Reality Shows in spite of being criticized widely still manage to garner good TRPs’...Why?

One of the very first reality shows which created a stir in the Indian Television Industry was Roadies season one, “one-of-its-kind” adventure show, according to me. Where death-defying stunts, money tasks, eliminations just to win were performed by the contestants just to win cash prizes and a Karizma bike...Totally worth it, eh?

 How can we forget INDIAN IDOL season one? This happened in the early 2000s’.The prize of this show was tempting, indeed. The voting systems, emotional drama, totally hooking up the audience to their idiot boxes for one hour of pure masala entertainment. Abhijeet Sawant had become a household name. His journey into an overnight star was on everyone’s’ lips.

Then, there was no stopping for reality shows. They just took off. There were sequels to the existing shows, and new shows came up. Some became a huge hit, some didn’t even see the light of the day and some...Some just vanished into thin air.

Earlier, people did not pay much attention to the reality shows, since they were soap operas which went on and on and on, and took their time.

In the year 2007-2008, because of the indecent behaviour of the contestants, abusive language, too much of skin-show, shows like Roadies, Big Boss, Splitsvilla, etc ; were sent notices by the Supreme Court which really worked in the favour of these shows. People who did not even watch such shows and were hooked to their saas-bahu serials, started taking note of such shows, just to see what the controversies were all about. CURIOSITY certainly killed the CAT!!!! J

The target audiences of such shows are the youth. The shows’ definitely hit the bull’s eye! Youth were hooked on to the shows, and it clearly became a trend. The way people spoke in the above shows, their opinions, beliefs were blatantly copied just to have that “COOL” attitude. Politics, Back-Biting, etc all looked glamorous. Another reason, for the shows’ earning TRPs’ was that, it broke the monotony of the saas-bahu serials. There was no shor-sharaba or maybe less of it and definitely no rona-dhona. It looked and appeared more real.

 They made use of a simple concept ­­-- “Jo Dikhta hai, wohi Bikta hai” (What is real, is indeed appealing to the eyes). Whatever, they showed; they exaggerated it to the core. Be it rakhi sawant’s washing of clothes in Big Boss, Abhijeet Sawant’s story – Journey into an overnight star, Raghu’s (MTV producer and judge) on-screen electrifying presence and foul mouth.

Watching reality shows has become like a style statement now. I watch three shows and you??? Another reason was that -- who doesn’t like to see people making fun of other people on the National Television?? Be it Raghu belittling some contestant’s self-confidence, or Nikhil Chinappa making fun of some bimbette on Splitsvilla. Everyone has and will continue having a good laugh.

Another reason for the rising TRPs’ would be, whatever they sold, they sensationalized it. The content would be more “In Your Face” kind.

Then, there are LOYALISTS present almost everywhere. They back the shows, no matter what!

 So, THIS IS IT!! The reasons for reality shows like MTV Roadies, Splitsvilla in spite of being criticized, still earn good TRPs’ are – 1.Loyalists backing such shows, no matter!

2. Young guns of the country.  3. Style symbol

4. Breaking the monotony of the saas-bahu serials.

 5. Voyeurism – main reason for success of reality shows.

Happy Feet

She is petite n naive. Sweet and shy. She jumped up and down. Went hither and thither.Ran helter and skelter.Full of life and energy.Never cared about anything, never cared about anyone. Lost in her ‘own, sweet’ world. Doesn't know the harsh realities of life. Doesn't want to know them. Let her be lost in her own. Let her fall down; get bruised .Let her stand up on her own. Let her know what it means to stand on your feet. Two happy feet. Let her enjoy life. Let her experience things. Let her go…don’t stop her.She is like a butterfly fluttering from one flower to another. Don’t tell her anything. She doesn't believe in hearsay. Let her be on her own .She won’t understand, unless she understands. Let her be “Herself” .Don’t wipe off that pretty smile off your face, You! ...Girl with a dimpled smile.

"The Bandwallahs"

Yes, you must be thinking Bandwallahs, really? Didn’t I get any other topic to express my views on? The truth is no, I didn't! I believe, Bandwallahs are like the unsung heroes of anyone’s marriage. They play some really fine, heart thumping, leg-shaking music. But, they did get a lot of attention when the picture “Band Bajaa Baraat” brought them into the picture (no pun intended!)Before I start writing this article, I want to tell you a few things. Firstly, this is not an article giving you an insight about them or their whereabouts. It is just a plain, simple article from the writer passed on to the readers.So, as random as my thoughts are, my above article is. So, I want to ask one simple question, When you picturise a wedding, a happy sequence, do you imagine it to be in total silence? Well, the people who answered a ‘yes’ for the above question, you may continue reading my article and for the people who answered a ‘no’, well. You can also read my article. Moving on, when we imagine a wedding, it is all about bells ringing, there are dhols playing, the flutes, the nachna-gaana, the shehnai, the bride and the groom and the baratis, etc.Well, I assume this trend ushered in the upper class or people who wanted to make a show of their exorbitant wealth. Anyway, the trend caught like a wildfire. Everyone had Bandwallahs in their weddings. What is a wedding if you didn’t dance to a few Bollywood numbers and with a few balle here, a few balle there? The thought itself is soo exciting, isnt’ it? People completely losing themselves to the heart-thumping beats with their traditional latkas and the jhatkas. I feel for all this revelry, Bandwallahs should be given the entire credit. So, Bandwallahs have become a necessity more than a luxury. You can’t attend a wedding which is dull and lull, drab and sad. It should be Fun.frolic.exciting!They really bring that liveliness to a wedding, as they say in Hindi ‘Jaan daal dete hain!’  Where do you think has the so-called ‘tapori dance’ and the ‘ganpati dance’ evolved from?Celebrations big or small, Bandwallahs are invariably present. From the smallest to smallest occasions, to the biggest to biggest celebrations like India winning the world cup, there were Bandwallahs all around. The victory would have been just a victory, but with the music, shor-sharaba, it added that extra power, zing to the existing revelry and happiness, it becomes a ‘VICTORY’!Don’t go by the number of people present in one band or the number of instruments they are playing. They can play some fiery music, which will really uplift your mood...No matter what! People like me, who are two left feet, who can’t match a step or two, we can happily dance away to their tunes…which we call the ‘ganpati dance’ or ‘tapori dance’ Without even a hint of being ashamed or feeling shy.The Bandwallahs have created quite an image in your mind, or may I call it the ‘subliminal perception’ or as they say in Hindi, “hoke bhi,andekhe hai” .Whenever you are happy, whenever you have achieved a big thing or the smallest of small victory, you simply go in your mind (dhinka chika dhin), or the famous ‘nasik dhol’ or ‘pune dhol’ plays in your mind and you do your usual jig. That is what, Bandwallahs done to me, done to you (maybe) unknowingly, unintentionally or erratically. So, I am thankful to them, they are like the icing on the cake (in the truest sense of the word).

So, this is it, my views on the unsung heroes of every celebration – The Bandwallahs and a long, overdue credit.Dhinka chika Dhin to all of YOU! 

Public service advertisement

Beloved Ajja (Grandfather)

During this taxing schedule of projects, presentations and assignments, one day I just kept them aside and started to introspect...sitting beside my window and I could hear nothing, but silence which was so calm and comforting. That was the time, AJJA, I remembered nothing, but you. Its not that I don’t miss you. You are always there when I’m talking to my friends; when I reminisce about the good ol’ days spent in Keshwapur, you even come in my dreams, but I have never got a chance to write about you. Choti-Choti baatein ya harketein aapki yaad dilati hai. The way you used to get irritated with the little girl in the parachute advertisement and imitate her. I can still laugh uncontrollably on it .The way you used to cheat while playing cards or carrom and your obstinacy ,now I know why am I like that, because its in my BLOOD! I always feel you are following me, you are my “Guiding Light”. Whenever I commit mistakes, you are there to make me realize them. Whenever I am elated, you are there with me to rejoice it. In my happy moments and sad moments, YOU are there always! I can go back to the time when I was a toddler and was your naughtiest grandchild, had the most number of punishments and beatings from you amongst all. The punishments which you used to give, utterly embarrassing. Till date,I feel embarrassed about them. Your enthusiasm about anything and everything made me even more enthusiastic.Remember, "the mirchi bhaji", you used to bring and we would all have it during dinner, it would make them tastier just because of your enthusiasm.Our picnics to Dharwad or all the wonderful places in and around Hubli,the tidbits we used to take with us, which Amma used to prepare. How can I possibly forget your fiat car which is still there and makes us realize time and again, that you are somewhere around us! I become NOSTALGIC, when I take a trip down the memory lane, there’s this “Keshwapur air” around me. Our small bungalow which is nothing but in shambles now. I can vividly Amma’s garden, the time we used to play there, plant saplings, chit-chat. I remember my daily chores, when I used to come there for my summer vacations. Wake up in the morning at 5 with you, when the sun had still not risen, have a cup of tea, go for a walk with you in the golf course,come back home, irritate Yasho,have lunch, play and in the evening go to Yasho’s place in Deshpande Nagar,come back home, have dinner and sleep!I remember how you used to act stubborn and snatch the remote from us and watch a shitty movie and make us bare the torture too. How I used to feel proud because of your vatt in the entire Hubli city, people saying, "oh! Mr.Vinekar" and I would go in my mind,"yeah..! He’s my AJJA!" In spite of that, you still had your feet on the ground, head on your shoulders. Even at the age of 78, you still held your head up high, independent and would always help the ones' in need. Thinking of such things, keeps me going. How can I possibly forget the dilkhush and pastries, you would bring for us from the Iyengar Bakery!  How can I forget those arguments, we used to have about absolutely nothing. No one argues with me like that now. That makes our ARGUMENTS even more SPECIAL, right?          Life was so uncomplicated then. No crushes, no heartbreaks, no worries, no tight schedules. Biggest fear would be the day of my results, but things would come back to normal within two-three days! Then, enjoying those first rains in Keshwapur with you, simply fascinating and excites me even now! Remember you used to always joke with me saying,"Devyani, I’m not going to be around you all your life" and I would go,"Ajja, can we not talk about such things!", but that’s a fact and I had to accept it. I MISS THAT ALL. Those innumerable happy moments spent with you in Keshwapur, in thane or god knows where! People generally say, “To make new memories, you have to forget the old ones”, but these are some of those memories which are like photographs etched in the scrapbook of my heart and I can never let them go! Sometimes I feel I had everything, now I feel I have nothing. Neither you nor the Keshwapur house. It’s like sand slipping out of my hand. Sometimes I feel, how I wish I could freeze all those moments. Rewind it and play it, rewind and play, until you get sick of it! But I guess,That’s, LIFE and it moves on.........         

This is it, what I call….LEGEN…Wait for it.…DARY, LEGENDARY! ..This one’s for you, Ajja, a long, pending one! 

My Brand building project

Prepared an anti-depression project,TABS (Things Are going to get Better,Silly!)

The basic idea about the whole campaign is,worries big or small,its going to get better. The road is going to get better, and popping sleeping pills,hanging from a fan or resorting to drugs is not an option.It is only going to bring tears,tears and only tears all the way. 

We prepared advertisements,played a few games in and around college to make students aware of teen depression.

   Logo

Print ad 1

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Print ad 3

MY AMR Project

We had to design a product which would appeal to the men belonging to SEC (Social Economic Class) B1 and B2 from the age group of 35 - 45 yearsSo,we introduced a brand of bags, called 'BASTA' and 

why, BASTA? Cos' Basta means a 'bag' in Hindi language. Basically, a backpack in Hindi is called Basta. Our target audience is familiar with Hindi language, so we picked Basta as our brand name. So,in a way our product becomes self-explanatory.

Some of our ads - 

Print ad 1

Print  ad 2

Outdoor ad

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My Ad-design Project

Created and designed a corporate identity and promotional inputs for an ice-cream parlour, WACKAU!

Basically,the idea of the ice-cream parlour is, you can make your own creations there and also jam. The name, Wackau! conveys spunk,happiness,pride and wackiness all at the same time. So,these were some of the advertisements used for its promotion.

Transit ad

Logo

Flavour 1

Flavour 2

Flavour 3

Flavour 4

Hoarding 

Print ad 1

Teaser 

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Magazine ad

Teaser 2

Cafe Coffee Day ads

Coupons

Print ad

Print ad 2

Shelter ad

Teaser

Hoarding

I made Memories.....

Shor in the city...

Into the Dark.......

"Unadulterated Love"

If Life gives you watermelons........

Blingty bling!

HOPE is a waking dream.

'Out of the Blue'

Smile,Sunshine,Smile!

Colour me Yellow!

Footloose bags
This brand of bags is brought to us by VIP Industries ltd. The ads basically talk about discovering yourself. Taking a break from our usual ,boring routine ,but not without a footloose bag.These ads are made to make the target audience aware of this particular brand and eventually establish it as a top-of-the-mind brand.

Jaquar Ads

The basic idea behind making these ads was to increase the brand awareness of the sanitary ware brand,Jaquar and to establish it as a top-of-the-mind brand.

Cadbury Ads

The theme of these ads are to enjoy small joys in life with cadbury dairy milk...