Reality shows revealing a new reailty about Indian audience
By Seema, Mumbai: After making waves among Americans and leaving the audience with mesmerised looks in the West, the popular reality shows have finally arrived in India. Being popularised to promote the best male and female singer out of thousands of candidates, these shows have become a rage among the Indian audience.
In one of such competition, the West Bengal's Rooprekha Banerjee and Kashmir's Qazi Touqueer on Thursday (October 20) won the coveted title of "Fame Jodi"(or, fame couple) after giving a tough fight to fellow competitors in a contest that lasted 16 weeks.
The "Idol" franchise has landed in India, where it has become a huge ratings success for Sony Entertainment Television's Hindi-language service.
This competition comes barely six months after the country witnessed its first reality talent hunt show " Indian Idol".
A beaming Qazi and an equally ecstatic Rooprekha said it was a dream come true. "I am feeling good and it also feels a little odd because of the kind of popularity that I have gained in such a short span of time. I always dreamt of becoming a singer since childhood. In the process of becoming a singer, I have become such a popular figure among the people that feels like an achievement," says Rooprekha.
"It's unbelievable. The way the people have supported me, it's unbelievable. I wanted to become an actor, But now I have become a singer. That's unbelievable. I am so happy and I want to thank all the people,' says Qazi.
Interestingly, the "Indian Idol" and " Fame Gurukul" are exactly the same as its American antecedent "American Idol" and the Spanish reality show "Operacion Triunfo".
Soon after launching a channel service in Germany 12 years ago, Sony Entertainment Television realised it could not take American cookie-cutter content and put it in another country.
After getting richer by a rupees 10 million (222,049.52 dollars) contract with Sony Entertainment Television , a car and not to mention the endorsement money, the young millionaires, however have their heads firmly on their shoulders. They seem to be fully aware of the pressure and trials that come with overnight fame and fortune.
When an estimated half-a-million viewers called in to vote on the last "Fame Gurukul" episode of the season the phone services reportedly came close to meltdown. The casting call attracted hundreds of thousands of hopefuls from every corner of the country to showcase their talents before the judges, which included singers and music directors.
Meanwhile, jubilation swept through the family of Qazi, who rose to fame after being voted as the fame couple.
"I knew it from the beginning that he will win. His confidence has been the same from the beginning and he really improved as a singer by the end of the competition," said Qazi Rafi, Qazi's uncle in Srinagar.
Serials like the Sony's"Fame Gurukul" are bringing the television, which has always been seen as a poorer cousin of cinema, to the forefront. It has also marked the advent of television stardom.
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