The Indian version of a US reality TV show that extracts secrets from minor celebrities has caused protests and a furore in parliament with its focus on infidelity, incest and other taboo subjects.
Petitions demanding a stay on broadcasts of the show have been filed with the New Delhi High Court and there have been organised protests outside Stars main offices.
The channel insists the programme — a version of the US show ‘Moment of Truth’ — helps expose social hypocrisy, while cultural commentators have voiced concerns that the government is overstepping on a free speech issue.
‘Facing the Truth’ features Indian celebrities who are asked a series of personal questions which they answer in front of a live audience, as well as family and friends.
If they answer truthfully — determined with the help of a polygraph test — they win 10 million rupees (208,000 dollars).
‘The show is about having strength of character to face the truth and turn over a new leaf. It is a show that promotes truth and honesty,’ a Star spokeswoman told AFP.
‘The contestants know all the questions because the final 21 are chosen from the 50 they face during the polygraph test. What they dont know is the result of the polygraph test which is revealed during the show,’ he told CNN-IBN news channel in an interview.
‘Many of them want to tell the truth.’Media critics have focused less on the shows content and more on the governments intervention, which some see as nanny-state censorship.
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