Qazi is hardly a singer
Producer of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge, Gajendra Singh, takes on the Sony challenge
| Gajendra Singh |
| Qazi Tauqeer, only good for face value, says Singh |
Subhash K Jha
When Salman Khan made a guest appearance on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge last week he was so bowled over by the quality of singing that he stayed on till 4 am to listen to the contestants. When someone of Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia's calibre says he can't choose the best among the contestants because they are all so good, I feel my life is made," a contented Gajendra Singh, producer of the show, says.
His two musical shows – Close-up Antakshari and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa have defined and re-invented the Indian music contest on television. And now with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa being re-vamped into the more aggressive Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge, Singh has more to work towards.
Media-shy Gajendra Singh welcomes the show's new wave of popularity. "When we decided to revamp Sa Re Ga Ma Pa into its new format we had one basic target in mind. The contestants should have direct access to the composers so that their ultimate destination, film singing, would be apparent to these hopefuls from the time they enter our contest. That's why we got a whole range and spectrum of composers from the classically inclined Ismail Durbar to the beat-oriented Himesh Reshammiya to the melody-motivated Jatin-Lalit and the all – rounder Aadesh Shrivastava – to serve as judges. I'm happy and proud to say that these judges have taken the talented contestants under their wings and groomed them toward a kind of stardom even before they could pass the winning post. One of our finalists, Vineet, has sung all the songs for Zayed Khan for a film Rocky."
The threat from Sony's twin contests Fame Gurukul and Indian Idol looms large over Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. But Singh isn't intimidated. "I feel that Sony has copied us. But their focus isn't on singing. It's on face value. I've been scouting for musical talent since 1994. You'd be shocked to know what kind of money I am offered by rival channels to join them. But I feel abandoning Sa Re Ga Ma Pa would be like orphaning my own baby."
He dismisses Sony's twin tune shows. "Indian Idol is all about marketing and glamour. I can't see Qazi or any of the other winners on Fame Gurkul acquiring the durable fame of our contestants like Shreya Ghosal, Kunal Ganjawala, and Shaan. Their star-contestants, like Rahul Vaidya and Prajakta, were on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa first. Maybe they were lured to the other shows by the prize money and the promise of recordings. Well, let me tell you our twelve Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge finalists have already been signed for an album. Besides, they're being absorbed by the judges who are in a position to give them breaks. I've more than a decade of experience in this field. I can recognise talent in budding singers. I'd like to feel our show gives them a chance to really come into their own."
But a lot of viewers feel Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge focuses too much on the bickering and romances of the star-judges. "That's going to change as the show reaches its grand finale," promises Singh. "Now the focus is going to be on the singers."
The anchor Shaan will remain unchanged though. "Why should he want to leave, and why should we want him to? Shaan is so endearing. He's been with us for four years. And look how he took over from Sonu Nigam, who people said was irreplaceable."
In about three months, Singh also returns with Zee's other TRP-booster – Close-up Antakshari. "I can promise you it'll be bigger and brighter than before."
* Indian Idol is all about marketing and glamour. I can't see Qazi or any of the other winners on Fame Gurkul acquiring the durable fame of our contestants - Gajendra Singh
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