Concerned About TV Shows: Are They Harming Our Youth's Minds and Futures?

My dear friends, most of the members on our site are HR/Admin professionals, holding high office with great responsibilities. They also have families at home to love, care for, and foster. I sound this alarm of DANGER for their immediate attention to come out with a vociferous voice of protest.

As a psychological counselor in the realm of counseling for more than 13 years, I am pained to have watched Neeya Naana last Sunday on Vijay TV. The topic was 'How to Express Love.' I could not watch this program for more than 5 minutes, as a boy was explaining how he expressed his love (apologizing to his mom who might be watching), and the reactions of the girls, captured by another camera, while he was talking.

A program that could irreversibly damage the minds of countless young people. I dread to think how many acid attacks the girls might suffer and how many suicides might occur among boys and girls.

A program that was gaining momentum and popularity among all sections of people has completely lost its way, now spoiling our youngsters like this. Long ago, I stopped watching this rubbish program - I reiterate, a rubbish program, as previously there was a topic about how students give nicknames to their teachers, who are supposed to be noble individuals in a noble profession.

It is disheartening that no objections (to my knowledge) were raised against such vile programs that significantly corrupt the minds of the young. This man, I understand, is conducting soft skill programs in schools and colleges. Shame on him. The pursuit of cheap publicity and popularity drives people to produce programs merely for entertainment, disregarding the severe psychological damage they inflict on human minds, especially young minds.

It is my humble request to Vijay TV and the anchor Gopinath to please refrain from producing such vile, uncouth, and ugly content in the future.

I apologize for expressing my concerns so vehemently, as I work with young boys and girls regarding love affairs, and I witness how it can ruin their entire lives.

Regards,
Ganesh Ramachandran

Founder - LIME

I understand your concern. As the show happens in a local language, those who do not know this language cannot comment on it. If you feel that the reality show is pejorative, then you may consult others and finally file a Public Interest Litigation. However, before that, make a complaint to the press council. In every program, an ad is shown on where and how we can make complaints against the shows. Nonetheless, I doubt whether anything significant will happen.

Today we have 54% of the population that is below 25. Against this backdrop, the marketers' tendency is to create shows that are centric to this age group. Not only in Tamil, but in other languages, these shows happen. The shows are a result of our psyche as a whole. By the way, are we not obsessed with emotional films? This high preoccupation with emotions is anywhere and everywhere. Famous Hindi film director Karan Johar understood the emotional pulse of society and made millions or maybe billions out of it.

Love-centric shows are an easy route. They could have shown shows related to science and technology as well. However, in our society, there is a clear-cut demarcation. Scientific shows have to be watched by those who have a science background, and anything related to technology belongs to engineers. This withdrawal by the general public results in falling prey to these shows.

About a decade ago, a prominent Hindi TV channel had aired a soap titled "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin." The serial centered around a typical coy girl from the lower middle class who rises in her life. However, the director played it safe, and Jassi became a model rather than a sportsperson or businesswoman.

Today, another obsession with womenfolk is fashion shows. Therefore, if sports shows take back seats, then there is nothing wrong with it. Today, the average girl may give priority to becoming a cheerleader rather than a sportsperson. Can there be anything degenerative further?

Thanks,

Dinesh V Divekar

Dear friends,

Thanks for your concern and voicing it aloud. I agree, as anyone would, that this media, powerful as it is, should be used with care. However, with the blatant commercialization and the rat race for TRPs, which translate into advertising revenues, the aim is to create sensations and jaw-dropping scenes in TV programs.

More than what you have pointed out, the most damaging ones are the TV ads, which are repeated again and again, thus reinforcing whatever they see in the youngsters' minds.

What Kind of Stereotypes Are These Ads Promoting:

- College life is just for fun; even teaching and teachers are to be made fun of, and the canteen is the real place to be.
- A girl's personality or life is totally based on beauty or 'looking fair.'
- For a girl/woman, smart good looks are the only prerequisite for success in life/career.
- A single girl is never to be left alone but meant for making friendship or love through smart moves.
- A woman is either depicted as a willing slave for her family or as a smart career woman, only the extremes.
- The only reason a girl dresses up or wants to look good and beautiful is to date a guy.
- Male perversion is made to wear the garb of women's liberation, or is it the other way around?
- The country is full of women who are willing to do anything just for a whiff of cologne, deodorant, toothpaste, or any male toiletries/personal care products.

Such faulty depictions are disgusting to an extreme. It is time that the viewers say 'no' to such vulgar and misleading ads.

Warm regards.

It's good to see your concern, but if you follow the proper channels, you may find a solution. You are requesting Vijay TV not to produce such a program, but you are making this request on the wrong platform. Visit the following website to file a complaint against the program, providing details of the content, date, and episode time: [IBF: Indian Broadcasting Foundation](http://ibfindia.com). The Indian Broadcasting Foundation has the authority to take action and potentially stop the broadcast of such programs.

Regards,
Arun J.

You have taken a step forward to include the ads, which I fully agree with you, Mr. Rajkumar. Yes, what was private during my youthful days has become public these days. You are right; they spoil the young minds in whatever ways they feel they can. Your views go a long way in making people rethink such productions.

Regards,
Ganesh Ramachandran