by Citizens compete to survive roundabouts and bribery with dignity.
Mumbai’s municipal council has turned gridlock into primetime entertainment. The new TV sensation, Who Wants to Be a Crorepati Traffic Cop? lets contestants try their luck managing Mumbai’s legendary traffic chaos. The winner gets a lifetime supply of whistles and immunity from honking fines. Episode one drew record viewers as 12 contestants attempted to direct traffic near Bandra and only three were ever seen again.
Producers say the show was inspired by the real-life heroism of officers who can wave one hand for six hours straight without fainting. Viewers can phone in votes for their favorite contestant, though the calls often fail due to poor signal and divine intervention. According to NDTV, the show’s sponsoran auto-rickshaw tire companysaid ratings doubled when a cow entered the intersection mid-episode and was named Best Supporting Animal.
Each challenge tests skills like Negotiating Bribes Under Pressure, Surviving Monsoon Floods in Uniform, and the dreaded Two-Wheeler Slalom of Doom. Mumbai’s mayor praised the concept as the perfect blend of civic duty and masochism.
Critics say the show glamorizes corruption, but fans insist it’s educational. I learned how to pay a bribe with confidence, said one viewer. And I didn’t even need a lifeline.
The season finale promises a grand prize: one functioning traffic light. Unfortunately, it’s rumored to be stuck on yellow.
SOURCE: Bohiney.com (Radhika Vaz)
