‘Indian Idol’ is one of the most popular reality shows on Indian television. From what we know of it, it’s about tough competition, celebrity judges, and often emotional (sometimes melodramatic) and human-centric sequences in regular episodes. Then there’s the occasional spat between the judges, and drama ensues when an odd contestant crosses the line. All of this is enough to keep the audience hooked.
But the squeezing in of at least a week’s worth of content into hour-long (sometimes two) telecasts, usually edits away the darker side of this bright moon. An ex-Indian idol aspirant from the 2012 edition, Nishant Kaushik took us there with his series of tweets on Thursday.
According to him, it’s a nightmare constituting dozens of retakes, showering of vile abuses, long hours of waiting with no accessible toilets or food stall and much more.
Brief, nonchalant thread about my auditioning experience at Indian Idol 2012 and why I think it is a perfect platform to destroy your dreams as opposed to its common perception as a breeding ground for talent.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
May. Mumbai. I rocked up at the venue more out of casual interest. On joining a queue 2 km long I noticed enthusiasts who had arrived there as though their lives depended on them. Some with their mothers holding Prasad, other rebels who had braved odds and traveled alone.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
In those long hours of waiting, no accessible toilets or food stalls or drinking water taps. If you step out in search, you risk losing the queue which you’d then have to rejoin. Anyway at 1 pm the long wait ended right? Wrong.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
At 1 PM we were herded toward a stage on the school ground where the previous year’s winner Shriram was lip syncing to Desi Boyz. A volunteer amongst us was sought to go and grab Shriram’s feet mid-performance and shout “I wanna be Indian Idol!” Reward promised : early audition.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
When we asked the crew if we could step out to get lunch and water, we were told to do so at our own risk. As if auditions would begin any moment. Contestants who made enquiries about the actual commencement of auditions were either not responded to, or showered with vile abuses.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
During all this I met two interesting aspirants: one med rep from an Indian village I don’t remember the name of, who dragged his right foot in a broken slipper. And another, who was blind in both eyes. And then I saw the crew make a merciless meal of both of these kind souls.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
First the vultures came with their mic and cameras to the blind man, who said he had a scene’s role in The Slumdog Millionaire. They first asked him to give a little speech about the history and status of his blindness, how does it feel to be blind, and what have you.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
When none of his responses flew, they drafted a “response” on his behalf and read it out. Roughly, “I miss my mother and I wish she were here to see me, but I hope that when I sing tonight she can hear me up there.” They made him repeat this even as his voice trembled.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
At this point one of the aspirants lost his shit and stood up, demanding to see where the auditions were happening, to see the judges. One of the crew members charged up to him and slapped him. In front of thousands of people. SLAPPED.A.CONTESTANT. Yes this happened.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
A scuffle followed. Crew members rescued their colleague who was assaulted, by dragging the contestant along the floor and evicting him from the room. Late into the night, we finally arrived in a corridor that had a line of rooms hosting the auditions.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
(Take a moment to reflect that by the time of the first round of audition some of us had been standing at that venue for almost 24 hours). Crew walked past us, randomly picking some of us to sing a couple of lines. Just like that, in the corridor, with no judges present.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
The naive thought this was a smart way to quicken the filtering process of worthy contestants. The smartass crew knew better. They giggled at the contestants who sang horribly, and directed them to the only room that had a camera inside it. The rest of us got non-camera rooms.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
That mockery went on. The judges relished that fellow’s naivety, asking him to keep taking a pitch “higher and louder” till his voice turned into frail shrieks that sent them into peals of laughter. He came out in tears. Elsewhere in the corridor we heard of contestants fainting.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
My summarized observation of Indian Idol was that it decorates and recognizes maybe 10 or less, very worthy participants annually. But en route it quashes a million people’s hearts by disrespecting them, ridiculing and abusing them, denying them a conducive atmosphere to contest.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
Not to mention the labourers who were hired to install and then disassemble the equipment at the venue. I don’t even have the heart to mention how we were witness to the abuses they were being subjected to by the present staff.
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
True talent is rare. But every aspiring artist’s pride stems from the encouragement it gets from its colleagues and friends and mohallawallahs and family. In those little nooks and crannies, each of them is a “star”. Reality shows have no right to disrespect that. <END>
— Nishant Kaushik (@nofreecopies) August 20, 2018
Mini Mathur, who has hosted the show for many seasons, was quick to respond with her own stories.
This sucks. Thanks for forwarding me this thread. I wasn’t part of the 2012 season but I know most of what he has articulated is known to happen on reality tv. One of the reasons I bowed out. This incessant need to create false emotion.
RIP Organic, pure TV.— Mini Mathur (@minimathur) August 22, 2018
Some others who’ve been through the ordeal also supported Nishant’s rant.
I’ve been on the other side. As a creative intern. On yet another reality show. And I testify. The process is humiliating and how. https://t.co/aQqQdmst30
— Sulagna Chatterjee (@BeingChatterjee) August 22, 2018
Read this entire thread, please. Everyone needs to know what goes on behind the scenes of these reality shows. They milk your misfortunes and are ready to ridicule anyone and everyone. https://t.co/ko4RLgWsC7
— Reluctant Tweeter (@shibangidas) August 22, 2018
Some bitter reality about India’s singing contest Indian Idol. Follow this thread https://t.co/Lgh5Z9cPMF
— Uzair Hasan Rizvi (@RizviUzair) August 24, 2018
Since 2004, Indian idol has provided the aspiring singers a platform to showcase their talent to the world. But the alleged lowering down of humanity is downright inhumane.
That said, we do understand that there are two sides to a coin and will keep an eye out on the producers of the show for a response. Stay tuned, and let us know in the comments section if you’ve had such an experience of your own.
