BB 10’s Swami Om: Criminal mind on Indian television

Television, or any visual medium or motion picture has a gripping appeal on the senses of individuals. Vivid imagery often finds a corner in the sub-conscious and tends to play out in real life.

Aristotle mentioned about ‘art imitating life’ (mimesis), however, Oscar Wilde countered the philosophy stating ‘life imitates art far more than art imitates life (anti-mimesis).

To each his own, but one cannot but agree the impact of content (on lives) which is being consumed in volumes, thanks to technological revolution.

What are we getting at? Let us wipe the mirror.

Yesterday, while watching Bigg Boss on Colors (produced by Endemol), a popular and well-marketed reality show, we came across a rather demonizing behavior of contestant Swami Om.

Engrossed in a show activity, he was aggressive, violent, threatening towards a co contestant. The scene was horrific, which forced even the makers to intervene and condemn the act.

“Hey, imagine millions of people watching this. What message would it send?” asked one fellow watcher.

Here, we would not play by conscience or strike a higher ‘sense’ chord.

This is business and content is pumped out to gain eyeballs and provide a good promotional platform to advertisers.

It’s no rocket science.

Already, ‘regress is the new progress’ with television shows across channels (barring a couple) churning out programme which titillates baser human emotions, marred with voyeuristic sadistic scenarios, glorifying the bleakness of human existence.

We can sniff a tinge of hypocrisy. At conferences and conclaves, major broadcasters voice on experimentation and creating progressive content, but fall back on tried & tested herd mentality.

It’s true, efforts are being made to bring a change and like they say, you get what you deserve. At certain level, audience too needs to mature and provide space for newer concepts to breathe.

However, we feel, the initiative and effort must not be rolled back. A kid will cry and whine for the same food, but one day he or she will develop better taste.

Fiction is still a place where one can lend a bit of benefit of doubt, but reality TV needs to adhere to sensitivities and subtleties.

We would like to ask everyone… Is it feasible to bring in ‘criminal mindset’ people like Swami Om on a show when his vicious behavior is palpable, justified by his alleged criminal acts in real life (court cases).

Are dark personalities the new heroes of Indian television? What next…terrorists as participants in reality shows? Who draws the line?

Swami objectifies and demeans women, steals commodities, threatens to beat up co contestant, makes mockery of the institution of Swamis…and his quirky histrionics are being watched on television and digital by all age groups. Swami is the epitome of convoluted mentality which can be hazardous for other contestants, anytime, any moment.

Bigg Boss stems its strength from controversy; however, one needs to be responsible for extremes.

One show to another, the makers will move on. But the images will leave indelible impressions on the minds of watchers and shape their thoughts and personalities.

The community at large is already reeling under extreme pressure, mentally and physically, we hope television and its popular components will act mature and provide succor…someday…sometime.

Till then, do whatever you want to do man and keep reading Tellychakkar.com.