Why do Indians want to copy foreign reality shows?

[savio13]

From KBC to Dus KA Dum, Indian Idol, and now we have Sach KA Samna (The Moment of Truth) and Is Jungle Se mujhe Bachao (I am a Celebrity, Get me out of here)...

Indians have been copying or trying to imitate abroad themes..

India is a land of talented individuals, can't they come up with anything original?

[YogeshTheDevil]

Indians do copy foreign reality shows because that is what not just sells - but sells in a big way. In this country where only Shahrukh and sex gets sold - producers try to mix a bit of both in reality shows.

Reality shows - are as such a foreign, non-Indian concepts - although we, the whole country do enjoy to prick others - on small things like age, salary, kids....as much as possible, but the idea that a bunch of individual is being monitored throughout day and night - which includes everything they do, is simply outrageous...means more eyeballs would be grabbed! But whatever - whatever sensational you present, chances are that a channel across the seas would already have shown thought that USP...especially if it is sensational enough to be sold, so we'd find that a similar show already been aired! Also, a safer option for any producer is to sell an already successful product - whether it is a sony camera - or a TV show, rather than trying to sell some untested product.
Well...probably some Indian producer will come up someday with an original idea - either a Saas-Bahu reality show...or better - a mythological one!

[amlan]

i think yogesh is right when he says that the producers are unwilling to take risk and that is why they follow the patterns of the successful foreign reality shows.

[priyankappd]

This is the reality of Indian television :wave:

The Indian television audience has seen too much drama in daily soaps. Trends indicate that they have switched to drama in real life – reality shows, in short.

But many of these reality shows are licensed versions of successful foreign shows. Take a look at this – Bigg Boss is a copy of Bigg Brother, Indian Idol was a take-off from American Idol, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is a copy of Strictly Come Dancing, and the famous Kaun Banega Crorepati, was a licensed version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Why isn't there an Indian reality show that will be original in concept? Or are the original ones simply less popular?

No problem with borrowing

Those involved in producing, directing and marketing these shows staunchly defend picking up tried-and-tested concepts that will guarantee success.

Siddharth Basu, the director of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, says, "Occasionally, when the stakes are high and when broadcasters want to break through the clutter, then they may look at a globally successful format that has worked across cultures and countries."

Anchor Arshad Warsi asserts that reality shows are a break from the sameness of daily soaps. "Reality shows are a notch above the usual saas-bahu dramas. So these reality shows are like a whiff of fresh air."

Mona Singh also gives the thumbs up to copies of phoren hits. "Not only does their short-lived excitement garner TRPs, it also comes as a welcome change for the viewer,"she says.

Home-made is low profile

This is what most feel, but Basu argues, "Perhaps they are not as hyped as global formats, but there have been a number of such Indian shows, and some of them remarkably done too,"says Basu.

"Hospital, on BBC World, shot at AIIMS, was one such. MTV Roadies is another. Not all are commercially successful, but neither are all Indian versions of global formats."

Sandeep Sikand, chief creative director of Sony agrees that many successful shows are copies, but says India is also coming up with original concepts.

Satya Raghavan, vice president, marketing, Star India Pvt Ltd, does not feel that Indian directors are scared to experiment.

He cites The Great Indian Laughter Champions as an example of an original concept, but feels there's more room for innovation. "The key to a successful show is to localise the concept,"and adds, "We constantly need to come up with original ideas so that it adds vibrancy to the show."

There's hope still

Most directors feel that Indian television at this stage is very experimental, and on its way to becoming a hugely successful industry. Basu adds, "Indian television is in a stage of awkward adolescence – overactive, imitative and confused, but restless and evolving."

Source :- Times Of India :hail:

[priyankappd]

The real challenge is to localise the content. This is the reason why Indians want to copy foreign reality shows. Celebrities on a reality show hold the key to its success to a considerable extent. Roping in celebrities is a safety factor. Audiences tend to have more patience with them. :grouphug:

For e.g.Sony TV has the distinction of importing the maximum reality shows, though not every one has been a success. Sony got American Idol to India and called it Indian Idol. This one catapulted the channel to fame and its participants became household names too. :moony:

[kvsingh07]

I would like to add that may be coming up with a new idea is a huge risk. As when the show is started, they will have to book the timings for its telecast upto certain no. of episodes. If a new idea in form of reality show comes on television and it doesn't work well both the TV channel and producers are at a huge loss. So maybe through copying of successful shows they try to reduce the odds of failure.
Also already there are large no. of reality shows, so who would like to take risk with a new reality shows.
These are my views, other people may differ in opinion. If they have something else to say, they can come up....

[mananknl]

I think that Indian TV Channels dont have the creativity to create new shows,they just know how to copy shows from other countries.

[deepakraam]

The foreign shows are making big money in India.So Indians are copying the shows.Not only shows,even the foreign movie concepts are remade in India.

Its all business buddy and only motto is to make profits.

[khaoopeookhisko]

cos it is money..............aprt from this we do hv..........got a grt telent..............that the foreigners dnt have...............

[Nik1000]

It is because the way we are brought up, thinking innovative is hardly an option. We are always copying and reproducing stuff so this is hardly different

[Nik1000]

It is because the way we are brought up, thinking innovative is hardly an option. We are always copying and reproducing stuff so this is hardly different

[devangnaluthra]

well..its a tried and tested way for them to get TRP's

[gpriyankag]

Hi

well, when a child learns something from a book or a teacher, you do not say s/he is copying morals or knowledge. similarly using a popular show whether it is foreign or Indian, should not be an issue. it is the content of the show that should be appreciated. And mind this remake is also not easy. issues like localizing it as per the culture and abilities of audiences is also a task, so credit liies with a make of each show irrespective of the fact that it was a hit or a flop in its previous version. don't waste time on foreign issue rather enjoy the change its brings in.

[amit_singhal]

actually if u look at the broader side of it then u would see tht many of the common indians don't know abt the original shows so they see the hindi copied versions of the same so its just like the original ideas for them so thr shouldn't be so much hype abt it

[prithy naidu]

the best idea i suggest is not seeing the shows but watch the add like mentos, centre fresh ideaaaaaaaaaaa etc instead of these tv shows which may really force people to do negative things in actual life.........

[psbarje@gmail.com]

its money buiness
It is because the way we are brought up, thinking innovative is hardly an option. We are always copying and reproducing stuff so this is hardly different

[psbarje@gmail.com]

well, when a child learns something from a book or a teacher, you do not say s/he is copying morals or knowledge. similarly using a popular show whether it is foreign or Indian, should not be an issue. it is the content of the show that should be appreciated. And mind this remake is also not easy. issues like localizing it as per the culture and abilities of audiences is also a task, so credit liies with a make of each show irrespective of the fact that it was a hit or a flop in its previous version. don't waste time on foreign issue rather enjoy the change its brings in.

[psbarje@gmail.com]

actually if u look at the broader side of it then u would see tht many of the common indians don't know abt the original shows so they see the hindi copied versions of the same so its just like the original ideas for them so thr shouldn't be so much hype abt it

[THOMASALVA]

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[THOMASALVA]

noo this is not good,well thats veryyy great,this site is veeery usegul for students

[greatdude10]

We believe the grass is greener on the other side always

[m7_malik]

dear, Indians are habitual of doing so. addat se majboor woh or kya kar saktein hain. rather than using their sharp mind for creating something new ans original they waste their efforts in immitating others. it becomes complusry to awake them. ...... so jagooo india jagooo.

[ashishbshah]

Its not always that indian shows copy foreign rfeality show..... We have one reality show which doesnt seem real but is original called "Rakhi ka Swayambar". So thinks are changing...but we hope they come up with a true reality show..

[raptor84]

It is due to risk factor and amount of research to be done. The cost is effectively reduced is you just replicate the tried and tested formula.
Its just like reverse engineering in media industry with added localization.

[sambitximb]

Dear All,

There are several reasons why the producers are inclined towards the COPIED versions ,common reason being the lack of creativity and to use something which is already tested .

[vicky779]

writers. directors & producers just cannot come up with creative ideas Or simply are too lazy

[malika madan]

bcoz..they try tonimate western world in watever way dey can......but doing this they forgt thatIndai still sticks to its cultural heritage.

[pradeepkgjp]

i believe lack of creativity is one of the reason to this ..

[bhaskarreddyganta]

Hi

Indian channels copy the ideas, that they will add some more masala to gain good TRP ratings...

[tinachopra]

coz they knw that such reality shows are successful in other countries..so rather than taking risks in making something new they prefer to imitate.they can only show their innovation in saas-bahu daily soaps..

[kartik]

Its all about profits at the end of the day.

If one channel doesnt, the other channel will. Channels really want to just replicate things tested in the western world, knowing that india has an aspirational connect with the west.

From a business perspective, channels are bleeding in terms of profits.. many new channels got wiped out, some are just surviving and a handful are profitable. When there is not much time and resources to experiment and innovate, the only thing that gives them a hope to survive is chipmunk replication of popular shows in the west.

[devilscurse]

From KBC to Dus KA Dum, Indian Idol, and now we have Sach KA Samna (The Moment of Truth) and Is Jungle Se mujhe Bachao (I am a Celebrity, Get me out of here)...

Indians have been copying or trying to imitate abroad themes..

India is a land of talented individuals, can't they come up with anything original?
yup ...thats true but the fact is that everybody luvs this type of shows ....copied or original ....people want to c som or the other thing for their njoiment ..so thats what it is...some how indians have learned to accept the west and modify accordingly ...

[devilscurse]

From KBC to Dus KA Dum, Indian Idol, and now we have Sach KA Samna (The Moment of Truth) and Is Jungle Se mujhe Bachao (I am a Celebrity, Get me out of here)...

Indians have been copying or trying to imitate abroad themes..

India is a land of talented individuals, can't they come up with anything original?
yup ...thats true but the fact is that everybody luvs this type of shows ....copied or original ....people want to c som or the other thing for their njoiment ..so thats what it is...some how indians have learned to accept the west and modify accordingly ...:SugarwareZ-204:

[diju_rahul]

Taking into consideration of making reality shows with a new idea is difficult and also risky, so foreign reality shows which already have viewers are much easy to promote.

[chi]

i think tht creating such kind of shows by Indian serial directors is difficult bcoz they dnt hv tht risk taking appetite and they are cost conservative also...........

[singhal_amit]

i think the reason for this is that the indian producers are short of the original scripts & also they r really not ready to take big risks in this field........

[sandipkumarr]

they copy those shows with the license. and what's wrong with copying anyway?

[alok_ben]

The western shows, whether a reality show or a popular quiz shows had an aura of innovation in them at the time of their respective airing which gave them immense fame instantly. when the format was repeated in India it was an overnight success owing to factors like freshness in the concept of the show, fatigue and monotony in drama and music based shows, which led to immediate popularity of shows in india..

the reason for imitating these shows is due to the target audience these shows have which are quickly adapting to the lifestyle of a global citizen who seeks variety and innovation in whatever he does... the reality shows with their realistic fantasies are very hard to ignore by this audience, this perception is heavily capitalized by marketers and production houses to come up with such shows which reveal some unprescedented drama..

[thomasedison]

because they don't use brainstorming their minds,they just copyy it n paste it,,

[gautamharlalka]

thank u..thanx a lot for the file...its really very good

[sunil01]

Because they are tested, conducted successfully outthere...& other than this the media house has somekind of relationship with that show producers or broadcaster of overseas.

like Sony has it's overseas partner or house as Columbia pictures. & likewisw

[abhi1974]

Mainly:

Lack of imagination
Easier to copy / adapt
Safer - lower risk of failure
Cheaper - lesser research, investments required
Revenue sharing with original producers / rights holders

[gurpreetsingh]

I think its a matter of concern that Indian producers are copying foreign shows. I think the major reason behind this is that they want to produce and direct only those shows which are sucessfull in foreign country but this also raises questions that producers in India lacks creativity and innovative ideas, Not even in reality shows Indians producers and directors are coying movies, musics and even stories from foreign movies.

So i think that outcome is that we lack creativity or just a handful of renown producers want to keep on copying the foreign shows for their fake success.

[Kurayami]

A man at heart IS a lazy individual. So beg borrow and steal are pretty much applicable here. Also a already profit making show is bound to make profit waves when introduced in a different way. Such a producer has nothing much to lose because the idea is rehashed so no idea storming cost . Just the capital investment. And being a country of immense population atleast 25% will watch the show which already results in huge profits :D.

A win win situation at all aspects excluding creative :P.

[jigar.mehta]

I also believe with Yogesh's comments that since Indian producers do not want to take any risks trying anything new....and all these foreign shows are already a hit in market so they just try to remake & make money....