I'm not a big fan of beauty pageants, but flipping through the channels on DSTV earlier this evening I came across Miss India South Africa on channel 115, an abomination so bad, I was simply mesmerized by it's cringe worthiness. It was like watching an accident happen right before my very eyes. You know you shouldn't look, but there's a certain morbid fascination, and before long you lower your hands from your eyes and stop gritting your teeth long enough to laugh until the tears flow.
Apparently when the show was first screened, there was such a huge uproar from the Indian community that some felt compelled to write to the producers. You can read one viewers honest and almost pleading letter here .
I could write an entire thesis about the negatives of the production, but I feel some of these choice quotes from the contestants and sponsors themselves will be an indication of just how low the standards were.
Dr R Singh, a sponsor : "The beauty pageant is great for our youth.... It helps these young ladies find better husbands."
Seriously Doc? So it's like a Russian Brides deal for Indians then?
Losing Contestant : " God is the only judge. I'll move on with my life. God made us all of sand and soil."
Interviewer : "Ja, what can you do hey..."
Lady, if God was judging this pageant, he'd have struck you all down by lightning!
Contestant : "It's always been my dream to enter this competition."
How sad must your life be that you aspire to enter a Miss India SA competition?
Then of course there were the Special Awards, which included 'Miss Bright Eyes', 'Miss Healthy Hair' and 'Miss Big Teeth' or happy smile. Forgive me for not remembering because by this point I wasn't really concentrating anymore.
One of the definite highlights for me was the huge "All You Can Eat Buffet for R89" poster that covered the centre of the stage. I kid you not. Some of these contestants were definitely Plus Size, and to make them stand in front of that sign was just downright degrading.
Apparently the producers had the opportunity to respond, and true to form, they blamed everyone but themselves. You can read their response here .
This is the problem I have with some of our Indian folk. This is not a generalization, merely an observation. Given the opportunity, some would rather skimp on an opportunity to provide an otherwise world-class production. My personal opinion is that it's all about saving a buck. Instead of spending a little extra and hiring professionals, they choose instead to get their cousins and nieces and nephews who would do it for no more than a plate of biryani and their name in the credits.
Professionalism goes out the window, and it starts looking like a shotgun wedding which had to be planned and put together within a week before the pregnant bride started showing a belly.
The entire production looks like it was shot on a Nokia 3210. The sound was so bad, I half suspect they only used the camera-phones mic. The lighting made everyone look orange. It was like watching a beauty pageant where everybody was related to Deborah Patta.
Just when I thought the show was thankfully over and along with it the sheer embarrassment of it all, along come the credits with such gems as "A Speacial Thanks To...." , "Soundtrak available on..." and "Exective Producer..." .
That pretty much sums up the complete lack of attention to detail.
As Indians, we need to start upping our game and aspire to be better, to do better, and to project ourselves in a more professional light. This 'I just fell off the Truro with a bottle of Cane and no tumbler ekse" routine is stale. It's washed out and it's over. Our sons and daughters are doing an amazing job out in the workplace and the media. It's time that those who claim to represent our cultural diversity on television and radio start realizing this, and raise the bar.
Miss India South Africa definitely doesn't represent me nor anybody else I associate with.
At least not in it's current form.
Since I cannot actually watch the show, I will have to assume it's about as inspiring as the Miss America pageant. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI also watched this and was horrifies at such a low and poor production. It makes the Indian girls look so pathetic and cheap. The filming was poor, even the central Africa programs they show on AfMAG chaneel were better produced than this.
ReplyDeleteThe talent the contestants performed were weak, some didnt even know how to dance, and made fools of themselves.
The presenters were not rehearsed and so unprofessional, standing behind a podium reading of sheets of papaer, it felt like I was watching a school concert.
Indian girls in SA are known for talent and intellect but its events like this that make Indians females look cheap and like idiots.
I agree that this was such a poor production that it was unwatchable.
ReplyDeleteFirstly the filming was shocking, it looked like it was done by an amateur. You couldn’t hear the music, even some of the pre primary school concerts are better filmed than this.
Secondly, the calibre and intellect of some of the contestants were so low and pathetic, not to mention the talent. Some of the girls didn’t even look like they didn’t rehearse at all and made complete fools of themselves. The Q&A was pathetic, even some of the questions the judges asked were brainless and the answers even worse.
The presenters were so unprofessional, reading from sheets of paper behind a podium.
Being of Indian heritage, I am proud of where we came from, we have made our place in society and are recognised for our intellect, talent and expertise. I was absolutely embarrassed to be an Indian watching this pageant which portrayed Indian females to be cheap and classed as idiots.
I agree that this was such a poor production that it was unwatchable.
ReplyDeleteFirstly the filming was shocking, it looked like it was done by an amateur. You couldn’t hear the music, even some of the pre primary school concerts are better filmed than this.
Secondly, the calibre and intellect of some of the contestants were so low and pathetic, not to mention the talent. Some of the girls didn’t even look like they didn’t rehearse at all and made complete fools of themselves. The Q&A was pathetic, even some of the questions the judges asked were brainless and the answers even worse.
The presenters were so unprofessional, reading from sheets of paper behind a podium.
Being of Indian heritage, I am proud of where we came from, we have made our place in society and are recognised for our intellect, talent and expertise. I was absolutely embarrassed to be an Indian watching this pageant which portrayed Indian females to be cheap and classed as idiots.
It was fun reading your article. Felt sorry for the contestants who probably tried their best. Hopefully the organizers will learn from their experience and put up a better show next year.
ReplyDeleteFor a really polished show, I suggest you see the 2012 Femina Miss India contest which is in March 2012.