The return of the Colosseum
The Colosseum is, more than being just a historical landmark, the living proof of one of the strongest human urges - the urge to see men wriggle with death or deathlike situations. The colosseum is back and this time, it has camped in on Indian television. Mujhe Iss Jungle Se Bachao, Dadagiri, Sach Ka Samna, are all television shows on different Indian television channels that show humans facing the toughest of physical and mental challenges and coming out of them or quitting the game. They climb walls of rock, swallow insects, get into barrels of live snakes, answer the most embarasing of questions and face abuses.
While some vomit, faint, and cry, others come out of it winners, mostly earning a lot of money and/or fame, enjoying minutes of celebrity status. On our part, we are sitting in our galleries (now replaced by sofas and cots) biting our nails, closing our fists or simply watching on unperturbed. When we do not like the face of a contestant we vote him out just as we yelled him to a death penalty some two thousand years ago.
Indian television, as they are saying, has come of age. Grooms are being selected and rejected on camera, ugly wannabe stars are arranging their swayamvars on TV, a group of people are being locked into a house left to fend for themselves and so on. Interestingly, these programs are also making news.
As for me, I am just waiting for the time when they’ll show babies being conceived on camera 
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I really like your blog and i respect your work. I’ll be a frequent visitor.
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:37 pm
I enjoyed this! Well done!
August 4th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Seriously, the line between reality and reality shows is getting blurred by the minute…and now, we even have a film like ‘Luck’ being made on this topic…one wonders how long this rigmarole will go on !
August 4th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Maki…as always, great post here.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Ditto on the thought… :D…i am really looking forward to such a day where there will be the “Conceiving-show” and then the news channels again talking on it with excerpts from the show… i will remain glued to the television for it going all “Porn”..err..not aesthetically can i use the word “Porn” when it comes to “Conceiving babies”, rite!!
;D
August 4th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I grew up watching people in the act (They serve as a secondary catalyst for growth, the first being Horlicks). It’s sad why channels do not telecast them.
Good one, boudimoni….
August 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
“babies being conceived on camera” thats archaic, you are leaving in the stone age if you havn’t witness babies being “concieved” on either tv or the 70 mm
August 5th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
but we’ve never seen it as a reality show
August 6th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
HahaaHaa…
Nice Posts and Comments Specially the one by
Casuarina
Seriously, the line between reality and reality shows is getting blurred by the minute…and now, we even have a film like ‘Luck’ being made on this topic…one wonders how long this rigmarole will go on !
I watched Luck only Yesterday…
My biggest amusements were when Farah Khan said someone
“I will ask Saajid why he didn’t take you??”
And When The Murder Hero what’s his name???
He said to someone…
“Aap mere liye Gaaoge”
As if the Music Director or the Director Producer of teh Movie will let him select the Singer…
I mean Come on…
The Judges has to do so much Acting/Pseudo Appreciation etc…
And some times they may be Honest but go Over Board…
Tough Job man…
Mere ko ek baar jaana hai kisi Show me as a Judge or a Participant will depend on the nature of the Show….
Anyways,
me Bijay, got here through you being listed in the Kolkata Bloggers’ meet 2009…
Look forward to meet you this Saturday on the Meet…
Cheers,
@rungss on Twitter
August 8th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I certainly agree with you. I still could not understand what entertainment do these creepy crawling bitchy acts brings to people and what kind of people.
Even the shows like “India’ got talent” etc where people perform tasks of eating glasses, sword, picking things from eyes and what not, I am highly disgusted. This is not talent but sheer waste of human body. How can i get entertained by seeing somebody in pain or eating cockroaches for that matter.
“sach ka saamna” is surrounded by unnecessary hype. All these political agendas and controversies are only fuelling it’s popularity and doing free promotion. The aura of the serial is otherwise very short lived. But all this furore has made it immortal!
Ahoy, me too would love to have a reality show like that…Rakhi ka honeymoon and baby making…that would be interesting, educating and entertaining! Lolz….
August 9th, 2009 at 8:23 am
I read a few topics. I respect your work and added blog to favorites.
August 9th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Hi,
Have added to my blog
http://www.ygoel.com/
the write-up & all the photographs of the Kolkata Bloggers Meet 2009.
Do take some time to visit and do not forget to put down your inputs for the same.
Regards & Love,
Yours ever in blogging,
Yogesh Goel
ygoel.com