Global OTT giants like Netflix and Prime Video are failing to capture the Indian reality show market and that’s evident from the kind of poorly made reality shows they have attempted to shove down the audience’s throats.
Whether it’s Netflix’s ‘Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’, ‘IRL: In Real Love’ and ‘Social Currency’ or Prime Video’s ‘The Tribe’ and ‘Follow Kar Lo Yaar’, they are all just about glam, fashion, social media and money, with little to no entertainment value, to be honest. Highlighting the indulgent lives of wealthy influencers and socialites is the USP of these shows.
The saddest part is they are all no brainers with pathetic setups. They constantly glorify the rich and elite and seem increasingly disconnected from the realities of the Indian audience. The focus on the luxurious lifestyles of the elite begs the question: are these shows relevant to the wider Indian demographic? And the answer has to be a big, resounding NO!
India is an economically diverse country and the stark inequalities between the citizens are unfortunately undeniable. Though there is an audience for aspirational content, relating to the everyday challenges of the ultra-rich is not what the vast majority of Indians connect with. In fact these reality shows depict a form of wealth that is out of reach for most, leaving them disengaged or looking for deceptive ways to look rich.
There is nothing about talent or emotions in these new OTT based reality shows nor is anything even close to real that the common Indian audience could resonate with. The superficial lifestyles is not something that captures the hearts or minds for long and eventually feel boring. So what is even the point of making such shows?
While these very OTTs are creating more meaningful and socially relevant fictional content when it comes to reality shows they are disappointingly stuck in the shallow waters of celebrity and wealth.
OTTs have the opportunity to tap into the immense potential of Indian reality TV and reshape it to offer content that is rich in stories of determination, creativity, and authentic struggles. Moreover, the need is to create shows that are not just aspirational but also inspirational. The focus should be on bringing out real stories from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, that is more relatable to the masses.
India is a treasure trove of stories and talents waiting to be told and discovered. From grassroots innovation and talent to the triumph of the underdog, there is a plethora of content unexplored. And reality shows based on such stories are bound to be much more engaging and will also earn huge appreciation from the audience.
With time evolution is a necessity and the global streaming giants like Netflix and Prime Video need to understand it. If the reality shows are to work in India they need to reflect the real thing and satisfy the aspirations of the masses and not just the privileged few.