What's the message of this episode?
Jaya Drona
[ 28 Oct, 2006 2127hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
As contestants and channels come out in support of canvassing in reality shows, the audience is left wondering how fair the voting process is.
The channel and contestants call it canvassing. Others are terming it as rigging. Caught in the middle is television's favourite cash cow – reality show-based voting.
After Shweta Kwaatra and Manav Gohil – contestants of a reality based dance show Nach Baliye – were found to have bought 200 SIM cards so that more people could vote for them, the controversy is just getting bigger.
Samir Nair, CEO of Star condones the action by saying, "I feel sorry for those two contestants. They've done nothing wrong. In any of these competitive shows, there's a certain amount of canvassing."
But a few days ago, when DT spoke to Shweta, she had this to say, "If I like somebody's performance, I'd like to vote as a matter of personal choice. But I don't think it is justified to keep on voting for the same person again and again."
Their choreographer Yogesh Patkar, meanwhile, accepts the charge. "Other contestants have been doing this from the word go. We bought the cards only later and Manav only has 50 cards, the rest were distributed amongst friends. Our case has been ripped open unlike others who have been doing the same thing surreptitiously."
But, is the whole issue of campaigning, either by buying SMSs or distributing T-shirts, fair? Judge Saroj Khan says, "If people are asking their families to vote for them, what is the big deal?
As a judge, I am concerned only with their performance." Even the participants concur. Says Tanaaz Lal, who is actively indulging in such public activities, "We have distributed T-shirts and campaigned and the results are marvellous. There's no hitch to participate with Manav and Shweta because I don't think they've done anything objectionable."
