Also addresses Public Concern about Children in the Entertainment Industry

Mumbai, 15th September 2008: Zee TV has had a number of significant firsts in the entertainment world ever since it was launched as India’s first ever Hindi entertainment channel. In its latest initiative, Zee TV has now taken head-on one of the most strident criticisms leveled at the industry and addressed the issue in full measure. Responding to society and media concerns that children appearing in reality shows may be suffering from emotional complications – and unbearable parental pressure – Zee TV has adopted a set of self imposed guidelines that have been made mandatory for all its shows featuring children, starting with the new song and dance reality show Tata Indicom Ek Se Badhkar Ek Chhota Packet, Bada Dhamaka that debuts on screen from 20th September at 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays..

Ek Se Badhkar Ek in chota format is a unique show with complete “fun, masti, enjoyment & total dhamaal” for all. Kids who are participants have already made appearances before on the small and big screen. The spirit of competition is what will be of prime importance in the show. No scheming and controversies will be encouraged in the show; either amongst the participants or the judges. Only pure talent of the little kids and special moments arising out of the performances is what will make up the episode. This platform is purely to encourage and hone the flair of the kids and provide a platform for them to showcase them via the mass media.

Tata Indicom Ek Se Badhkar Ek Chhota Packet, Bada Dhamaka, is a show that brings dance and music together on one platform. The show will include popular Kids who are best dancers & best singers of the Indian Television Industry. 8 pairs – a singer and a dancer each come together as a team and earn points with their individual / respective aptitudes. The jury and audience together will decide the winning team.

On the judging panel we have the eminent director turned producer, Kunal Kohli, the jugalbadndi king, Annu Kapoor and the one and only, Rakhi Sawant, in a completely new Awtaar of “Rakhi Didi”. She is one of the judges who will be talking from every Kids perspective. She will come in her capacity of ‘janta ki awaaz’. To host the show and connect all the chords, Zee TV has roped in someone special, who is a favorite of all age groups, Swapnil Joshi.

Zee TV adopts Self-Imposed Work Guidelines for the Shoot of the New Children’s Reality Show

This is the first list of industry wide guidelines for the care and protection of children appearing on Indian entertainment television. Some of the key mandates of the guideline are:

Every competitive reality talent show will have a child psychological counselor on the sets to help with the consequences of a loss or adverse remark from the judges.
Parents have to sign an agreement stating that a portion of any monetary rewards earned on such a show will have to be set aside by the parents and put in investment for the child’s future education.
Parents will also form a panel and will have an area allocated for them next to the judges to bar any adverse comments from the jury.

The Best practices adopted by the channel for the shoot are:
Ø The show will NOT FEATURE any child below the AGE OF 6 .
Ø NO SMOKING in areas which children have access to.
Ø NO AERATED DRINKS: Judges, contestants, guests, crew all will be given juices and other health drinks.
Ø PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLER to be present on the set on shoot days.
Ø FOOD on the sets will be NUTRITIONAL. Spicy, Non healthy, Greasy food will not be served to children.
Ø No FIRE CRACKERS or any EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL to be bought into the studio.
Ø AMBULANCE ON CALL. A tie up with the nearest hospital for emergencies.
Ø Children will not shoot over 10 HOURS on any day.
Ø DOCTOR to be PRESENT all time on the sets on shoot days.
Ø The Programme should be conducted with an intention to promote and hone singing and dancing talent amongst participants. No other motives to be attached with the competition.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Tarun Mehra, Business Head, Zee TV, said, “As industry leaders, we felt it imperative to respond to social and media concerns about children appearing on television. We have adopted a set of guidelines and best practices that would ensure that children have the best possible environment while appearing on television and such appearance does not significantly compromise their growth in other areas. We recognize that the need to be is responsive to concerns of society and that self-monitoring is the best form of monitoring for an industry that delights millions and millions of Indians every day.”

Participant jodis:
1. Anamika - Adrita
2. Rohanpreet Singh – Chinky
3. Tanmay Chaturvedi – Khushi Dubey
4. Vasundhara Raturi – Ayush Tandon
5. Vibhor – Ehsaas Chanana
6. Aamer Hafiz - Apoorva
7. Vaishali – Dwij
8. Dhairya – Smita Nandi

--SAMPURN