The Pizzazzy

They are all over the channels, competing and thrashing each other. If you have Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee, then Sony has its very own Indian Idol and Star will not stay behind so it has Amul Voice of India. If you have Jhalak Dikhla Ja on Sony you have Nach Baliye on Star. Enough to make viewers confused, but everyone has some favorite show. With all these shows you do have to make a choice.

I took my pick as Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, more because I liked the quality of Singers and also that it was telecast at a comfortable 10 p.m. on weekends. This Saturday we had the grand Finale, I was sure that Raja, my favorite contestant would win, but unfortunately he was the first runner’s up. I am still feeling bad about that. My husband told me don’t get too involved in all this. It’s a show and simply enjoy it.

The other show on my favorites list is Jhalak Dikhla Ja, the Indian version of “Dancing with the stars”, I like it more than Nach Baliye as it is more classy and stylish, more grand in presentation and attitude. This format is there are 12 celebrities from different industry, like film industry, Television industry, music industry etc even celebrities like Nir Ranjan Negi, the once upon a time Goalie of Indian Kockey team. The real life Chak De hero. All these celebrities are paired with a choreographer and every week they perform in front of judges. The judges in this second season are Jitendra, Urmila Matondkar and the dance Guru Shiamak Davar. Every week based one celebrity is voted out.

Urmila Matondkar sounds like a snob, putting on a false accent, Jitendra judges from the heart and speaks the viewer’s thoughts and Shiamak Davar gives the most technical feedback and also pratices Hindi on the contestants. My favorite in the show is Prachi Desai, an 18 year old from the famous TV serial Kasam Se.

Talking about reality shows there are others on the Indian Television world like Fear Factor, Fun on the Run, Boogie Woogie, Antakshari etc etc. Except for Antakshari, all the other shows are copied from Western shows. Very popular last year was Big Boss, the Indian version of Big Brother. Although there is no point in watching celebrities put in a house cut off from the rest of the world with no entertainment the conspirecies and tactics of voting out one house mate each week by the others was really very interesting. I would watch it regularly as it was better than any soap operas we had with Rakhi Sawant and Kashmira Shah always ensuring entertainment for viewers with heavy dramas, crying, bitching, even flirting. I loved it, and wish that the season two starts soon.

And I don’t mind if occassionally I get carried away by the show and start sending SMSes for my favorites contestant. It only shows how the Indian Television is growing by following the footsteps of western world. And ironically in a country thats got majority of its population below poverty line its interesting to see how common men spend money on SMSes costing 7 Rs each and shows claiming to have broken records of SMS votes received on their shows. If we start keeping sensus of these SMS votes every year, this would be one positive sign to indicate India is growing economically (apart from the rise of rupee).