Article TOI on Little champs

The number of reality shows has shot up to an surprising level and the most surprising of it all is the inclusion of children in shows like Li'l Champs.

We see young children battling it out in front of the camera, behaving like their older counter-parts, taking them through all the scripted emotional drama and expecting them to behave like adults is like taking it all a little too far.

But as they say, there is always another part of the story and there might be one here as well. We got to talk to one of the judges on the show, Kailsh Kher, and he had something new to tell us. When we asked him about the same, he said, "There is more than just the negativity that people try to see into it. There are people who are taking various kinds of initiatives to help these kids to do better in their studies like sponsoring their studies and helping them with their music education."

And when we asked him about the stiff competition that these kids are being put through, he says, "Competition kahan nahi hai?" And then adds on to say, "There is pressure in every aspect of life. Parents put all their aspirations on their children and right from the school time these kids face immense competition. And if through this platform they are getting fame and better career prospects, then whats wrong in it."

Well, all the points noted there. We don't know if they really have better career prospects, considering most of them are aged below ten years, they do seem to know their music and love to be singing in front of their favourite stars.