As an ardent BIGGBOSS viewer, in the past, I have said, ‘watch the BiggBoss’. I was open to discuss and defend in groups that laughed at me for watching something as obnoxious as BiggBoss. It offended me. However, I continued watching it for my own reasons, primarily because I found it fascinating. I along with other followers, picked our personal favourites and respected the real BiggBoss for what seemed to be a completely transparent reality show. Though we still wonder why the exact numbers of votes are never shared.
When BiggBoss13 started last year, I, along with a few other loyal followers of the show, was equally excited. It promised a great season. Though the channel is pleased with the results and it has reached new heights, for me and, many other loyal viewers, it was no longer a show that would dictate my travel schedule and social outings.
I have been a regular visitor to the sets while they were in Lonavala. And, Yes, I missed my visit to sets this year, though my equally crazy family did attend a shoot. I have one who pushed many people to start watching the BIGGBOSS show.
The move to Film City is more of the economics and control than anything else. But being so near and not a remote destination added toa loss of interest.
I missed – BiggBoss in BiggBoss.
The recipe was the same. However, the touch and the taste was completely missing. And there were many reasons for it. The channel will have its own reasons for doing what they did, and TRP shows that a lot many people were now watching it across screens. However, for me BiggBoss, the concept was getting corrupted episode by episode.
OKAY, let me list it down. Maybe it will help me rethink my own commitment and loyalties to the show.
BIGG BOSS IS DEAD.
Yes, the BiggBoss that every contestant respected and feared was a shadow of itself. It seemed the celebrities realised their importance and criticality for the shows success and hence disobeyed with impunity. The show too would have realised that a mix of celeb and Aam Adami allowed it significant freedom in control.
THE INITIAL CONTROVERSIES.
Most likely engineered and nothing wrong in it. It was after all post-2230 hrs show. Every participant who has willingly signed their soul to the channel. Hence, it took some time for the viewers to accept the novelty of sharing the bed. However, even that was not something new. But, it did help the show across the episodes.
REPEAT TASKS.
One of the major factor that kept people engaged in the last few seasons was the experimentation with tasks. The innovation in task concepts was missing. BIGGBOSS Season 13 showed hardly any innovation. Mostly what viewers saw were the same repetitive task.
CANCELLED TASKS.
BiggBoss being a shadow of itself. The contestants, by now thorough in their understanding and preparations were ready with the most comfortable solution possible. The golden key was the art of getting a task cancelled. No other season ever has seen so many tasks being aborted.
PHYSICAL ASSAULT.
Oh, we loved the show when contestant could instigate each other to the edge and yet never get physical. The rule was simple, Physical assault meant the end of the stay in the BiggBoss house. The weakened BiggBoss was always cajoling and giving chances for the participants to ignore the rule. BiggBoss ignored the favourite breaking rules, and it reeked of apparent bias. It made every viewer doubt if Siddharth joined the show basis a promise of winning it. I doubt, but then you can not stop viewers question it, based on what they were being served.
APPARENT PARTIALITY.
It is tough to say if BiggBoss was partial to some contestant. But then perceptions are adulterated with reality. Every viewer other than the one who was following Siddhart, Rashmi or Shenaz saw the show as partial. There was no point waiting late night to see who won the trophy. It was clear from midseason that Siddharth would win and it was not because he was the most deserving contestant
THE REVOLVING CONTESTANTS.
It was a significant let-down. The ejected contestants kept making appearances and were used as a pawn in the game.
THE MEDIOCRE TASK MASTERS.
Only a few of the celebrities who entered the BiggBoss house for the promotion of their work film were able to generate excitement. Use of past winners and the counselling sessions by them was a saving grace. Still, it seemed they were mouthing the channel dialogues and not what they felt. It appeared the freedom was not there. I hope we the loyal viewers are wrong about it. Gautam Gulati, Aryan and Sunny Leone were the only ones who made things happen.
THE LENGTH.
There have been seasons that went long. And you never felt that the extension was unjustified or the channel was stretching the show. Season 13, was for the first time that BiggBoss was like a film, which you wish was shorter by an hour because you could see who the murderer was.
On the home run, there was no debate on who the winner is going to be.
THE HOST.
Yes, Salaman Khan who seems to be the perfect host for the show. However, there were instances, possible guided by the creative team, where he had to act tough and share certain external events and happenings. Another first. However, it dilutes the concept of BiggBoss.
NOTHING IS LOST.
Nothing is lost. The channel needs to rethink, is this what they want to share and show? Is this the level of creativity in task design? Should they not create clear rules and abide by them instead of tweaking them for the favourites? Should they start sharing the real vote counts? Should they get common man another chance in the house?
BLOG/15/2020
