Chennai, Sept. 11: A Chennai photographer has disappeared after being beaten up by his wife and mother-in-law in front of cameras during a TV reality show that seeks to reconcile warring couples.

Zee Tamil sources said they would not air the episode, although it was bound to draw a high viewership, because the channel did not want to be seen as promoting marital violence.

This particular episode of Solvadhellam Unmai (Nothing but the Truth) was shot on August 30. Prince, 37, wife Mini, 34, and her mother Leela had been invited to the show since the couple had been living separately for the past two years though they have two sons.

Hostess Nirmala Peiryasamy seated the couple opposite each other and urged them to talk candidly about their problems so that all misunderstandings could be cleared. Leela sat among the audience.

Slowly, the exchange heated up. Mini repeatedly accused Prince of drunken behaviour that disturbed peace in the house.

Prince retaliated, accusing his wife of being a compulsive spender who nagged him for money.

Suddenly Leela ran down the gallery shouting at her son-in-law, pounced on him and began beating him.

Mini, too, joined in. The two women kept pummelling the man despite the hostess’s pleas. Eventually, members of the audience rescued the hapless husband.

A humiliated Prince has gone missing since then. His sister Mouli has lodged a missing persons diary with the local police.

When the police began inquiring, Mini told them Mouli had forcibly confined Prince and the force should rescue him.

“What happened on the TV show was unfortunate. I am willing to fall at my husband’s feet in front of the same camera and apologise for what happened,” she told the police.

But Prince’s sister alleged that she feared for her brother’s life because his wife and mother-in-law are “psychos”.