Just a few days ago I took part in a singing reality show's auditions with absolutely no intentions or goals. For me it was meant to be just sheer time pass. I had randomly registered, with no hopes of my number even making it through the lottery system. Well, surprisingly it did and indeed I was glad as well as excited.
Informed just two days before the auditions I decided to not waste much time on song selection and zeroed down on one song.
Firstly: How can you pick genuine talent by lottery?
Secondly why do you inform just two days before the actual event?
Okay, the above questions can be undermined.
Reaching the venue before the assigned time, I saw hardly two people outside the gate. I assumed that the previous batch was already inside and concluded that once they were done I would be next. But no, upon asking the guard for the actual location he told me to keep walking and so I did and oh lord! The queue was like almost half a kilometer long. By the time I took my place in the queue, I felt as if I had successfully caught a glimpse of Lord Balaji at Tirupati and I could see the queue extending behind me like a monkey's tail. So the next two hours were spent on the road waiting for the hideous queue to move.
Question, Why do they have to make us stand in the scorching sun instead why can't they collect the crowd in one covered place?
However at early morning, fueled by enthusiasm I didn't mind it.
Then finally, I attained moksha from the roadside business and got into the venue. I expected the crowd to proceed fast with all the form fillings and stuff as they show on the television but no, this was the part where all the TRP interviews were being done. I passed by a young lad, who was speaking in front of the camera as if he had learnt history by-heart. Impassive yet with no flaws. And for me it was, 45 mins of boredom.
Question, Why do they have to hold the entire line for some TRP recordings? Can't they do it elsewhere?
Then came the third phase that is no where near exit. The queue had refused to move into the stadium where the registration forms were being given out. Yet the place was well sheathed by the trees and hence, it wasn't as annoying as the previous one. Here another 45-50 minutes were spent.
and finally when we were let into the stadium; I was shocked, right in the scorching early afternoon sun there were three narrow rows where all of us had to squeeze in. This was one of the most pathetically organized zone. With aunties jostling past me and their flamboyant umbrella's missing my eye by centimeters this place was hell and this hell lasted for about an hour.
Question; don't the organizers have enough money to make arrangements for a covered area for people to stand?
Then finally the forms were given out to be filled, and let me tell you this phase was no less taxing. Post the form filling gala, the crew members made us sit like jokers at one side of the stadium and this is where the drama begins.
So basically the channel had to shoot some video and we were the background who had to put in fake smiles and "oohs and aahs" (Which of course I refrained from doing so) So for this one shoot two hours were wasted. And look at the annoying part, the participants were DICTATED to raise their hands, wear smiles and look as if they were having the time of their lives. The entire batch that was sent in was put on hold! Imagine getting delayed by 2 hours.
Question: I am not telling you to stop your TRP stuff but why use us as the decoy? We are here to sing NOT to act.
By this time people began revolting and finally their shooting was wrapped up and the names were announced for the final phase. By this time I'd lost my enthusiasm, eagerness to sing and my voice (because of the sand that kept rolling around) All I wanted, was a nice shower and some food. To hell with singing, I wanted to go home.
So, trust me, you may be a very gifted person, capable of getting all awards... If you are looking for a platform for showcasing it, let these reality shows be your last option. Unless you genuinely have the inner matter in you to bear with the tortures mentioned above.
They say reality is not easy, but reality shows are painful. Hats off to genuine winners, if at all, there are any!
