Director Shoojit Sircar, known for films such as Piku and Pink, wants an urgent ban on reality shows that involve children. Taking to Twitter to voice out his opinions, Sircar said such shows can be detrimental to a child’s emotions.
Humble request to authorities to urgently ban all reality shows involving children.it’s actually destroying them emotionally & their purity.
— Shoojit Sircar (@ShoojitSircar) July 4, 2017
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Speaking to PTI News, the director elaborated on how these shows could destroy a child’s innocence.
“Mounting pressure on the kids to perform has become a stark reality of every urban child’s growing up years. And, I firmly believe our primary responsibility as conscientious parents, citizens and as makers of this film, is to not only raise this issue but also to raise it in a manner keeping in mind the sensitivity of the matter for the kids that face it,” he said.
Incidentally, earlier this year, Sircar had directed a short film called #ReleaseThePressure that dealt with children’s exam-related stress in a competitive world. The ad campaign initiated by Mirinda India drew a lot of appreciation for highlighting children’s mental health and stress.
Watch the short film here:
The director further admitted that he was ashamed of his Bollywood colleagues who took part in these shows as judges. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said, “At times, I feel ashamed of my friends from the fraternity, who call themselves big choreographers, big producers and big actors – they call themselves artists. How can an artist do this kind of [a] show for money, where they say that they’re nurturing talent? The psychological pressures created by these shows and the way the contestants are judged can have a destructive effect.”
While most of social media supports his point, Tiger Shroff, at a recent press meet, said that he reality shows for kids, such as dance and singing competitions, could take the child further. “It gives them the right direction, it channelises all that restless positive energy they have. It gives them direction from a very early age, which is fantastic.”
On a similar note, Neha Dhupia, who also happens to be a judge on the Colors channel show Chotte Miyaan Dhakad, believes that reality shows play an important role in boosting the morale of children.
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“I think a bit differently about it (than Shoojit). It’s a competitive world, so I have to stand for everything that I endorse. I have judged a kids’ reality show and the most important thing is that as authorities, we know what exactly happens there. I respect what Shoojit mentioned in his tweet, but the other side is that these kids are well looked after, they are sent to school… When they are shooting for the show for a period of two to three weeks, they get a tutor in their own private environment. I feel they (reality shows) give them confidence, a stage to perform and direction, may be 10 years early in their life. If somebody at the age of 9 or 10 realises that he/she wants to become an actor, there is no harm if a platform or stage is provided,” she told IANS.
Feature Image: The Hollywood Reporter