone on the show and bared their lives in front of millions, but are we ready to forgive them for the mistakes made and the secrets kept? I think you know the answer to that..NO!! Our society will not remember those individuals for their courage but for their wrong doings and will chastise them for it. And what happens if things turn violent?! Who takes responsibility for it?! The participants who just 'wanted to tell the truth' or the channel or even the creative heads who come up with the questions?!
As far as the other shows are concerned (and keeping aside the 'purely western ones') I do not deny that they too have questionable content. And here I mean the ones made purely for the Indian audience (Big Boss etc..). What I wonder is how far would the channels go, in order to raise their TRP ratings? Because one way to keep and increase viewership would be to make the show more sensational, right?
So..when DO we take pause and say its not ok?