Tuesday, February 26, 2008

MTV Roadies


I was strolling in my wing (the corridor in front of my room) when I stopped by one of my wing-mate's room. I found him and some other friends of mine watching a TV show on his laptop. Do not get surprised by the concept of watching TV shows on a computer. Thanks to the IIT which has provided internet connections with ultra-high speed, IITians are now famous for downloading shared materials (including TV shows like Boston Legal, Prison Break on one hand and Chandrakanta, Shaktimaan, Tehkikaat on the other, I am not at all attempting to say that they download sleazy material as well [:P]). On being inquired by me about the same they said they were watching MTV Roadies. Amazed by the peculiarity of the name I wanted to know more about it and since my friends were in no mood to brief me about it I had no other option but to sit down and watch the show and know myself what it was all about.

I found a bald person (later I came to know that his name was Raghu) and a common face on MTV, Nikhil Chinappa grilling a guy. I found them tormenting the poor chap with slang, filthy and abusive language. I was shocked to know that this program was being aired on such a famous channel. Later when I came to know about the purpose of this hour long so called "auditions" I was very disappointed. Those who are going to be selected will have to do some "tough tasks" like trekking, bike-riding, rope climbing, playing tennis etc. And while doing these all, they have to conspire against each other and try to vote-out others in order to survive as a winner. I was amazed even more when I saw corporates pouring lacs of Rupees as sponsors.

What is the aim of these kind of shows:

a) To really find out people who have got guts and courage.
b)Make people famous.
c)To portray the mindset of present day youth. (Sex, abusive language, hatred for parents, shortcuts to success....IDENTITY CRISIS).
d)To earn money... thats it.

I am no one to criticise the intellect of the people who have generated (/copied) this concept but I have only one thing to say and that is by promoting these kind of shows are we not, in a way, adding fuel to the fire. The youth, who should have channelised their efforts in doing something constructive and fruitful, is getting deviated or rather made to deviate from their paths.

It was this idea which came to my mind after watching the show. Wouldn't it have been better if we gave each one of them a village and asked them to generate employment for its people in say a month's time. The corporates would have provided them with the seed money to go about the project chosen by themselves and the person who would have generated maximum employment (in terms per capita increase in income) would have been declared as winner. I can say from my prior experience it is way tougher and challenging than earning "immunity" in the Roadies show. This would have been a win-win situation for all the parties involved. Corporates could count this as their contribution towards CSR. Both the channel and the participants could win laurels for having done something substantial by changing someone's life. This would further improve the spirit of teamwork, brotherhood and cohesion between youth rather than giving them enough chances to learn how to play the game of politics and earn hatred of the companions. Doesn't our society have enough reasons to get disintegrated within no time? Then why are we adding some more to them?


4 comments:

ritesh said...

man gaye tushaar...good thought!

Himanshu said...

good idea but there is only one flaw ... today tv serials run on demand, do you think people will like watching young educated guys trying to fight poverty ?

Guddu said...

Tushar ,what u say makes sense....lots of sense.....but sadly auch things dont rake moolah or TRP.....by now u must have known by the contents of news channels which year after year bad prizes....what do they air....things which catch attention,like crime,gossip and such news which are of no sense and importance.The same holds good for all channels and thts y may be they are popular.

JD said...

MTV roadies is good, so chill out and enjoy.. I thoroughly enjoy the fights and don't miss even 1 episode. It's people's own choice whether they want to be there or not..
Democracy hai bhai!