Most of the time, we watch reality TV shows and keep pondering about their authenticity. Let’s be honest: if you are watching a reality TV show, then it’s obvious you’re here for drama and spicy controversies. You aren’t not here for facts and truths. But even if it’s a reality show, there are some times when we stumble upon such shows that make other reality shows look normal in front of them.
As a viewer who has watched several episodes of the famous singing show Indian Idol, I have myself wondered this: Is this all really real, or is it scripted for the sake of TRP and entertainment? If you’re one such person, then let’s dive deep into this show’s format and other details.
Indian Idol is a reality music show in which various talented participants from around the country compete for the winning title. The show first started in 2004 and is still going strong, with fourteen seasons since its air date.
The show has seen several judges come and go, and some of the winners have even found a way for themselves into the music industry.
But how much of this show is real? If you’ve watched the show, then you must have come across scenes that make you think, “Is this real?”. Well, as you might have guessed, almost everything that’s shown in Indian Idol is scripted.
Indian Idol: The Truth Behind The Hardship & Other Personal Stories
Throughout the show, participants share their personal stories that build emotional relationships with the viewers and bring more views as well as votes. Most of the time, the people involved in the show tend to overdo it. Moreover, it also feels that the show focuses more on the participants’ personal lives and struggles than their vocal talent, which contradicts the show’s purpose.
If you’ve been watching this show for some time, then you might recall the whole season in which Pawandeep and Arunita’s “affair” was used to gain attention. Even after the show ended, the showmakers used the narrative and pushed it further even in the next seasons, where they made special appearances. Fans still believe the whole “affair” narrative was overdone and seemed fake.
One of the ex-contestants, Aditi Paul, called the “affair” manipulative and said the showmakers were playing with the audience’s emotions. Another ex-contestant, Amit Sana, comments that the hardship stories used to be simple and genuine back in the time, but now, it all seems plastic and ready-made, which is evident to everyone.
Raghu Ram, famously known for his appearance on MTV Roadies, revealed that he was asked to pick a fight in Indian Idol. During a podcast, he was asked about his experience, to which he opened up and spilled the truth about the show.
He mentioned he went to the show and he didn’t know how or what to sing, so he sang something the guy in front of him had sung. He was there to pick a fight, but nobody knew he was a plant, and everyone reacted genuinely to his actions on the show.
Although people still watch the show, almost everyone believes that the show is scripted and not at all genuine. The various fans on Twitter who make hashtags go viral, the contestants’ remarks, and viewers who call it a scam are proof enough.
Indian Idol season 14 started airing on 7 October 2023 and airs every Saturday and Sunday only on Sony TV.
