Moment of Truth/ Sach ka Saamna

[Nikhil Acharya]

Hey all!

There's been a lot of controversy generated by the show 'Sach ka Saamna' (The Hindi equivalent of the US show Moment of Truth). Politicians have slammed it for being against Indian culture and values and have even called for it to be banned. The show is obviously raising eyebrows for its non-conservative content!

What do you feel about the show? Would you like it to be banned?

[NDugar]

As an esteemed member of Delhi High Court put it-

In this land of Gandhi, nobody follows Gandhi's principles. "See no evil" he said. Simply switch off your television if you think its corrupting your home and culture. The idiot box has way more notorious programmes than these, so the ban is uncalled for. Its a matter of choice of the contestants, who simply seem to be talking the truth. These individual ideas of morality needn't be slammed on millions who watch these shows only for the sake of entertainment!

[Varun]

First off, the show is completely a voluntary one and it’s the participant who chooses to be on it. This means he/she is fully aware and has consciously taken the decision to face the series of ‘inconvenient questions’ (answers to which, our politicians perhaps secretly enjoy hearing or even relate to?).

Talking about Indian culture, I think it is we Indians who regard 'honesty' very highly and consider it to be a great virtue. We also sometimes vaunt or brag about it. Then why not put it to practice? Sach Ka Saamna, as a matter of fact, gives the participants an opportunity and a platform to come clean and be bold enough not to chicken out of admitting to the highs and lows of their lives – with such honesty and sincerity.

What can be better than actually adhering to our Indian culture and getting paid for it as a result?

[wendy]

Oh please guys, this is a completely shitty format for a show in any country.
I haven't watched it in Hindi, but just caught a glimpse of the western version. I can imagine how utterly destructive the producers are capable of turning it into. When relatively 'harmless' shows like Indian Idol, Roadies and Splitsvilla can have so much perverted bile doled out in the guise of 'reality television', a show centred around sensationalizing scandalous secrets isn't far from breaking down thousands of real relationships all over.

[Nikhil Acharya]

To quote Russell Crowe's character from film "The Insider"-

"You ever bounce a check?
- You ever cheat a little on your taxes?
- Whose life, if you look at it under a microscope doesn't have any flaws?"

I agree with Varun and Nidhi on this one. For a country like ours, where its common to brush the uncomfortable things of life under the rug, a show like this (the "reality" of which could be tainted) def acts like a conversation starter among Indians on difficult subjects like infidelity, theft, love, hate, etc.- which transcend "western" and "asian" culture and are purely human issues.

[wendy]

Caught the show finally...it's hard to understand how these participants will ever get around to having a normal family/social life after their truth-or-dare feat on national television.

[Nikhil Acharya]

I reckon the contestants give their families a heads-up of what they have revealed during the polygraph test. After all they know all the 25 questions that will be asked is out of the 50 test questions.

[Kush Tayal]

These shows are awesome.. it serves as entertainment to d normal audience.. but for serious viewers its somethin to discuss bout.. so according to me its sheer entertainment (plain simple)
The only difference i see in sach ka saamna is most of the participants are celebrities whereas Moment of truth has normal ppl.. so in india their truth becomes controversial.

[Varun]

If the family members of the participants are mature enough, it won't be difficult for them to realize that their relative is a human being after all. Like all others, including themselves.

Caught the show finally...it's hard to understand how these participants will ever get around to having a normal family/social life after their truth-or-dare feat on national television.

[Neelima]

Relationships don't break because of shows. This is not a great show but entertaining nevertheless...Don't understand what all the fuss is about when the participants are fully aware of what they are going to be asked.

[wendy]

Are you people in your senses?? has none of you ever been embarrassed in your lives???????

when a man is being asked if he's ever slept with another woman, on NATIONAL TELEVISION, how will their kids ever get out of that national embarrassment - irrespective of what his answer is??? this is a perfect example of washing dirty linen in public, and to sell your souls so you can get 15 minutes of disgusting fame.

[Neelima]

Are you people in your senses?? has none of you ever been embarrassed in your lives???????

when a man is being asked if he's ever slept with another woman, on NATIONAL TELEVISION, how will their kids ever get out of that national embarrassment - irrespective of what his answer is??? this is a perfect example of washing dirty linen in public, and to sell your souls so you can get 15 minutes of disgusting fame.

@Wendy - They have chosen to be embarrassed and that is their stupidity or foolishness or whatever reason they might have if they want to subject themselves to those questions in front of the whole world...it's not like somebody has struck them with these questions out of the blue...I do feel sorry for the family that they have to go through this but I'm guessing that they would have spoken about all this before they get on the show with their loved ones...that is if they want to keep their relationship intact. And yes, we are in our senses...

[wendy]

exactly.

the show kind of brings out the worst in people. earlier, it was big boss, that at least featured loser-celebrities - it ws just limited to some people who want fame, and at any cost. now, this is a show that widens the scope of participation, making entire families party to accepting fame and money, at any cost whatsoever. the show's kind of addictive, i must admit - the producers are no rookies, having done bigger and better shows before. addictive is a respectful word - it's titillating. but it's not funny. and in the long run, it surely isn't going to be any funnier. this is not a campus game of truth or dare - it involves the elderly, and kids, and homosexuals.

[Nikhil Acharya]

1. Everybody's got their hands a little dirty. Nobody's crystal clean and pure. Some people choose to come clean on T.V. for cash, the rest may do it in the privacy of their home and some others might never come clean at all. Doesn't make the first kind of people any more or less human the others. Who are we judge them?

2. People sell out to be in front of cameras all the time. I would consider an actress/actor gyrating with a much older (and often times uglier!) male "star" in a host of regional and Hindi movies to have done it purely for the money. Does that mean the majority of films/dance sequences should be banned? Of course not..If I don't like seeing it and find that such movies bring the worst out of these girls, I can simply change the channel!