A quick run-through of last night's performances, without grades:
Priyani whose night did not end well, was not as good as when she sang 'Bichhooa' but it has to be said for her that she has taken each criticism to heart and learnt from it. She still has a way to go, but at her age, so does anyone. One of the things she needs to do is to round her voice off in the upper reaches. Maybe a classical music teacher can teach her how to do this.
Finally, a different kind of song from Sumitra. I thought it went a little faster than it needed to: the same 'thehraav' problem that Toshi was said to have and that Irfan-in-a-hurry displays. Once or twice, her hold over sur was shaky. I will not say this girl lacks talent or training; in the context of this competition, she lacks the kind of mentoring that the Prithvi mentors are providing. That is really affecting her growth as a singer. I still think she should attempt a wide variety of songs. The odds that she will win are limited given the voting non-pattern, and the fact that girls leave first. She may as well get mileage out of this by being adventurous and getting feedback from the judges. (I will still be voting for her tonight, by the way).
I don't like the song Irfan sang. And Irfan was not at his best last night. Shades of Irfan-in-a-hurry apart, his voice was less audible in the lower reaches.
Abhaas is the 'Old Reliable' of this show. He was very good yesterday and while I really don't think he sang a great song, it is the kind of song that gets written so it was a good move to sing it. After all, how many 'Yunhi Chala Chal's get written on a regular basis?
Abhilasha was good but still, I have to say that she was not as good as I would expect from her. The beat was a tad too fast for me to maximise the rasa of the song, and I think that she is used to singing more demanding numbers and has to learn to control her voice more when she sings very simple tunes. This is the problem Toshi has had to grapple with as well.
Mirande is still not back. One of the things I will remember this series for is her illness and slow recovery to form. She was good, but we know she can be better. Even when her voice was out, her sur and taal were usually more accurate than most others' but yesterday I thought one casualty was modulation.
Ishmeet was also good, and the touch of humour this song evokes for me was present there. A light touch--just as much as Ishmeet usually provides. Ishmeet however seldom, seldom sweeps me away with his singing--it's very nice, but as Jane Austen would say, nice is hardly a meaningful epithet.
Harshit was better than Ishmeet and there were more signs of life in his singing than usual. In fact, I would say he has been getting livelier in his own gentle way. If he can just summon up a little more power and expression, he really has it all.
I have been one of Priyani's most trenchant critics and would not have voted for her, had she stayed. However, last night, when she was standing there with Sumitra, I thought she was the one who could less afford to lose. Sumitra has a back-up plan in life, lives in Bombay, and has the stamina for the long haul. Priyani has the last for sure, but will she have the opportunity for it? We know that the unnatural grief displayed at an elimination bears few useful fruit. May the force be with this girl, and may she prove people like me wrong with her determination!
Final word on a non-musical peeve: A friend who never watches ASVOI is visiting and watched with us last night. She described the clothes as hideous (we had to shush her when Abhaas came on in his shiny suit so we could hear him!) and the make-up as frightening, especially on Abhilasha and Priyani (the make-up seemed to convince her that Abhilasha could not sing). So it's not just us, folks--others out there in the non-ASVOI, IF universe too think this is very ugly dressing. These young people would be best left alone--at their age, they would look good anyway.
I may not get to watch tonight, and will definitely not have a chance to write a post tomorrow morning. It may in that case be late Monday or Tuesday before I watch, so safest to assume I will be back next week with this thread!
Udne Ki Aasha
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Fan Fictions
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
