While we talk extensively on the subject of animal cruelty, we continue to support a high viewership-gaining show as it blatantly exploits animals for entertainment purposes. Involving games around animals, Khatron Ke Khiladi has subtly normalized their commercial use, which is simply not ethical. The facetious show came into vogue, becoming the new attraction of TV stars to embrace their ‘fears’. Forcibly involving cantankerous animals showcases the unscrupulous behavior of the producers to attract viewers. Selling ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ has been deduced entirely to achieving triumph in stunts over animals. Spearheading the new genre, the show gives unnecessary pain to entice profits. Following the exact concept, the sony show, Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao, promises an appealing hour of pleasure. Escaping the scanner of OIPA, International Organization for Animal Protection, it was scheduled to shoot in Malaysia.
Bringing in untrained animals to ascertain the bravery of contestants, the show got canceled after a controversy surrounding the skin show on national television. It is quite uproarious that the show was canceled not because of illicit exploitation of animals amongst a clutch of beauties but because of a body show on national television. This lucidly elucidates the uncanny view ingrained in society towards righteousness. The actors prefer to use their platform for views to voicing out against flagrant injustices. One stunt involved a precarious stint in which the alligator’s mouth was firmly taped. Isn’t this abuse towards the animal who wants nothing but a safe habitat to live in? In the other stunt, constants picked up small alligators, carried them across a field, and hastily threw them in small cages. While the host reminds the contestants of constant vigilance to not hurt the animals, he still allows their use for a variety of stunts.
The inane stunts involve the mistreatment of animals by picking them from their mouths or throwing them unconsciously. The contestants are laid down into a box of worms and as they get up, these insects are abruptly thrown on the floor. Poison is removed from animals, which is not a natural process, for the sole purpose of stunts. Collectively destroying the habitats of varying animals, the show amplifies the thrill of performing the stunts. Shooting in countries deprived of progressive laws on animal cruelty, Khatron Ke Khiladi successfully passes the waiver without any intervention from the Indian censor and activists. However, our constant support has made the show one of the most successful ones. A kerfuffle over its concept has garnered several complaints but none of them have built the momentum to take serious action.
What television viewers are getting in the name of jigger pe trigger and fear factor is nothing but the distress, pain, and sufferings of both the participants and animals. It is important to understand the responsibility of a large platform and its potential reach to influence citizens. Selectively choosing and dropping topics of social injustices contingent on personal judgment is not the right approach. Banking on trending celebrities cannot disguise a witless and absurd show transcending a defunct idea.
Comentarios