Perfect Brides are actors!

Rahul Mahajan is gearing up for his swayamwar on TV. On all counts, he’s not the most eligible bachelor around!

But, after the response Rakhi Sawant’s swayamwar got, the channel quickly decided to go into Season 2 and chose the controversial Rahul for this.

But are these shows for real? That’s the one question audiences are asking. Will Rakhi and Elesh Parujanwala actually tie the knot or have the viewers simply being taken for a ride? Well, even if the duo part ways, who’s to question, in any case!

The show’s over, isn’t it?
Whatever the reality of our reality shows, the fact is that marriage has become big business on TV today. Television rating points (TRPs) zoom during shaadi episodes even in serials. No wonder long elaborate wedding sequences are the order of the day. Channels too don’t mind spending heavily because they see the returns in the form of TRPs!

Seeing the trend, reality shows (Vivah, Perfect Bride and now Rahul Ka Swayamwar) too have decided to cash in on the wedding mania.

The institution of marriage clearly is commercialised and almost becoming a joke, feel many. Recently on a television channel it was revealed that Perfect Bride contestants were struggling actresses. In fact one of them, Priyanka Sharma, is a model and has briefly been a telly anchor and also acted in a movie.

Telly audiences, especially reality show buffs, are naturally agitated. “Reality shows should not play with people’s sentiments. It’s supposed to be reality, right? There has to be some amount of truth in it,” says Nikita Kocchar, a housewife.

TV host and producer Kanchan Adhikari too is alarmed at some of the reality shows of today, especially the ‘shaadi’ related ones. “It’s ridiculous. No doubt channels are competing with each other for TRPs, but they must keep public sentiment in mind. Reality shows should promote talent rather than make a mockery of institutions like marriage. There’s also a show where unmarried couples are raising kids. What are we heading towards?”

However, some feel reality shows, just like everything else on TV, should be taken with a pinch of salt. Says producer Manish Goswami, “Viewers should not analyse things. After a show is over they should not wonder if the the two participants will actually tie the knot or not. When the viewer has expectations then there are disappointments! Hence they should just enjoy the show.”

And what do TRP experts have to say? “Marriage as the basis of a show is not a sure shot formula for success,” points out a spokesperson for TAM, an organisation that measures Indian TV viewing habits. “One has to create the grandeur and aura and also there’s got to be the marketing and promotional boost. Only then will it work and yes, it has worked for some of shows.” He further adds, “The intelligent Indian viewer knows what he wants. It doesn’t take him more than a second to make a choice.”