‘Uncomfortable truth’ beats ‘jungle adventure’ on TV

NEW DELHI - Truth always prevails. And it certainly does on Indian television, as the ratings of two newly launched reality shows indicate. “Sach Ka Saamna”, which tests a person’s honesty, has surpassed the popularity of jungle-based adventure reality show “Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao”.

The premiere episode of STAR Plus’ “Sach Ka Saama”, aired July 15, recorded a television rating point (TRP) of 3.4 percent as against 1.6 percent registered by the first episode of “Iss Jungle Se…” on Sony TV, according to data provided by television viewership tracker Audience Measurement and Analytics (aMap).

Both these shows have generated a mixed response from the audience.

If a section of viewers is to be believed, “Iss Jungle Se…”, which first aired July 13, is lagging behind “Sach Ka Saamna” because its tasks involve a lot of creepy, slimy and dangerous creatures that leave them feeling horrified.

Twenty-year-old Leena Hiranandani says she can’t stand the sight of celebrities getting so close to snakes, flies, frogs and other creepy-crawlies on the show and instead enjoys watching how people face questions on their personal and professional decisions on “Sach Ka Saamna”.

“Once I was eating while watching the show (’Iss Jungle Se…’) and Aman Verma was asked to perform a task where he had to break a few watermelons that had vague things and animals inside them like lizards, fish intestines and even monkey shit. It was the ugliest and scariest of things I’ve ever seen and I didn’t even feel like eating my food after that,” Leena told IANS.

“I’d rather watch a show like ‘Sach Ka Saamna’. It has suspense and doesn’t generate a disgusting feeling. Besides, it is being hosted by Rajeev (Khandelwal)… he is a sweetheart,” she added.

“Sach Ka Saamna” puts contestants through 21 controversial and uncomfortable questions about their lives to win a Rs.10 million prize money if they answer them honestly. And “Iss Jungle Se…” has TV actors like Aakashdeep Saigal and singer Anaida swapping a life of luxury in Malaysia’s’ Taman Negara tropical rain forest to walk away with an equal amount.

Nandita Singh, a Delhi University student, too finds the tasks in “Iss Jungle Se…” distasteful.

“The entire show looks like a set-up. It doesn’t look very real. Even the celebrities who have been roped in are not very known; so it makes it all the more boring. And the tasks are not pleasing at all,” said Nandita.

There are many who feel the show is repulsive, but there are some viewers like Neha Sharma, 18, and Ashish Mohan, 25, who prefer “Iss Jungle Se…” over “Sach Ka Saamna”.

While Neha says she doesn’t like “Sach Ka Saamna” because the truth about a person’s personal life can break his or her family, Mohan feels there is no adventure in telling the truth about your life on national television.

“You can tell the truth to anybody any time. But the tasks these celebrities are made to do on ‘Iss Jungle Se…” are not everyone’s cup of tea. I wouldn’t imagine doing such things myself and watching celebrities do it with so much willingness is what thrills me about this show,” said Mohan.

Both the shows are adaptations of popular international reality shows “Moment of Truth” and “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here” respectively.

The TRPs of both the shows dipped post their launch, but “Iss Jungle Se…” still remains far behind “Sach Ka Saamna” in the viewership race.