Reality shows or cruelty shows?

It is not the physical beauty, openness to loving and being loved, playfulness or innate humour that they have that is most appealing about them. But what makes children most beautiful is the fact that they possess something that we have all lost - the quality of innocence says famous British author and columnist Tim Lott.

He further elaborates that he has always felt “in exile” since childhood not as a result of some traumatic experience but due to the simple slow dimmer switch of time passing and imagination coarsening. These honest views only reflect the universal opinion of childhood as a time where imperfection is welcomed, tottering steps are celebrated and wonder is the norm.

The leisurely pace of learning and freshness of vision that children possess has led to the use of the phrase “the child’s way of looking at the world”. This view it is hoped will infuse childlike enthusiasm into the cynical world of adults. That all the cherished attributes of childhood are but a trace of memory finding no basis, in reality, is the bitter truth staring at us in a market driven society.

Unfortunately, children have emerged as major players for Television rating points (TRP’s) with channels introducing reality shows encompassing a wide range of subjects including in their gambit cookery, dance, music and acting. In calling for a ban on reality shows eminent film personalities Shoojit Sircar and Amol Gupte have voiced an important concern bothering many sane elements in society about the way they rob children of the innocence and purity of childhood.

To be put there and scrutinised by the world at a tender age puts tremendous pressure on the child whose sense of pride depends on the remarks of the judges and acclaim garnered in each episode. Children can have either an inflated ego or a punctured one and this emotional roller coaster in no way enhances their talent they point out. And Shoojit’s concern is not limited to children, they extend to parents and viewers who shed tears, express happiness, take sides and are manipulated in every way like pawns in a chess game by the market -savvy strategists.

Several entertainment channels in the country thrive on reality shows but discerning viewers have always been aware of the pitfalls. Women’s organisations in Hyderabad raised a hue and cry about obscene dance moves that little girls performed in a reality show some years ago, appalled by the tragic situation where kids unaware of the significance of their suggestive gestures, laboured on regardless.

No less alarming were stories of ambitious mothers forcing their children to shun studies and put in long hours of rigorous practice with the sole aim of winning the first prize (which often has a large sum at stake). I still remember the feeling of revulsion experienced when the old grandpa judge danced, throwing his hat at this little toddler whose lewd dancing elicited cheers and catcalls.

Despite strong protests and media attention nothing came of it and these ‘mini item numbers’ continued to dance to the appreciation of parents, judges and invited audience raking in big bucks. No one cared about the gruelling rehearsals, the break from school and the mental trauma that these children underwent when they failed to beat the competition.

A five-year-old kid in a music reality show currently aired on a regional channel vies with the show anchor in wooing a young female judge and the antics that this kid resorts to at the behest of the producers are, to put it mildly, disturbing.

As he woos his lady love with flowers, flaunts her picture inside his vest and looks at her with feigned adult passion and says “I love you” the audience breaks into laughter. The camera focuses on the proud mother, precocious son and all other faces in the studio to catch their reaction leave you feeling sorry for the child. If he carries on with this behaviour out of the studio sets, God help him!

The world outside surely will not be as empathetic. There are the mini “Lata Mangeshkars and Kishore Kumars” who demurely touch the feet of the judges and celebrity guests and are declared as the greatest find of the decade. Experience tells us that these “finds of the decade”, however, fade out before the turn of the decade in most cases. The few “reality show” finds who made it big in the music or dance industry, seem to have been the persistent and lucky ones whose efforts continued beyond the shows.

Many children who win handsome prize money for their parents and get recognised by proud school managements are at best able to get stage shows at corporate events and Sangeet ceremonies that are in vogue in all weddings North, South, East or West.

“Desi weddings” abroad are also lapping up the “Sangeet culture” providing new employment and entertainment avenues. There is no harm in such careers either but the damage to the child’s personality is immense echoing in later life. I do not quote a child psychologist here as the damage was done to a child in the form of inflated egos through the prize money and praise are there for all to see needing no expert certification.

The argument that banning reality shows may deprive the world of exceptional child artistes, who are a gift to “film kind” is faulty. These artistes find employment through the regular auditions or sources in the industry and not because of reality shows.

The viewership for these shows as far as I can see hinges largely on the star power that it attracts in the form of top actors who use these platforms to promote films. Their viewership is also because of the yesteryear stars brought out of retirement and hibernation as anchors and celebrity judges. It is the celebrities on the shows that are garnering the TRPs and getting film crazy parents to push their kids to participate in them.

Being part of the television industry I know how excited producers are about emotional scenes, and stories that tug at the heart eliciting tears and adding to the melodrama. The sob stories that are part of the reality narrative get tears of the happy kind for marketing executives and that’s why they continue to thrive irrespective of their social impact or moral repercussions.

The simple logic of letting children remain, children, is stuff that doesn’t find empathy in this industry. If big money rests on small shoulders, who is concerned whether they are not strong enough to take the burden? This reminds me of what the eminent classical musician Dr Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna had said about child prodigies.

A child prodigy, who made an impact at a very young age Balamurali whose name ‘’Bala’ remained with him as an acknowledgement of genius at a young age never ever received praise from his musician father who felt praise at a young age would make him complacent and hinder his progress. It was this grounded approach that sustained his genius into adulthood.

Praise, applause and constant attention that parents and organisers gave to these children have resulted in many prodigies burning out and remaining anonymous in adult life according to him. An argument that perfectly holds good for toppers of reality shows too.

Let children be children. Let them look at the world with wonder filled eyes and grow up with all the joys and angst of childhood. In getting them to replicate adulthood we destroy the magic of childhood. We are all aware that we never get the golden chance to grow up once again.