Opinion The kids aren’t alright

It’s tough just being a kid,must we reduce them to tears merely for the viewing pleasure of millions who have nothing better to do than to watch — and even enjoy watching — them cry? What kind of enjoyment is there in seeing children perform badly? Sadistic?

These talent shows involving children are popular; they encourage children to display their undoubted talents; we are astonished and delighted by their proficiency. So a hearty congratulation to channels for providing children with such opportunities. However,is it worth the tears and the tumbles and the trauma of being publicly reproached for a poor performance by the judges,who only minutes before had bestowed superlative compliments on them: “Brilliant! Mind-blowing! Superb!”? Think of what it must be like for Sneha,Barbie doll in one hand and “Superb!” in the other when the anchor told her that she was going home empty-handed. Older performers on Indian Idol,etc,are crestfallen when voted out — the impact is that much more on young children,who,often,dance like marionettes controlled by over-ambitious parents.

Their visible disappointment at being booted is more offensive than watching them rotate their hips like grinders,in imitation of item girls or boys (if such creatures exist). Honestly,if it’s waterworks we want,we’d be better off looking out of the window at the monsoon or watching Uttaran (Colors) where everyone is crying over the dead Vansh.

For a few smiles,better to have watched Zara Nach Ke Dikha (Star Plus) because even though the two teams of actors were often upset by the judges decrees,they kept you in good humour. Can’t wait for another season.

And then there’s Madhavan: he grins hugely but it may not be enough to save Big Money (Imagine) from being a loser for anyone whose evenings stretch beyond TV serials,Bollywood and bakwaas. Questions on this mock-alike-KBC (you have “insurances” instead of “lifelines”) are about television: “In Agle Janam…, name the daughter of so-and-so she killed by mistake.” Or,“Which cold drink claims ‘baaki sab bakwaas ?’ “ You need more patience than the Buddha for enlightenment here,since Madhavan gives the contestant innumerable opportunities to change her answer before he says “Fix?” (as opposed to “Lock kar diya jaye?”) and by then you’ve already attached yourself to another channel.

Last Tuesday,the chances are you fixed to watch Indian Idol (Sony) because someone arrived in a helicopter on the contest and if you said it was Aamir Khan,you’d better not play for Big Money. Aamir did make an appearance,along with with Rajkumar Hirani and Sharman Joshi to promote Sony’s premiere of 3 Idiots on Sunday (as though the film needs any promos). Clearly,Sony wants to break all “idiot” box office records (irresistible pun). Khan did his usual charming number,Joshi and Hirani were a solid supporting cast but the rehearsed jokes — especially anchor Abhijeet Sawant’s memory loss (Ghajini?) — were about as funny as David Headley’s testimony. Thank God for some great singing.

shailaja.bajpai@expressindia.com