Date:05/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/05/stories/2007050516260200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Are they real or superficial?

Oindrila Dasgupta

Reality shows attract audiences of different age groups

Shilpa Shetty

BANGALORE: Television audiences the world over are hooked to reality shows. And those in India are not lagging behind.

The latest show is one on extreme makeovers where people with prominent birthmarks, cleft lip and those who have suffered burns being given a makeover by a team of stylists for the privilege of being filmed before and after.

Audiences

Being an important genre of television, reality shows have been smart enough to attract audiences of different age groups.

The shows range from crime series to serial reality and talent hunts to game shows.

Most of the college-goers said they prefer watching reality shows than any other show on television.

The reason might be the unpredictable incidents or turns taking place in the show, which would have otherwise not happened if it was not a reality show.

"In some reality shows such as `Bigg Boss' we find a tinge of superficiality, says Manjunath R. Rao, a second year degree student. "With Rakhi Sawant sometimes being bold, and sometimes pretending to have changed, it seemed like a script-based story being acted out by mature actors," he added.

`Unnatural'

Referring to "Big Brother", he said, "The unnatural way in which Jackie had acted with Shilpa Shetty and the way in which Shilpa had reacted to it, was very hard to believe."

"Sometimes, the characters are just too predictable," says Rajshree Goel, a first year degree student.

Crime series are another favourite among the college-goers. The reason might be the increasing number of crime cases being brought to limelight.

"The viewers want some masala, so they don't mind watching crime series. Who knows they are real or not. I watch them because I have nothing else to do, and they do not harm my taste," says 19-year-old Garima.

"Bigg Boss" and "Big Brother" managed to make it big, both nationally, as well as in the international reality screen. Though many viewers are against the penning down of character interplays of the reality shows,

Ankit S. Darshan, a final year engineering student, says, "I think script-based character interplays add spice to the show, or else they would have been too boring and monotonous."