In recent times someone who watches television can hardly miss the claims made by the anchors, media men and some celebrities regarding popular music and dance shows in television channels that are known as 'talent hunts'. The claims are tall and provocative enough to invite close scrutiny.
Firstly, it is said that such big budget performing art contests are really meant to find out special talents. Programmes in big scale are required to attract talented artists hidden in different parts of the country to participate and to screen those talents so that ultimately the best is selected in the end. It is specially pointed out that these televisions programmes work as platforms and they give an excellent opportunity for aspiring artists, even those who live in the background regions and in remote corners of the country. Without such efforts, those talented boys and girls would never have been able to come to limelight and many promising talents might have faded into oblivion for lack of publicity, the organisers say.
Their claim does not stop here. We are informed that such shows make great contribution in the field of art and culture by bringing in focus the right persons who will keep the tradition of Indian performing art alive. Their services are required in Bollywood as well as in other areas of entertainment industry.
We are further educated about the significant role played by such media shows in the field of national integration. These popular programmes bring contestants from different parts of the country, they are watched by the entire nation and the nationwide audience cast their votes by sending SMS in every stage of the competition. The shows produce winners at the national level and they are suddenly projected as role models for the entire nation. Thus the programmes try to inspire future contestants, wherever in India they may live. Watching winners in the making generate lots of enthusiasm among the young Indians.
It is a fact that tournaments like these have enough resources to draw public attention. Differences in appearance, voice, style and skills make such shows attractive compared to many TV serials. However, close examination of their social impact is necessary because of the tremendous influence of such events on the general public at large.
We can start with the issue of national integration. There is no doubt about the fact that the competitions are arranged at the national level and they are watched all over India by the people having access to cable television. Wide coverage by the National News Media is another important aspect. Nevertheless, the way the voting takes place is a major cause of concern. In the final rounds, contestants (sponsored by the channels) sometimes take a tour of the country and appeal to the viewers, particularly to those who belong to their native states. In such places, the appeals are echoed by the celebrities and the politicians and a mass hysteria is generated to motivate people to do a very simple task for their own boy or girl. The task is nothing but casting votes by sending SMS and this act ultimately benefits only the mobile phone companies. Profit making by some corporate houses is not the problem but the point is that the voting procedure generate regionalism in a nation which always strives to maintain its unity in diversity. We should not forget that hills of West Bengal witnessed popular unrest almost for a week after a radio jockey of a F.M. channel made some objectionable remarks about a winner of a music competition.
The voting procedure definitely raises some serious questions about fair selection. General public having little knowledge on technical matters and who are influenced by strong current of regional sentiments run the risk of making big errors in judgements. A singer should be judged only by the quality of the song. Here singer's appearance, dancing skill, ethnic and regional background may seriously affect the result. Therefore, it is not surprising that sometimes objections over methodology have been raised by the judges themselves. Big mistakes not only give wrong winners of huge prize money but they may erase people's confidence in the system. Loss of reliability on one may be transformed into the same in case of other social system in the atmosphere of frustration. Besides, a fear is generated that to become a winner, luck is the primary condition other than the skill or commitment. This is not a positive message for the Indian society that relies heavily on fate and the social institutions have little reputation for transparency.
Problems associated with talent hunts are many in number. "Exceptional" talents at the national level are found out every year by the hardworking channels. But is there enough space to accommodate so many artists? The answer is no. Entertainment industry has always remained dominated by a very few and only a handful lucky newcomers can enter into the arena. Established artists have a market and it is a risky business to make productions with the new comers. The situation can hardly change in near future.
Past experience shows that the Indian artists face lots of challenges. Getting a platform and making an impression at the initial stage of the career do not necessarily solve problems. Several talented artists suffered heavily in the past and they ended their lives amidst poverty because they neither received work nor any support from the entertainment industry. Indian society is not known to properly nurture talents. It only celebrates the success of a few individuals.
However, the entertainment industry in India requires these competitions and the contestants in the short run. Excitement of such shows increased due to the uncertainty in each round of elimination is used to attract television audience across the country. In addition, new voices are used to promote the music of recently released or yet to be released movies. Although scope to make a place in entertainment industry is unquestionably limited, but big prize money and huge media publicity are sufficient enough to encourage hundreds of youngsters and their 'progressive' minded guardians to try their best to win the race. But at the same time, since the contests are based mainly on hit film songs, therefore it is not unlikely that they may discourage some promising talents to concentrate on traditional versions of music resulting in neglect of classical music or folk songs.
Although there are some positives in these programmes and some of the claims cannot be brushed aside totally, but certain fine tuning is necessary.
Indian society in order to survive with all its diversities, require the value of tolerance to spread and the restless indisciplined culture, having no connection with the tradition, is not functional for it. Inability on the part of some of the guardians and contestants to sportingly and easily accept the results and quarrels among the judges over a decision are not the best things to be displayed over television.
It should be kept in mind that such shows are viewed by all the family members together and restless dance display, artists dancing on the stage wearing scanty dresses or the singing of cabaret songs from hit movies by teen aged contestants are not the right items to be presented.
In the past, complaints used to come up over indecent advertisements and vulgar scenes in cinemas. In recent times, attempts are being made to change the traditional Indian culture by injecting seductive items in between the telecast of the family shows and sporting event. Arguably, these are definitely not the right ways to contribute to the rich Indian art and culture.
Here, the noticeable point is the absence of resistance in any form to these trends in recent years. Earlier, the Indian middle class used to behave as the guardians of morality. Situation changed dramatically after the triumphs of Indian Beauty Queens at the International stage and the emergence of modelling as a viable career option. The opposition to beauty business by the champions of morality suddenly evaporated and fashion schools mushroomed in urban India. The interested parties aiming at changing the traditional Indian culture have clearly realized that the conscience of the middle class could be purchased with allurements like publicity and income opportunity and right now this interested section has almost a free run.
About the Author-
Ananda Mohan Kar is Assistant Professor, Dept. of Sociology, The University of Burdwan, India.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.
