Thursday 24 May 2012

Grow up, Indian TV viewers!!!


12th March 2012 was a milestone date in Indian Television industry. The consummation episode of Bade Acche  Lagte Hai (BALH ) was telecasted on Sony TV at 10:30 pm that day.  As far as I know, the 17 minute long love making scene in the episode was first of its kind in any Indian TV soap. The icing to the cake was a lip lock between the lead pair Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar.

The episode stirred a huge controversy overnight even though the indicative promos were shown well in advance. Was such a hot consummation scene really required in the first place? Definitely yes for Ekta Kapoor to increase the TRPs. But what about the public reaction? Various newspapers and news channels portrayed it as an embarrassment and humiliation to viewers. Some of whom said that they were mortified to watch the episode with their families.

Now my question to such viewers is who asked you to watch this particular episode with your elders, other relatives or kids around? Didn’t you take a clue from the promos?  The promo itself was so bold. Plus BALH is aired after 10 pm with a specific audience in mind.

And I really can’t digest all those blah blah on spoiling the kids, shame to Indian culture and stuff. If so, then what about all those skimpily clad girls in Bollywood movies or items songs like Jalebi bai, Sheela ki jawani, Munni badnam or Channo?  What about sexually suggestive advertisements these days?  What about Sunny Leon's history and semi named photos appearing in the news? What about all those soaps with extra marital affairs and premarital pregnancies?

If the episode has caused such a big mental discomfit, why BALH love making scenes were being replayed on major news channels in the name of controversy? Why did the newspapers publish articles about BALH with a picture of lip lock between the lead actors?

What about Khajuraho temples? What about Kamasutra - India's gift to the world? What about inevitable exposure to social networking sites and internet?

At least the channel was sensitive enough to telecast the episode as a late night show.  Whether people agree to it or not, romance and sex sell. Everyone wants to see both but no one has guts to admit it.

Indian TV is maturing. So should the audience. It is up to them to decide whether they want to perceive BALH consummation episode merely as sex or celebration of love between two people.                         

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