Lip Sinking Feeling

First thing first, I am no fan of Indian television shows. For me the current crop of shows lack originality, quality, production values and above all simple logic. Ever so often I feel like I could tear my hair off its scalp from the stupidity they pass as entertainment. They feel outdated, over the top, melodramatic, preachy, Holier-than-thou and an insult to the demographic they target. Ironically the Doordarshan era had way better and original shows.

That said, just the other day came across the advert for a new show call Lip Sing Battle, which I assume takes the concept of Lip Sync Battle, an American show that's hosted by LL Cool J and co-hosted by super model Chrissy Thiegen. The Indian version seems to be hosted by Farah Khan with Ali Asgar and Bharti appearing in the promos too. The promos had Farhan Akhtar, Parneeti Chopra, Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor, featured on it.

The concept of lip sync has two performer lip syncing two songs and the audience decides who wins. If the promos are anything to go by, this appears to be one dreadful show masquerading as something fun. Let's face it, Farah Khan can't host a show to save her life and both Aliasgar and Bharti seem to have fallen into a rut with their acts which seem like two days old stale biryani.

Most of the people who will be appearing on the show already make a living from lip syncing songs, so there's nothing new or novel there. So that takes away the uniqueness and fun element of the show. Where the American show seemed fun and irrelevant at times, Indian one feels made up and over the top. To add to that you have Karan Johar dancing which I know is cringe worthy.

So you have Farhan Akhtar doing Breathless or Parneeti aping Govinda, or Karan Johar dancing, you have seen them do this in movies and award shows and other reality shows.

So you don't have the fun elements like Channing Tatum dressed up as Elsa and having a blast lip syncing Let it Go and then following it up with lip syncing to Who runs the World while riding a unicorn only to have Beyoncé appear at the end of the performance. Then you have Jenna Dewan Tatum recreating her husbands routine from Magic Mike, Ann Hathaway embracing her inner Miley right to swinging on a wrecking ball and licking a sledgehammer, Emily Blunt getting in touch with Janis Joplin, The Rock lip syncing Taylor Swift and Clark Gregg dressed as stewardess lip syncing Toxic, and finally Spider-Man, a.k.a. Tom Holland transforming into Rihanna to showcase his dancing chops to Umbrella.

Let's face it, the Indian pales in comparison before this, if the promos are anything to go by. Where the American is fun, hilarious, surprising, entertaining, the Indian version feels like a sketch from one of the shows of Kapil Sharma. So you sorely miss the global appeal by the cameos by Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Paula Abdul, in their place your have Priety Zinta and Bappi Lahiri (who is actually made fun of).

So if the promos are any sign of things to come, I actually I dread the show. Anyway I pray my mom doesn't decide to watch if...cause if she does then I will have to catch a few glimpse of it.

This is entirely my view of Hindi serials...