TRP Drama :Deccan Herald
Even as the parents of Shinjini Sengupta, the Kolkata teenager who suffered a paralytic attack after being publicly chided by a judge in a reality show, have hit back at the producer of the show for claiming that the 16-year-old's condition was triggered by a neurological disorder, there are scores of wannabe participants who still do not want to give up taking part in such shows. Says Rishi Dwivedi, "I want to take part in all shows where I can display my prowess at dancing because for a new guy like me who has no godfather in Bollywood, there is no other way to grab the limelight other than these reality shows."
Shweta Motwani, who was rejected by the judges of the Indian Idol in the elimination round, admits that it is traumatic to be ridiculed in front of the entire nation but bravely adds that there is no gain unless there is pain. "I am now working at my vocal chords and I want to take part in the next season of Indian Idol because I have taken it up as a challenge to prove that I can sing and come in the top 10 in the next round."
Tarun Mehjra, business head, Zee TV, states that his channel has never believed in demoralising any participant. "We have been the pioneers of reality music shows since we started 'Antakshari' and 'Sa Re Ga Ma' over 12 years ago. In fact, 'Sa Re Ga Ma' has even become a benchmark that is synonymous with the best in music. People from the film fraternity have acknowledged that the talent and quality here is unmatched. There has been no rethinking as far as asking our judges to tone down their harsh comments in our show for the simple reason that none of our judges believe in being harsh to the participants to the extent of making them emotional wrecks."
Father of Lucknow-based Tanmay Chaturvedi, who finished third in the 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa-Little Champs', Rajeev Chaturvedi, however, says that the schedule of the reality shows are "extremely tight and gruelling."
"The organisers make the children sweat...they keep them awake by sprinkling water on their eyes," he alleged. "Sometimes the entire episode is shot in a single day which is very gruelling for the contestants," Chaturvedi, who left his private job to be with his child at the reality show, said. "The organisers also at times make the contestants perform in malls and schools to earn some extra money. All this takes a toll on the children," he added.
Paresh Srivastava, also from Lucknow, whose son had participated in the audition of a reality show for a regional TV, also voiced similar sentiments. "Sometimes the judges don't listen to the lines at all...," he claimed.
Some parents also questioned the competence of the judges. "Many times, small timers and failed singers and musicians are made judges...they themselves are a frustrated lot, how can they be expected to do justice with the participants," said Vijai Luxmi Tewari, whose daughter had participated unsuccessfully in an audition for a reality show.
Another parent from Lucknow, Rama, however, said that success in reality shows bring not only money but also fame. "The judges rebuke the contestants only to bring out the best from them," she remarked.
Music director Shrawan (of Nadeem-Shrawan duo) reasons that he is not in favour of such reality shows because quite often the vulnerable singing aspirants are subjected to humiliation. He adds, "What has happened to the earlier 'Indian Idol' or 'Fame Gurukul' winners like Abhijeet Sawant, Qazi, Rooprekha, Sandeep Acharya, Rahul Vaidya and Amit Sana?"
Without mincing words, Shrawan continues. "Reality music shows like 'Indian Idol' and 'Star Voice of India' are unfair to real talent. It is nothing but the game of SMS because even at the peak of their singing career, neither Mohammad Rafi nor Kishore Kumar got the status of an idol." Shrawan adds tongue-in-cheek as an afterthought, "One good thing this show does is to keep music directors like Annu Malik busy round the clock."
Director Ashok Pandit does not mind calling a spade a spade. "Shows like 'Indian Idol' and 'Sa Re Ga Ma' and 'Star Voice of India' actually end up doing a great disservice to music by exploiting teenagers as well as kids. What is appalling is that icons in the field of music like Javed Akhtar, Annu Malik, Khayyam and Alisha Chinoy besides Udit Narayan agree to sit as judges and abuse budding new singers just because the channels are keen on increasing their TRPs. The genuine and deserving new singers tend to get put off when they see eminent music directors like Annu Malik and lyricists like Javed Akhtar discouraging singers half way through when they are singing for the show."
Adds Pandit with disgust. "Why do you think Abhijeet who has been in this industry as a playback singer just for the last two decades picked up the gauntlet and have a big fight with a veteran music director like Khayyam, who has been in this field for the last six decades, on the show 'Star Voice of India'? I am sure the channel must have paid him in lakhs just because they are keen on increasing the TRPs for their show."
Edited by Indradhanush - 17 years ago
