Reality crowned telly king

The reality wave has hit desi television with a ven-geance. How else can one explain the deluge of "real" drama on the small screen? In September action takes centrestage across most entertainment channels. So, if Zee brings back Cinestars Ki Khoj, MTV Roadies 4 gets hardcore and Sahara One hunts for Superstars across the country. Buoyed by the success of Nach Baliye last year, Star One, too, unleashes the second season with 10 new celebrity couples.

"Nach Baliye is a known brand. In fact, depending on the success of the second edition, we might also plan a third show," says Shailja Kejriwal, creative director, Star India. That's not all. Zee intends to further hot up the fight with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2006-07. For the uninitiated, Zee already features reality-based shows like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs and Shabaash India. "A channel shouldn't show more than one or two reality programmes. Otherwise, it becomes too much for the viewers," opines Ashish Kaul, senior vice-president (corporate brand development), Zee TV.

With increasing shows and cut-throat competition squeezing TRPs, the great Indian reality spectacle is getting huge. This year will witness some of the biggest reality shows: Big Brother, Extreme Makeover and Dancing With the Stars among others. Even Sahara's Superstars, known as Stars in Their Eyes in Europe, airs in 10 countries with 62 seasons. Sony's latest offering Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, too, is an adaptation of BBC's hit reality show Dancing With the Stars. The show brings together celebs from different fields to perform with professional dance partners. "Reality shows lend a certain amount of surprise and unpredictability to the channel's bouquet," informs Anupama Mandloi, programming head, Sony India.

Sony has much more up its sleeve. If the second season of Fear Factor returns by the year end, Indian Idol 3 and Fame Gurukul make a comeback in 2007. Then, for the first time, Sony will bring an adventure-based reality show, Paisa Bhari Padega, in early 2007. But the question arises: is it too much to handle? "Certainly not," says N.P. Singh, COO, Sony India. "It's a good time for viewers as they have a lot to choose from," he adds.

REAL MONEY
Thanks to the blitz of reality tube shows, channels are game to loosen their purse strings liberally. According to an estimate, Indian Idol cost Sony $2-3 million, which comes down to Rs 50-60 lakhs per episode. Two years later, the production cost has shot up by at least 10-15 per cent. So, with channels leaning on bigger and better products, "real" action might be in the offing.

Celebrity judges add glam factor to shows

TV channels have found a new mantra to reach the stars — celeb judges. So, if Urmila Matondkar was recently named as one of the judges for Superstars, Shilpa Shetty is the latest entrant on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (JDJ). Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, too, joins Shilpa as a JDJ judge. "Personally, I enjoy dancing a lot. So, I am really looking forward to watch them grooving," says Shilpa.

The list continues. While Kunal Kohli replaces Farhan Akhtar for Nach Baliye 2, choreographer Saroj Khan and Malaika Arora Khan continue with the second season. Even baddie Gulshan Grover and crooner Mika have joined the fray for MTV Roadies 4. And it's not just filmstars, but TV actors are also turning judges. Mona Singh of Jassi fame, for one, is set to anchor Extreme Makeover. But does the glam quotient really help? "Celeb value surely gets more viewers and eyeballs, but the show built around a star fails," says Purnendu Bose, COO, Sahara One. The idea, as the channel heads put it, "is to get experts who can judge various talents."