Indian Idol 2 : high on glamour quotient!

Remember the shy Abhijeet Sawant or the reticent Amit Sana in the initial stages of Indian Idol????

Remember Aditi, the girl whose Hindi left the judges gasping for words or the small towner Ravinder Ravi, who looked out of place in the glitz and glamour on display? Well, the flaws in each one of them made them special -- they made viewers come back to the show to see them grow with every performance. Not this time around. Indian Idol 2 contestants are picture perfect. Hardly a glitch anywhere -- they lack neither in the way they present themselves, nor in the way they sing.

For people like yours truly who have had the good fortune to cover both the seasons of the show, the differences are stark. While in the first season, the contestants were raw and untapped, in the present they are as savvy as they come. They not only know how to sing, but also know how to face the media. Above everything else, they are diplomatic and their answers suitably aimed at keeping the scribes happy, but at the same time give nothing away. Sony should be proud of this bunch. They are as much singers as they are ambassadors of the channel itself.

On the eve of the album launch of Indian Idol, the contestants were asked a lot of questions, answered with ease by them.

Their thorough research of the show came through when a contestant referred to the original format and pointed out how that cannot be toyed around with. Another contestant, in what might be called a very 'politically correct' answer said (when asked if the viewers voting in was fair) that the "Indian Idol is for the people as he/she is going to ultimately sing and sell albums, so it's better that they choose their idol themselves!"

" Well, yes they have come as a package to us. Perhaps Indian Idol's first season has set a benchmark for them and this time around more talented people have auditioned for the show. It's evident that they have followed the first season thoroughly and they know what to expect. They are well prepared, but above all, they are talented. I wasn't surprised at the quality of these contestants, but was taken aback at the quantity of talent on display," says Sony vice-president, marketing and communication, Nina Jaipuria.

In both the editions, the contestants came form varied backgrounds. But this time around, they seem to have adapted more readily to the makeover that have been done to them. Hardly have we seen Aditi Paul or Prajakta Shukre in halters, tube tops or high heels in the initial stages, but Antara, Jolly, Yashashree, Monali, Neha and Meenal not only are wearing the designer outfits with elan, but they are carrying them off with a style of their own. Moreover, if one sees the demography of these participants, they are more or less similar. Antara, who comes from a remote town in the Indo-Bangladesh border, shows no signs if being a village belle as compared to Ravinder Ravi who ( till the time he was on the show) could never shrug off the village tag!

"I watch a lot of television, and follow the language and the dressing style," says a confident Antara.

"This transformation has given me a lot of confidence. I couldn't have ever thought that I can look so beautiful. I was a little uncomfortable in the beginning since I wasn't sure about the response," laughs Yashashree, who admittedly was a little doubtful about wearing off-shoulder dresses. "But this is how everyone is on the show and now I don't mind," she points out.

Monali, whose transformation has been quite drastic so far looked elegant in her black overalls, had come for the auditions in a chappal and kurta. "I was wearing a torn chappal. Farah Khan has really helped me groom myself," smiles the girl.

Whatever might be the reason for the changes, (and we are not commenting whether it's good or not) -- these changes go a long way in proving that the X factor is the most sought after commodity in the entertainment industry. Talent apart, this is one thing that can take you a long way. And if you are looking to make it to the television industry (singing, dancing, designing, game shows or news reporting and anchoring) make sure that your high heels, and halters fit you!