Famous artist Bhagirath Bhatt, known among the Indian classical music world and art lovers for his excellent musical instruments and fine sitar playing, is suddenly in the headlines of media and social media these days. Recently, a list of possible contestants of television's most controversial and popular reality show 'Bigg Boss 20' was becoming increasingly viral on social media, in which it was being claimed that this time a big name from the world of classical music is going to be a part of this house. Putting an end to this viral list and all the speculations, sitar player Bhagirath Bhatt himself has come forward and completely rejected all these news and has said in clear words that he has no connection whatsoever with this show. While talking to the media in a very candid manner, he said that he cannot even think of being a part of any such reality show, because his entire world is limited to music, Riyaaz and dedication towards his art. Not only were his fans shocked by the sudden appearance of such sensational claims, but people associated with the classical music world also termed this news as baseless. Why did Bhagiratha Bhatt say 'I am not made for such shows', what does the lifestyle and thinking of classical artistes say? When Bhagirath Bhatt was asked whether he would ever like to be a part of such commercial or controversial shows in the future, he replied bluntly that his upbringing, values and his music do not allow him to go on such platforms at all. The life of classical music practitioners revolves around discipline, peace, meditation and concentration, whereas the entire format of reality shows like 'Bigg Boss' is based on drama, heated debates, mutual fights and high-voltage controversies under the surveillance of cameras 24 hours a day. As an artist, Bhagirath Bhatt believes that music is not just a means of entertainment but a spiritual practice, which he wants to pursue with his full dedication and does not want to put the dignity of his art at stake by going to any TRP-gathering show. After this clear statement of his, music lovers and his fans have praised him fiercely on social media and said that the place of true artists is not in such reality shows but in the stages and music festivals, where they rule the hearts of the people with their art. What is the truth of these lists of potential contestants spread every year by the makers of 'Bigg Boss 20'? Every year, before the start of the new season of the biggest reality show of the television world, 'Bigg Boss', dozens of such fake and speculative lists start floating in the corridors of social media, in which the names of many celebrities are added. This is believed to be part of a well-planned strategy or PR publicity stunt by the makers and creative team of the show so that there is tremendous hype and suspense among the public even before the show goes on-air. In these lists, sometimes the names of well-known musicians of the country, sometimes of controversial politicians, and sometimes of social media influencers are included without their consent so that the audience keeps speculating as to who is going to go inside the house this time. Many times when a famous and reputed personality like a classical artist like Bhagiratha Bhatt comes under the grip of these rumours, he immediately refutes and clears his position, but by then the news has become a trending topic. The audience and the media also have to understand that unless there is a strong seal of approval from an artist or an official channel, such viral lists should not be blindly trusted because most of these claims are just a means of collecting TRP. How to understand this gap between classical music and controversial reality shows in the era of modern entertainment? In today's time when digital media and fast entertainment are prevalent, where people prefer to watch a few minutes of drama and controversies, traditional genres like classical music are struggling to maintain their separate and sacred identity. Shows like 'Bigg Boss' reflect that section of society where the most aggressive and dramatic forms of human emotions come out openly in front of the cameras, which instantly appeals to the youth. On the contrary, artists like Bhagiratha Bhatt represent a cultural heritage that conveys the message of patience, restraint and spiritual peace, and that is why the vast difference between these two cultures is clearly visible. When a classical artiste says that he is not made for this kind of show, he is not only expressing his personal point of view, but he is also advocating the dignity and decorum of the art world which is often forgotten in the race for money and TRP. It is very important for the coming generation to think about what kind of entertainment we are promoting and whether we are succeeding in preserving our great cultural roots or not.
