Wednesday, May 9, 2007

‘May’ will make you “Music Crazy!!”

May bring the Mania!

Usually Month of May is Summer Vacation period for all Indians. Most of the people enjoy holidays with cold stuffs. Especially, the scorching sun in central India never allows people here to work restlessly for full day as a result of which, May is considered as a month of inactiveness and lethargy.

But the Year 2007 may be the exception! This year, May celebrates its grand entrance with not one, not two but three national music talent hunt reality based shows. All set for set India’s Indian Idol III. Zee is turning into a battlefield for the musical combat called as ‘Musical World War I.’ and finally, Star TV also launching the long awaited ‘Star Voice of India’ right in this month. May is the beginning of year’s Music Mania.

Music is passion for common middle class India after cricket. Importantly, after the disappointing world cup, ended with Australian domination, we were desperately waiting for a change. And the change is brought to us by May! Actually, May is the month of blossom and spring in Europe; so, its here with the gift of Musical Blossom for all. Indian Idol; the most beloved reality show in India is back with its third season. Udit Narayan, Alisha Chinoy and Javed Akhtar with the experienced attendance of Annu Malik will search for the third Indian Idol. Honestly, Sandeep Acharya; the second Indian Idol and his entire team of second season was little impressive as compared to the first batch of Indian Idol. So, judges had to work hard this year in order to elect the impressive troop.

Hard work of selecting singers is initially over for the musical mentors of Zee TV’s ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa challenge 2007 as all four music directors successfully elected the best talent not only from Indian subcontinent but also from England, America, South Africa and Dubai. As per the popular format of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, there will be four Musical legacies with six contestants in each. Last year’s victorious mentor Ismail Darbar and Rocking Himesh Reshammiya will celebrate their second successive year with this reality show. Though, people will miss Adesh Shrivastav and Jatin-Lalit this year, they will be replaced by All time favorite Bappi Daa and famous duo Vishal and Shekar. And for the fans of Adesh and Jatin-Lalit, there is no need to be disappointed as these two will appear on Star TV’s ‘Star Voice of India’ from 18th of May.

‘Star Voice of India’ is actually based the basic concept of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa invented by Gajendra Singh. The recent conflicts between Zee TV and Gajendra Singh; one of the oldest associate with Zee Television results in Singh’s new contract with Star Group. The earlier reincarnation of ‘Antakshari’ on Star One was the beginning of this new alliance. The next and vital step is ‘Star Voice of India.’ In this reality show, there will be three teams of judges; made up of one renowned singer and music director each; would take 24 budding singers under their wing and be their guiding light. Abhijit and Alka Yagnik; former judges in ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs’ will join Adesh Shrivastava and Jatin-Lalit; former mentors in ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005.’ The Show will be hosted by Shaan, who hosted last years ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ and ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs;’ all with Zee TV.

The Heat is on –
The confusion and conflict is not over yet. The competition in this field of music is resulting in the conflict between father and son. Aditya Udit Narayan is the host of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2007’ whose father will judge the ‘Indian Idol 2007.’ Finally, behind the ‘Star Voice’, ‘Idol’, and ‘Musical World War’, the original war is between the TV Channels. Star, Sony, and Zee; the three milestones in the business will be in the ring as a ‘triple treat’ for the viewers. The comparisons, comments, controversies and conflicts will now form the impact. We witnessed the same type of competition when Star TV created KBC’s first season with Big B. Today, hardly someone may remind the names like ‘Sawal Das Karod Ka’ and ‘Chhappar Faad ke.’ Probably, the theory of ‘survival of fittest’ is applicable to this business also; but we must accept the fact that ‘Anything Can Happen in love and war’ and this competition is love towards music and war between the milestones. Though, the controversy regarding the future of the winners of these types of hunts is still there and will be there, we have to keep our fingers crossed as we are going to get not one, not two but three outstanding singers at the end of the season. The heat is on.

Do we enjoy them at each other's throats?-
From the start of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’; the concept of ‘war’ between the Gurus also started. The successful music directors actually quarreling for the sake of their contestants, using the language that has to be beeped on TV, are the common incidents during this show. This conflict made the show popular than that of Indian Idol. The controversial statements, the arguments then became the part of the show. Abhijeet’s rivalry with Alka Yagnik during ‘Little Champs’ was the reason for many people to watch the show. Even the channel made publicity of quarrels between these two through the clippings. Himesh and Ismail Darbar’s conflict, Himesh crying over the issue of his contestant’s loss, these types of issues deliberately created to gather the cheap publicity. In ‘Indian Idol’; judges denied the public opinion which created drama of Amey Datey last year. In Sa Re Ga Ma Pa challenge, the votes from Assam, and Arunachal made Debojit victorious, though he was not that promising touch in voice. Public submits SMS’s under the influence of regionalism, language, or any event took place regarding personal or communal comments. So, original talent may be ignored. But we enjoy the controversy. We enjoy the quarrel and the fuming comments from judge’s desk. Do we watch the talent hunt to see our favorite singer or composer using unfair language and quarreling with our another favorite? Anyways, good or bad, happy or sad; the shows are coming to us and we must thank the month of May for bringing out the right of selection.

-Chaitanya S Deshpande.

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