Opinion A minute of idiocy

Is the Indian of the species indistinguishable from any other species?

New DelhiFebruary 1, 2011 02:59 PM IST First published on: Feb 1, 2011 at 02:59 PM IST

Is the Indian of the species indistinguishable from any other species? This question has been on my mind ever since I watched my first episode of Minute to Win It – India (AXN). And,not sure if I know the answer.

For those who do not have a minute to spare for this programme,it is a ‘talent’ contest that involves the participants abilities to use materials found in an average home to win a challenge. In the American version that has been on air for quite a while,the participant may be asked to carry an egg from here to there with the help of a rubber band. Yeah,it’s that kind of a game. The contestant is given three chances to achieve the task within 60 seconds hence a minute to win it — otherwise out with them.

Now,this may not sound like much fun,and honestly,it does seem silly to be wasting your time trying to show off your skills as an egg and rubber band courier,but there is no accounting for bad tastes! The show is quite popular perhaps because it allows anyone with no skills whatsoever to try out their luck,be on candid camera and win some money doing what can only be described as idiotic tasks. If you don’t think carrying an egg on a rubber band is idiotic then this show is for you.

It is obviously popular enough with Indian audiences for AXN to launch a desi version. The host is the likable young Gaurav Kapur — and the audience is filled with yuppies gosh,how long is it since I used that word? Forever. Anyhow,the young contestants are brimming with self-assurance and gung-ho. They saunter onto stage and say things like young Manish did: ‘I want to win this,I love AXN,I love Minute to Win It ,I have to win it!’

This exhibitionism what else can one call it is straight out of the American version of the show and totally unlike Indians. For instance,contrast this dude Manish with the contestants of Kaun Banega Crorepati (Sony). They too spoke a lot about themselves,their chances of winning the quiz contest but there was none of this in-your-face exuberance or showmanship. That is not Indian parampara.

Or is it? Is this the urban legend of a young metro male or female English-speaking Indian? Do they now exude a brash self belief and a comfort level with themselves hitherto missing from Indians on TV? Are they rather like Gaurav himself,once a veejay,now an occasional cricket carpet-bagger (he walked the red carpet as MC at the IPL auction on Sony MAX)? Gaurav whose exchange with contestant Amit went thus:

Gaurav: So,what do you do?

Amit: I am a civil engineer.

Gaurav: A civil engineer? Are you very civil? Will I have to call you Mr B… all year?

See,we normally don’t talk to each other like that. Or maybe we do. Only we are not listening carefully enough. Maybe the India of today and tomorrow,younger than 30,talks exactly like this.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s fun,it’s easygoing. But close your eyes and Gaurav,Manish or Amit could be American,English,Australian or any other nationality. There’s nothing Indian about them.

Which makes me think: is it the standardised format of the show that has standardised the participants irrespective of their cultural differences?

Think about it while I go to practise knocking a ball off a table with an empty cheese tin can tied around my waist with a rope.

Love everybody who has made me possible,sorry,this possible…. Oh,forget it,let me be my age.