No Child’s Play on Reality TV

The dust has settled on the much awaited and hyped assembly elections in Maharashtra. Some are celebrating in jubilation; for others it’s a time to reflect and for a few, a need to introspect, depending upon which side you’re on. But prime-time newsrooms have finally moved on to other eyeball-grabbing issues and social media feeds now have reels of dreamy destinations, young singing sensations and trendy fashion rather than videos of politicians and rallies. In our home, and many around us, news debates are now replaced by sounds of music shows, particularly the popular music reality shows that are streaming on television and OTT. Sa Re Ga Ma and Indian Idol are running simultaneously, wooing music and drama-loving audiences alike.

I am among those dedicated viewers who enjoys reality music shows that handpick talent from lesser-known corners, give them an opportunity to learn from professionals, get judged by the masters, and followed by audiences, catapulting them into a world of fame and glamour, sometimes even before they have mastered the nuances of notes. There’s ample drama along with mellifluous notes. Every performance has a prelude of the contestant’s humble beginnings in the remotest hamlets in our country and their struggles with poverty are narrated on multi-crore glitzy sets. Copious tears streak their well-made up faces and the power of stories move even judges and audience members to have tears welling up in their eyes. That is the power of the moving image and of stories.

While these shows turn ordinary, but talented people, into overnight stars, the camera lights and attention somehow rob the innocence and naivety from the lives of child contestants. They suddenly speak like matured adults; the make-up adds years to their faces and the expressions of sensuality or seduction through music and lyrics are cringe-worthy. Expressions in music come through an understanding of the lyrics. How can a 15-year-old understand sensuality in the right way? Can a child of 12, who croons like an ustad, handle the attention she gets by being on national television?

While celebrating these young participants and hailing their knowledge of music and dedication to the art, we ignore the psychological impact such attention has on them. They become ‘celebrities’ with fans and followers, school and studies take a backseat, and the exaggerated praise from mentors and guests can trick a child into believing that they have arrived and accomplished it all. But what happens after the curtains fall on the show? Some join music troops, others go back to school and college sans the make-up, flashy dresses and cameras. But in their minds, they have grown up faster than their peers. Some find it tough to handle the anonymity that life hands out after the shows’ TRPs have ensured big bucks. Long after the viewers have switched to another favourite show, these young participants struggle to go back to normalcy without the adulation and attention.

There are at least a few such examples of teenage participants of reality shows who find it difficult to cope with rejection through elimination or harsh comments from judges. Since most come to Mumbai from remote villages, going back to the mundane life is tough to handle. I met a mother of a 12-year-old music reality show participant who is doing the rounds of counsellors for her child who cannot go back to a life that is normal for most kids—school, tests, playgrounds and tuitions. The girl, who won adulation on a show, expects to be recognised and appreciated whenever she goes out and does not like to mingle with other kids. She is matured beyond her age; sways to songs with innuendos and enjoys dancing to raunchy numbers and romantic songs alike.

Reality shows are big business for the makers, the crew, the celebrity judges, the channels and the participants’ families. But few talk about the psychological damage they cause if the children are not kept grounded through this process. There needs to be a policy rethink on reality shows for children of an impressionable age, when they are just about developing emotional maturity. Because no matter who lifts the final trophy, the biggest loser is the child on the show.

The troubling reality is that, in the race to nurture prodigious talent, we may be forsaking the most important thing: the mental well-being of these children. Their path to stardom is often paved with expectations far too heavy for their fragile shoulders. Without the necessary support systems to guide them back to the simple joys of childhood, many will find that their dreams come at the cost of their innocence. It is time to reconsider how we handle childhood fame and ensure it does not steal what truly matters. The allure of instant stardom might promise success, but without proper care and attention, it may leave lasting scars that hinder the future potential of these young stars. It is crucial that both the industry and society as a whole provide the right safeguards to protect these children from the pressures that come with fame.