Reality TV to cash in on religion?

New Delhi: It seems that no subject is off-limits to reality TV in India.

After hunting brides and grooms on TV, a new reality show takes inspiration from religion. `Mahayatra` on Star Plus, focusses on the efforts of 12 youngsters trying to fulfil their parent`s dream of visiting the four prime-centers of Hinduism namely Puri, Rameshwaram, Dwarka and Badrinath known as the `Chardhams`. "It`s not an international format that you can copy and for me it was a tricky balance since I am a Christian by faith. We have just provided a platform to bring children and parents together through the pilgrimage. I kept reminding the kids that it is their journey not mine," Niret Alva, Chairman of Miditech, that has produced the show told reporters. The concept is inspired by the story of Shravan Kumar from epic Ramayana. A young Shravan decided to carry his blind parents for a pilgrimage in two baskets slung across his shoulder but was killed accidentally by king Dashrath, Lord Rama`s father. The show aims to create modern day `Shravan Kumars` out of the youngsters and has contestants from diverse backgrounds and upbringings. "As children, we have all heard of Shravan Kumar`s story of how he set out on foot with his blind parents to the four holy `dhams`. His journey was left incomplete as he was hunted down. With this show we are aiming at completing that journey and finding a modern-day Shravan Kumar," Monika Shergill, senior creative director of `Mahayatra` said. But isn`t this new dish rolled out from the platter of the reality television, cashing on Indian ethos with a prize money attached to it? "It was deeply troubling for me and it`s the most difficult show we have done. It was a clear decision of ours not to tell the contestants about the prize money. We have not created the show with that spirit," Alva said. Describing the show as a heady mix, with intensity of `The Survivor`, dynamism of `The Amazing Race` and nail-biting elimination rounds and tasks that resemble `Roadies`, Alva said, "It`s a show by the Indians for the Indians that belongs to these youngsters, the motive is in their heart with emotions to fight all odds to fulfill their parents dream." It was shot in a span of 90 days that involved three months search and travelling 28,000 kms by the cast and crew. `Mahayatra` which kicks off from January 18, will also see a host of celebrities including Shilpa Shetty, Sukhwinder Singh, Kailash Kher, Shaan, Udit Narayan, gracing the show to motivate the participants in various cities. It also marks the return of actor Manish Goel on the small screen who had taken a sabbatical and has stepped into the shoes of a host for the first time. PTI