It is so encouraging to have seen talent of Naga youths in various disciplines today. We can proudly say Nagas are second to none. Without basic facility and professional training, Nagaland has produced “Self-made Artists” that encourages increasing number of organizers for Reality Show over the years. Sadly, voting card has become an obstacle for many aspirants because we belongs to “Have and Have not” society. Even for the winners, their journey ends with prize money.I’m told that the show is designed at the rate of 50/50 for judges’ mark and voting card respectively. What hope is there for contestant from poor economic background? Is it sensible to participate if one has to miss out 50% mark? All of us are witnesses to what’s happening around. Every single elimination round is tense and supported by sale of voting cards. Contestant means burden to one’s own family in today’s context.
Then the countdown for final round begins. Once again the whole family, siblings, cousins, friends and colleagues are engaged in selling voting card of ninety thousand or one lakh rupees worth per contestant issued by organizers. The town is flooded with voting cards sold by all other contestants as well. There is hardly any chance to say “TOTAL SOLD OUT” but those contestants’s family who could afford would make-up payment for remaining cards to secure marks for 50% and submit to organizers. Imagine the situation of those who fail to sell the same scale.
How do we asses someone if we should look for potential? Not given due recognition to someone with ability and interest is nothing but justice denied. Isn’t it too painful to mourn the death of living talent in someone? Yes money is powerful but it shouldn’t silence someone’s talent. There is variety of choices for people living in metros. They may fit in or opt for other possible opportunities but we have limited market and avenues in Nagaland. My message to all Have-not contestants of past and present, may be you have lost the show to Haves but this is not the end of the world. Your value does not decrease basing on someone’s inability to declare you as winner. Believe in yourself and continue to inspire others. No one can take away that inborn gem in you. Stay blessed.
Young talents are identified by organizing the show but how about promoting the winner after competition? What scope awaits them? If organizers are there only to organize the show, whose responsibility is it to promote the winner? Reality Show in a real sense is a business, the business to promote talents and not the other business. How practical are the organizers after the show?
Here I don’t mean the show to run on loss. Of course the show must go on but it isn’t a bad idea to try some better option taking both organizers as well as contestants in to consideration. My humble suggestion to organizers is to tie up with some telecom service providers for voting system. Once the designated SMS voting number is announced, I’m sure the system would be contestant friendly and more convenient for general public voting as well. This is a win-win position for both the telecom service providers and the show organizers as you both can make money out of it.
In addition, setting up of website for your show won’t cost you much. In fact, this is basic for any standard reality show in this day and age. Why don’t you allow people to vote through your website too? Furthermore, upload their performance videos in your website and let people vote according to talents and likings. This will also raise the standard of reality shows in the state and promote both your show and talents beyond boundaries. Buying voting cards without knowing the contestant is unrealistic, if not, unethical to a certain degree.
If you (the organizers) truly have an objective to promoting talents you should tie-up with cable providers across Nagaland or even neighboring states and broadcast the program widely. Broadcasting only in Dimapur is not enough in many fronts. Broadcasting widely will not only promote and popularize the talents but will also expand your voting bank, which is extra revenue.
School/college is not the only place under the sun to shape one’s destiny. Some have brains to study professional courses; others have skill to be professional. Reality Show if organized in true spirit will be a blessing to many who missed the bus for no fault of theirs. Let the Reality Show bring out the best possible version of oneself.
