Sreeram - Appreciation Thread #2 - Page 4

The city is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that nothing stops local boy Sreeramchandra Mynampati from winning this year's popular reality show Indian Idol.

Still smarting from the ouster of local lad Karunya from Indian Idol 2, everyone, from filmstars to politicians are rooting for Sreeram to win. While actors Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Jayasudha, Rana and Varun Sandesh have pledged their support for Sreeram with appeals to the public to vote for the city's latest poster boy, local leaders from Secunderabad Cantonment, where Sreeram lives, have put up hoardings and cut-outs asking people to vote for him.

His parents too are trying their best to garner public support. Sreeram's father, M.S.N. Prasad, is addressing regular press conferences, hopping from one TV channel to the other, asking his friends to give publicity ideas and meeting stars and VIPs to appeal for support. The feedback till now is good and Sreeram's parents say that they see a change in the city's laid-back attitude which reflects the fact that their son has so far not been in the "bottom three."

"I have been getting feedback even from towns and districts and people are now watching the show and voting for him. Student wings are planning a motorcycle rally supporting my son. My clients are also putting up hoardings on highways. There is a great change in attitude this time," says Prasad.

However, it won't be easy for Sreeram. The Gujarat government is strongly supporting Bhoomi, the other finalist and are running campaigns. Rakesh, the third finalist, has the Hindi vote bank, which is why Sreeram's family and friends are upping the publicity for him.

Members of the Secunderabad Cantonment and local MPs will take part in a rally to spread the word. Local politicians are busy sending SMSes and distributing pamphlets urging people to vote for Sreeram. Once the voting lines for the finals open, there is going to be a huge "Sreeram" movement. "We want him to win. Since not many here watch this show, we have intensified publicity," says Jhampana Pratap, vice-president, SCB.
The movement is fast gaining pace. Actor Sushanth recently inaugurated a websitewww.sreeram.8pmnews.com, which gives details of voting for the singer and former Idol finalist Karunya has also appealed to people to vote for Sreeram. Amateur singers and local music contestants are posing next to Sreeram's posters urging people to vote. Even the AP State Cultural Council has pledged its support. Sreeram, who sang for movies like Ashtachamma, Kotimooka and Boni, is being backed by music directors too.

The state, which has the largest number of TV channels, has found a new TRP boost in Sreeram and is giving him and his appeal prime time slots. "The fact that he has never entered the danger zone means that the city is supporting him. Though there is no frenzy here yet, it is picking up," says Raghuram, a playback singer who had participated with Sreeram in a local music contest.