Big Boss

It’s not yet a phenomenon though it’s certainly a rage. At 10 pm weekdays, the entire mass of TV watching population seems to zero in on their favorite for the season. The title song somehow betrays an air of amateurism about the entire show. But I think we need to give the organizers of the show a little more credit…. after all we are talking about India’s first super successful reality show-Big Boss. We have had our share of game-shows and talent shows before but the Indian audience has never quite seen something like this before.

When they first aired the promos for this show, I thought of that wonderful literary creation of George Orwell-1984 and obviously the term “big brother” sprung to my mind. 13 people in one house, actually 13 celebrities (ok minor or forgotten ones atleast) al the mercy of the invisible yet omnipresent Big Boss. Each week, one person is voted out by the audience and the winner gets a huge cash prize. The concept is certainly not unique being the country cousin of the famous show which is making news for all the wrong reason- it’s certainly new to the Indian audience.

My first question “Why would anyone want to watch it?” or let me rephrase it after the huge response the show is getting “Why are people watching it?” There is no one reason or even a single theory that can bind the together the psychology of the TV watching population. Yet I hazard a few answers.

We are sick of the weepy Saas-Bahu serials. We want something new. TV should not be a carbon copy of our life. We watch TV to escape our boring lives.
This is a unique concept hitherto unknown. Never has TV, billed as the least interactive of all media become so interactive. You decide what you want to see or atleast in theory it works that way. Majority wins. TRPs zoom.... Organizers, sponsors and the TV and people see what they want to see… Proactive TV at its best.
Theoretically every second of a person’s life on air. What could be more exciting?
Celebrities revealing their true color on prime-time TV.
The voting system adds to the excitement…. Many talent shows are hosted on TV wherein you can vote for the person you want to support. Contrast this with Big Boss-you vote out the person you dislike. Some insight into the human mind-you are more likely to vote against the person you dislike than vote for the person you like.

I could be wrong on some or all or my theories but what’s important is that it seems like Big Boss has got it just right.

Wishing you all Happy TV watching in 2007 and may the best (oops the least disliked) man/woman win.