Is it Reality or Violence?

Did you know each year more than a million people lose their lives to violence? These alarming figures paint a sad picture. Negative elements around us are being touted as the in thing and it is uncool to not live life on the edge. What can be a better example of how people’s mindsets are changing than the new reality TV shows on air? Be it Emotional Atyachar, Bigg Boss, Axe Ur Ex – all these shows have one thing in common, the violence. Violence does not mean a blow on someone’s head; it is a highly complicated term that encompasses a wide range of acts and emotions. Verbal spats are a common feature and each one does their best to outdo one another. The participants in these shows are seen busy planning and plotting to win the show.

Characters in these new form of TV shows are likely to be popular with the audience based on how violent one gets. It is no doubt negative publicity, but, the motto here is, ‘any publicity is good publicity’. Violence is seen as a form of entertainment and the biggest arguments in the show are promoted as teasers to lure viewers in.

Emotional Atyachar was a frontrunner and had been a much talked about show for its content and foul language. But, it has been dethroned big time by the latest sensation Bigg Boss. Season 5 of this show is considered to be the most explosive one so far with fights erupting on a daily basis. The show has surpassed everyone else and each episode aired has some controversial element to it. The reality TV genre reached an all-time low with the abuses being hurled around in the Bigg Boss house. Akashdeep Saigal, a participant in the show has sparked outrage among audiences with his indecent behaviour. Mehal Chahal has mostly been at the receiving end of his verbal attack. The show is completely dependent on the participants for TRPs and the participants are doing their bit by behaving badly, manipulating and lying.

We can often see these people talking about how someone is resorting to violence in order to gain public votes. Is the public in favour of violence and is it really a form of entertainment? The message that is being sent across to the young and impressionable audience is that bad behaviour and violence can make them eligible for reality shows and turn them into stars overnight.