Review on “The Big Fight”
This popular programme on NDTV 24x7 first started on Star News when NDTV were carrying news for them and has continued on NDTV 24x7.
Idea is to combine a conventional debate set-up, (in which effort is to pose two contradictory views), with a third non-partisan participant.
Pros
1.Issues are contemporary
2.Choice of Debate participants usually good
3.Best among available shows
4.Rajdeep’s ability to ask uncomfortable questions
Cons
1.Not very good co-panelists
2.Very poor participations of co-panelists. Rajdeep’s strong beliefs are more often than not reflected on each issues
3.Obsession of Rajdeep with Laloo Yadav, Bal Thakre and Bollywood is really baffling.
4.Poor audience selection
5.Unnecessary random polling on any issues involving local audience, which effectively serves no purpose.
6.Unmatched opponents are selected.
7.Third participant of the debate is usually too dogmatic and theoretical.
The participation of crowd can be avoided. Rajdeep would do well to take some cue from Prannoy Roy, who maintains his objectivity throughout a discussion.
It can clearly be seen that in above review cons exceed the pros. In the pros, although the points are less, yet the sheer importance of those points , along with the absence of these qualities in any of the rival programmes on any other channel (except Hard Talk on BBC and Walk the Talk ) makes Big Fight a watchable programme.
However, any good programme on similar lines can give Big Fight a run for its money. Already Dibang on NDTV India (although it is a sister channel) is handling
issues more objectively and in a much more balanced manner.