Small in size, big on moolah

It wasn't long ago that I swore to stay away from reality shows after their sudden, overwhelming overdose, but the latest one on NDTV Imagine caught my imagination, even if for all the wrong reasons

It wasn't long ago that I swore to stay away from reality shows after their sudden, overwhelming overdose, but the latest one on NDTV Imagine caught my imagination, even if for all the wrong reasons. 'Pati Patni aur woh', they call it, using children as scapegoats. Those who're supposed to bind parents become the 'third party' here.
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No kidstuff: Juhi Parmar with Jagruti on 'Patni, Patni Aur Woh'

For the uninitiated, the show involves five celebrity couples, each living in a different house. Apart from managing all household chores on their own, they are also expected to take care of children of different ages throughout the series, starting from toddlers. Even though the child's biological parents keep an eye on the activities of the child 24X7, the show's format is rather disturbing. Children as guinea pigs; celebs as greedy ones. As for the kid, hisu00a0 only claim to fame is how Rakhi Sawant mothered him for a week. What an early age tragedy.

This, however, isn't an isolated case. The famed Little Champs show on Zee TV is yet another master moneymaker, no matter the means. Elimination and competition, drama and deception. The age of innocence, alas, is absolutely over. The channel's claim: it wants to encourage talent among children. In that case, I'd request director Gajendra Singh to travel to remote villages and stir a song or two there, instead of subjecting kids to TRP torture.

What's next, a Junior Indian Idol or TV Award Show especially for kids? Where is the childhood, anyway?

Ishita Sharma is Features Reporter, MiD DAY, Delhi