Every day in Ramazan, hundreds of people enthusiastically file into auditoriums and cheer as the sun sets, their iftar ends and the games begin. Their host for the show saunters out on to the central arena, a venue decked out in Islamic architecture-inspired arches and trellises with spurts of bling thrown in for good measure. The host smiles, waves, lets the cameras have a good long look at his fancy kurta-shalwar and bellows at the top of his lungs, “Assalamualaikum Pakistan!” The crowd roars back.
TV game shows during Ramazan transmissions are a phenomenon unique to Pakistan and it’s one that refuses to lose its allure. The format may be formulaic but in a Third World country where food and facilities are scarce for many, there is a wondrous element to shows that benevolently give away cars, motorbikes, tolas of gold and, as of this year, even BMWs and jet-planes.
All one has to do is answer a riddle or recite a tongue-twister at breakneck speed, sing a song or squash one’s face with mango, juice, cake, gol gappas, et al. There are games where the heaviest-weighing participant wins big and others where you hand-wrestle, race or have a shouting contest. The host is free to make sarcastic jibes at the contestants and apparently what makes it worth the while is a prodigious line-up of motorbikes glinting enticingly in one corner of the stage and cars queuing at another end, their hoods covered with banners of various sponsors.
Should you win big, you’ll be given a euphoric motorbike ride around the stage by the host. Also, if the host is ARY Network’s Fahad Mustafa, he could award you a car and then subsequently put the car at risk of dents by climbing on to its roof in exuberance. If the host is Sahir Lodhi and you’re female, the motorbikes may not come as easily. The misguided Mr Lodhi apparently thinks it’s great Ramazan fun to run around the set while girls try to catch him. The one who manages to do so loses her dignity but wins a grand prize.
Despite warnings and social media controversies, game shows continue to rule through the holy month
Giving an ever-so-slight nod of acknowledgement to Ramazan’s religious connotation are Umrah packages awarded quite frequently. Prizes don’t come better than this and your average game-show audience is willing to dance, sing and be humiliated for them. Self-respect be damned.
At Jeeto Pakistan on ARY, one of the highest rated game-shows being broadcast in Ramazan this year, Fahad Mustafa picked out a woman from the audience who was wearing a shiny paper-hat with ‘Happy birthday’ written on it. “Yeh aap kya pehen ke aaye hain? [What is that you have worn to come here?]” he laughed. The woman shrugged, “It’s my birthday.” This may or may not have been true but her appearance had managed to do the trick by catching Fahad’s eye and allowing her to be part of a game where she could win big.
This is nothing new. Game show attendees often come swathed in glitter, wearing bright gaudy colours or holding placards professing their love for the show. It’s a gimmick that works, gaining the host’s attention as he skims the crowds in order to select participants for the games. There are children dressed in Spider Man costumes, men in multi-colour shirts and women in wedding wear.