The Truth About Love

Of course,the focus on love is not unique to this show alone. Almost all channels have reality shows based on relationships,which have notched up high TRPs. There’s Splitsvilla on MTV,Emotional Atyachar on UTV Bindaas,besides Dare To Date and Love Net on Channel V.

So what is it about these shows that attract the audience? “Love is a universal emotion—people are never tired of seeing more of it or putting it to test. That works to the advantage of reality shows. Television employs a voyeuristic format,where the contestants are put through tough conditions. Everyone has kinky emotions and it sells,” adds Yudi. “It’s simple both ways— you conceptualise a show,earn huge TRP ratings and then there is a rat race of copycats,” says Bumpy,Creative Director,MTV,which was among the first to come up with the concept. “Most of the participants use it as a short-cut to a job with the channel. There is no true love,only teenagers with raging hormones. On the other hand,there is nothing in between for youth programming,so the more voyeuristic these programmes are,the more people tune in,” he adds.

With the popularity of social networking websites on the rise,online dating is no longer a taboo concept,and the resultant complications make for great viewing material on television. “In Love Net we all go in chat rooms,assume different identities and live out our fantasies. We all want to have a peek in to someone else’s life,so the show comes across as both a precaution and a warning,” says Manish,the host of the show.

Angad Bedi,former host of Emotional Atyachar,agrees. “A human mind is bound to get suspicious at some level in a relationship,so the shows explore if the person is really in to you. They exploit your weaknesses,” he says. VJ Andy,host of Dare To Date,for instance,deliberately throws together opposites on a weekend date. “We want to know whether the laws of attraction work or not,” he says cheekily. And do they? “Most of the time,it doesn’t. People disappoint us with their cliched ‘dream dates’,” he shrugs. The viewers clearly don’t mind.