Wednesday 7 July 2010

Mtv v/s Channel V

When I was growing up MTv and Channel V were at each others neck in competition just as Coke and Pepsi still are. I remember the scandalous shows - Mtv Loveline with the fabulous Malaika Arora being the perfect agony aunt on screen. Who cared what the solutions were as long as she still read out those long letters in those short dresses! ;) Channel V had VJ Sophie and VJ Shehnaz doing the same with the Indian blonde flavour to it.

I particularly remember this horrible show that used to come on both the channels that used to make my blood curdle. MTV and Channel V had their versions of it. Mtv had this show with a theme of what wouldn't you do for your loved one. In this show one would set out to do a task designed by Mtv or something that they decided that included something they fear or something that disgusts them ( you get the idea!). Channel V had a fight off. Two guys or girls would fight for the girl/guy they love and the winner would get to take the girl/guy, not take her home; just take her! Don't worry it isn't as crude as it sounds, it was way worse.

Off late I have indulged myself happily into world of the blabber box. I came to notice just exactly how much materialistic we had turned over the past decade of recession and wars. Although the shows mentioned above were crude the end prize was love and perhaps their 15 seconds of fair share of fame. Now Love is the game and cash is the prize, served with bitchiness: "Swaad anusaar"!

Mtv Roadies Producer Raghu Ram discovered this piece of gold with 'Splitsvilla'. Channel V retorted with "Truth Love Cash", "Axe ur Ex" and "Sprite Love Net" - each worse than its predecessor. 'Truth Love Cash' is like an Indian take on "Sex, Lies and Videotapes". Couples fighting it out for cash, love and often falling head along when the truth is revealed.
"Axe ur ex" is something that is just wrong on so many levels, that it wouldn't go beyond its 1st episode if it were aired in any country where suing is taken up as a hobby with uncontrolled passion and Channel V would be out of it business before it could complete the word "Axe". The plot seems amusing enough, a "Damsel in distress" Ex walks up to Channel V and Channel V plans out a day in hell for the counterpart starting from harassing her in public to downright breaking into her room and booby-trapping it to spook the other party- playing God if you will.
"Sprite Love Net" is as bitchy as it gets. Two strangers who have been in contact with each other via the net and with a wish to be romantically involved are helped by Channel V. The guy and a VJ break into the girls place snoop through her place, talk to neighbours etc. While the girl with another VJ snoop through the guys stuff (magazines, posters in the bathroom, dirty laundry etc.). Then they are out face to face and obviously they would have a lot of uncovered grey area and both of them set out clearing them and triggering each others defence alarm.

I grew up when the phrase "Love sells" was used more often than the phrase "Sex sells". I guess I now understand what Black Eyed Peas were singing when the released their 1st track of Elecphunk  and  asked us all, "Where is the love?"

As far as the competition goes there is no doubt that Mtv has won it by leaps and bounds. They achieved what Sony tried to achieve with 'Walkman' and 'Blu Ray discs', they created a novel market and tapped it at its full with - Mtv India,Mtv International and Nickelodeon. So I guess when Mtv v/s Channel V is compared, this show is more than over!