Self Respect Suicide !

I took a break from Ratio Analysis when I turned on the Tube to watch this, I’ve seen two episodes of self-respect-suicide of three people and I could not take it anymore hence this post –

MTV ibibo Superstar –Ahmed Khan’s Pathshala is probably a disgrace in the name of reality entertainment (some one show them the acclaimed tape of Swedish version of Big Brother), the show took off in the highly popular youth channel MTV, everything seems to be going great for the show and for the sponsors and the eye balls that want to devour more of everything that they have to offer, but there seems to be a problem with the show which probably my cynical eyes have noted after watching 10 minutes of the first episode, its not a dancing competition, it’s not an impersonification experiment, it’s the sheer exercise of “Killing one’s self respect” I am amazed at the ease with which this is going on and is being sold in the name of modern entertainment.

I’ll list what actually happens on the show

• · There are auditions like always.
• · People are asked to fill up questionnaires and are asked to dance.
• · Participants are judged based on what they have filled, their looks and dancing capabilities (fair enough, media always needs cute looks and incorrigible expressions).
• · Participants are then finalized based on the scores that the judges give to all of them and then call upon the winners to make a video.
• · The participants obviously drowning in their hero-heroine worship are targeted without caution and notice and are told that they would be “(insert a star’s name here)” for two days.
• · Voila, they cannot control their emotions on camera and jump to joy hearing that they would be “(insert their favorite star’s name here)” for two days.

So, what’s the problem there?

The problem is why should any self respecting man/woman be some one else in their life time, are they not happy with their existence? Or do they think they are one of the myriad souls that haunt themselves because they could not be what they want to be? Or worse are they one of the millions living out there who wish they had everything they want without wanting to pay the price? I think the answer is the last one, I mean, how could you call up your mom and say “Mom, MTV is giving me an opportunity to be (Insert his/her favourite star’s name)” with the voice on the other side saying “I’m proud of you my son”, where have the days of “Mom, I got into the best job I could” and “Dad, now, I’m independent, my business plan is a success” gone?

Am I over-reacting? I don’t think so, for everything that I am, I am everything but ashamed of myself, for having lived (mind you I have not used the term “existed”) I definitely have regrets about things I could have done and have not because of various reasons the primary one being not trying hard enough and I guess that eclipses everything else that I can think of any day. What excuse do these participants have? For not wanting to be themselves, It’s clearly out of my thought process, I cannot think of a single reason as to why, couldn’t it be better had MTV given them a chance to meet their favourite stars and let them get tips about how one could rise to the occasion and do what they want to do and most of all believe in themselves that it’s all ok and it’s all fine, till the time you do nothing but try (Some one get these fools free classes of moral science). There could probably be a hundred other things that these participants could have done, maybe MTV could’ve congratulated them and had a stage show with these participants where their idols could’ve judged them on their performances or rather give them a shot at telly itself by letting them air few episodes of shows that run on the tube, I’m sure it would make no difference, remember “Comedians are people who are paid to be funny”, if they can emote comedy/laughter/tears, I think they can do anything that’s possible on earth for the right compensation.

I’m basically pissed at the fact that a reputed youth channel is making fools of their participants while ensuring that their bellies remain full for another day that could come by. Eye balls are rolling, people are registering on ibibo.com, votes are being cast as I write this and as you read, people are talking about becoming their favourite actors clone on television for their 30 seconds of fame (the show 30 seconds of fame on AXN has some real talented people) and a life time of guilt. I feel sorry for all the actors and actresses of today and tomorrow, it’s sad that they live on apple juice to look good on the screen, they get 6 (and more these days) pack abs for flaunting, they cry when the script wants them to, they die when they are needed to, a crazy world out there. I’m glad that I don’t get lost in such a mayhem and still have an identity that I call “mine”. May all the people who are out there wanting to lose themselves in the madness that has been created be blessed with sense to know themselves and the things that they’re doing in the name of entertainment and fame.

(Kindly do the necessary googling of the show for it details, maybe you could participate too! And if you want to, get off my blog.)

~ by Vamsi on May 15, 2008.