MPs in Rajya Sabha Disapprove of Reality Shows
Indian reality shows, a hit among Indian middle classes for they think they identify with them more than soaps and flicks, have attracted our lawmakers’ wrath. MPs in the Rajya Sabha have said that several such programmes involve “dirty” content aimed at enhancing their TRPs.
Kamal Akhtar, mooting the topic during zero hour, gave the instance of a newly started programme Sach ka Samna in which a celebrity is asked to face a polygraphy test.
He complained that the anchor of the programme ask obscene questions and that recently a woman was asked by the anchor in front of her husband if she would have physical contact with another person. After her response in negative, the polygrahpy test declared that her answer was a lie. Akhtar asked what impact would it have had on her husband.
As for soaps such as Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Balika Vadhu, he said that though the latter was projected as a serial on eradication of social evil, it was portraying child marriage as a virtue.
Many members supported Akhtar with Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan directing the government to take note of it.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan said the government was ready for a structured debate on the subject.
Several TV channels, engaged in fierce competition, have launched high profile reality shows at prime time.
