In the endless ocean of Indian reality TV, it's easy to feel drowned. Once upon a time, we had singing and dancing contests that celebrated talent. Then came the shift: drama, fights, scripted melodrama, and contestants more focused on abusing each other or chasing viral moments than showcasing actual skill. Promos alone were enough to make me switch off, endless shouting, fake tears, cheap PR stunts.
Thankfully, I disengaged early. A glance at the promos was enough. When a show starts advertising conflict instead of competence, I know it’s not meant for me.
That's when I turned to international channels, particularly the History Channel. Shows like Pawn Stars, Kings of Restoration, and Counting Cars were fun distractions, honest glimpses into passion-driven work. But nothing hooked me like Forged in Fire. Here was a competition built purely on craftsmanship, with a subtle connection to my own field of study and work: engineering, materials, precision, and the physics of tools. Blades aren't just weapons; they're engineering marvels under extreme stress.
The format is refreshingly simple: Four blacksmiths enter, three leave, one wins. Contestants forge blades (knives, axes, swords) under time pressure, then the judges: master bladesmiths test them ruthlessly: sharpness, durability, edge retention, balance. The blades either hold up or fail spectacularly. Drama? Minimal. No manufactured fights, no personal attacks, no forced tears. The tension comes from the forge itself, the heat, the hammer strikes, the risk of ruining hours of work in seconds. It's high on skill demonstration and low on manufactured conflict. For once, the spotlight stays on expertise.
What truly elevates the show for me is the final challenge: recreating a historical weapon. As a history buff, this is pure dopamine. Seeing contestants tackle Viking axes, Roman gladii, Japanese katanas, or more thrilling for me, the Indian blades like the Kataar, Vajramushti, Khanda, Khukri and many more gives me goosebumps. The judges explain the historical context, the metallurgy, the cultural significance. It reminds us that these weren't just tools of war; they were symbols of craftsmanship, defense, and identity.
On one hand, pride seeing our martial heritage acknowledged on a global platform. On the other, sadness. Watching modern contestants revive techniques our ancestors mastered centuries ago makes me sad. India has an incredible legacy of blade smithing, Wootz steel (the original Damascus), the flexible talwars that bent without breaking, the intricate Katars. These weapons helped defend kingdoms and cultures. But we've largely forgotten them. Today, they're museum pieces or props in films, not living skills. We have outsourced our own history to footnotes while foreign shows remind us of what our ancestors mastered with bare hands, fire, and instinct. Forged in Fire quietly honors that heritage in a way Indian media rarely does.
Indian TV has copied countless international formats; singing, dancing, survival, cooking but somehow, skill-focused shows like this remain absent from our mainstream. Instead, we're flooded with more nonsense: shouting matches, staged rivalries, and "reality" that's anything but real. Why not adapt something like Forged in Fire? A desi version could feature traditional weapons (talwar vs. khanda challenges), local blacksmiths from villages and rural India gets to show their skills in blade smithing, giving much needed push that skills are supreme not drama. It could revive dying crafts while entertaining without degrading anyone.
As for when India might get mature, logical, skill-focused content like this on mainstream TV? Honestly, not soon. Our channels prioritize TRPs through sensationalism, and audiences (sadly) reward it. We've seen thoughtful shows like Panchayat or skill-ish formats on international channels here. In coming 5–10 years, as younger viewers demand substance and OTT budgets grow, we might see Indian adaptations of craft-based competitions.
When that shift happens, formats like Forged in Fire won’t feel “niche” anymore, they’ll feel overdue. Until then, some of us will keep searching quietly, away from the noise for stories forged not in drama, but in skill.
What about you? Have you watched Forged in Fire? Which historical blade challenge was your favorite?
Do remember, 'When skill disappears from our screens, it eventually disappears from our society.'
Drop your thoughts below!
Sometimes it’s just about entertainment and not about skills. My point is that, as human beings, we have many different emotions and moods, so it’s necessary to have all sorts of shows in the entertainment industry.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I definitely agree with your point that the Indian industry is lacking variety. They are trying to copy international formats, but they still can't reach the same level of entertainment. Actually, the problem with Indian reality shows is that they are either hyped up with loud drama and sob stories, or they are just doomed from the start.
#SG