Pilgrim’s Progress

The physical tasks make for the most interesting part of the show. They’re not all about strength — most tasks call for agility,alertness and a certain amount of strategy. They range from running across a narrow bridge constructed of wobbly boats on water to scaling a wall straight from a military bootcamp. As the show progresses,the tasks get tougher and as expected,the human drama gets shriller.

Who’s in it?The show is hosted by Manish Goel,famous for his role as a grey character on Kasautii Zindagi Kay. Here,he’s all charm and effervescence,befriending the contestants and regaling them with jokes. His constant flow of conversation and the stories that he packs them with are one of the more engaging parts of the show.

The twelve contestants are chosen from various parts of India — although Mumbai seems to dominate. Four of them are young girls who are out to prove that what boys can do,they can do better and one is a devoted daughter-in-law,who wants to fulfil the lifelong dream of her parents-in-law.

What’s hot?Goel is a good host — he’s encouraging,without being over-friendly and he’s a straight talker. He also seems to have endless energy; but we wonder how long it will last given that the show travels all over India and the host has as much to do as the contestants. Also,there’s no SMS voting,so that means that every contestant has a decent chance at survival,unlike other shows where contestants from big cities win due to the fan base that their hometown offers.

What’s not?Here is yet another show that seems to solidify the North Indian -Hindu mould that popular television has. It’s done in all innocence of course,but one statement from the narrator — that it’s every

Indian’s dream to go on this pilgrimage — smacks of sectarian ignorance. One doesn’t expect a programme that revolves around the tenets of one religion to be strictly secular,and of course,there’s nothing to stop people of other faiths,or no faith at all,from enjoying it for the human drama it showcases. But it seems strange that a show on such a pointedly religious concept should exist at all on a general entertainment channel.

Should you be watching it?If you like shows with heavy sentimental leanings and regular doses of facts about Hindu mythological and cultural lore,then you might enjoy this show. If you’re allergic to reality shows of all description,then stay away.