Today's TV-where are we going?

Down the memory lane, there was only one channel I grew up watching- Doordarshan. Some of the programmes we used to watch were so much a part of our lives, that they bring nostalgic memories even now- Chitrahaar, Rangoli, oliyum oliyum- these were our windows to the world of movies. Surabhi, programmes on wildlife, quiz programmes, edhiroli (even vayalum vaazhvum, for that matter) made up our lives. Well, there were a few soaps even- Shanti, Swabimaan, Junoon... Vizhudhugal in Tamil... A few years later, I remember occasionally watching "Balachandharin chinna thirai" and the cable TV movies at neighbouring houses....And a little later, the TV viewers got hooked to the concept of daily serials- day and night. Kaun Banega karorepathi and the likes of it also hit the small screen.

But when I switch on the TV today, the programmes that come are so drastically different from what I used to see when I was young. So different that it is too much for me to take. The English channels influenced the Hindi ones, which in turn have revolutionised the South Indian channels. At first, a few programmes were regionalized- Coffee with Karan, for example, changed the boring ways that interviews with stars used to happen in our channels. Then came the next realm of change- the reality shows. Needless to say, what a misnomer it is. Isn't it pathetic, that a participant says that he only knew about his mom offering angapradashnams at a temple(for his victory) only when he sees the video on TV? Why does the judge have to scold a contestant, with every effort to make him/her cry? Why does the contestant of a singing competition need a makeover? Why do you portray how badly a guy needs to win, because his family depends on his money? Why do you have to bring personal lives into competitions? Why, why do you have to ask audience to vote a contestant to victory, when you have three judges on a show, not to mention the special guest? If you are really interested in people's votes, why do you conspire to make the sms es so costly? Why do you rehearse every argument, every dialogue on the show and then call it a reality show? Why do you talk about chemistry in dances? Why do girls have to expose on the shows, as if they were actresses or models by profession. How long will their fame last? What happens when they are back home, back on the streets a couple of years later, like you and me? Why do you expose small kids in the contests to so much vulgarity?

The most disturbing fact to comprehend here is that, it is changing the way ordinary people live. When actresses dress up scantily and do things that are unacceptable at a middle class home, it is still ok. Because people can easily see the difference between movies and reality. But when a person, much like you and me does all this on TV, it appears so realistic, that our very morals are shaken. The teenagers, the kids, ever realized that we are doing them a world of damage???

But wait, I have only talked about the South Indian reality shows. ( I did not talk about serials, because it should be clear by now, what scale of damage they do to people who watch them- laziness, negative thoughts, addiction and a lifestyle useless to the world). Here comes the other genre of reality shows which, touch wood, has not entered the South Indian TV yet. Yes, you guessed it. Splits villa, Big boss, Roadies, fast and furious etc. It literally bring me shame to watch girls bicker like bitches, swear like it is fashion, cry in front of the whole world, fight for men, dump, cheat, dress like a whore and what not!!! And it disturbs me even more that people whom I know and meet everyday watch these shows so avidly.

Friends, I genuinely have a few questions to ask here, right out of my heart- Are we aware of the world that we are living in? Problems that we are facing? The global warming, energy crisis, malnutrition, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, sexual exploitation, child abuse- the list goes on. Do we spend one third of the time we spend on this unreal and brain blunting TV, on any of these problems? Why not start with these- switch off the lights when not in use....Avoid taking unnecessary printouts.. Avoid using plastic bags...Give our excess food to the needy than throw it in the trash can...spend a small portion of your salary for education, and a little of our invaluable time for people who so badly need it (even within our own family, if we care to open our eyes)...And last, but not the least, respecting people who already do these.... If you had time enough to read this and form a opinion, please do leave your comment dear friends...