*¤*AnTaRa VoCaL PoWeR HoUsE 13*¤* - Page 3

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Abhijeet ko gussa kyun aata hai?

Lil Champs' judge and singer, Abhijeet volleys allegations of being too critical on the show

Today's episode has these wonder kids croon tapori numbers. Screen moves around the thoroughly charged set where they are going to perform; the onlookers being boys and girls from Nutan Hindi School, Ghatkopar. We talk to the participants, a couple of onlookers and judges to know more.

The judges have still to troop in. Meanwhile, compere Shaan is on the sets, mingling among the participants and exchanging pleasantries. In a little while they start rehearsing for the lilting title song ... Bole to Bole woh kaisi hogi bhai. Lage raho Shaanbhai (Munnabhai)... of Munnabhai Lage Raho.

Meanwhile we overhear children talking about the judges and the chief guest of the day, Johnny Lever. The excitement is slowly building up as can be seen on the faces of the contestants. It's after a long wait that the judges come onto the podium and take their respective seats. The director Gajendra Chauhan signals the start of the shooting schedule, with the onlooking children waiting with bated breath amid talks on who would be the winner of the episode.

The day's proceedings start with the Munnabhai Lage Raho song and soon after an announcement is made Johnny Lever (Aslam bhai) arrives to the accompaniment of the instrumental of 'Aslam bhai...' from Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. Children on stage and off it are very excited and there's a big hulaboo. The commotion dies down and one by one the six contestants come on stage to perform. The proceeding starts with Abhra Kanti singing 'M bole to...' followed by Sameer Mohammad who sings 'Apun bola...'. Then comes Pawni who sings the heart-stopping number 'Khallas...' followed by the blind wonder boy Diwakar who sings 'Yaro sun lo zara...'.

Diwakar,
DPS, R.K Puram, Delhi, age 13
(the blind wonder-boy)
Favourite singers: Rafisaab and Lataji.
Songs I like: Both old and new songs. All I need is good rhythm and melody.
How so confident on stage?: I've sung quite frequently on stage before. Hence, there's no stage fright. I'm not the least scared of the judges because I know their comments are meant to provocate me to sing to the best of my abilities.

Abhra Kanti Saha,
Bidhan Nagar Govt. High School, Kolkata, age 12
Training:I've been training for singing for quite some time. I wa s training under Pandit Sukumar Mitra who recently passed away.

News about the show: While I was watching TV one day, I came across the Zee TV ad calling aspiring children for audition. I had appeared in the show last year too and this year I have come with an added vigour and hope to win.

Favourite singers:Among the old I like Mohd. Rafi, Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar and above all Asha Bhosle. Among the new lot of singers my favourites are Sonu Nigam, Abhijeet and Hariharan.

Hobby: I like to cook and I read a lot of cookery special books.
My aspirations of the show: With each passing episode, I am trying to sing better and better. Winning this championship is my top priority.

Songs I like to sing:I like singing difficult songs. That's where the challenge lies.
Scared of the judges?:Only when I don't sing well. And I know when I don't. Don't ask me how I know.

What if you win the chamionship: If I become the 'Little Champ' I'll first seek my parents' blessings.I wouldn't be singing without my parents' nod.

Shraddha Das,
Sacred Heart Convent, Jamshedpur, age 14

How did I get here: Didn't know ads about the show were being beamed on TV. But once we saw the ad, my father Ramesh Das asked me to give an audition and try my luck. In the initial audition in Kolkata, I was among the 22 and finally came among the 12 chosen. Then we had to come to Mumbai and see how I am going up the ladder with each passing episode.

Anxious moment: I was flabargasted when the judges gave me A+ for my singing of Solah baras ki... in an earlier episode. Bappi Lahiriji said it was one of Laxmikant-Pyarelal's most difficult compositions.

Why such a complicated song:I don't know. I just sang it. It's all my father and guruji's constant . I want to be a playback singer when I grow up. My idol is Lataji. If I become a Little Champ I'll of course move from my hometown in Jamshedpur to Mumbai. I wouldn't mind the change at all. One has to make some sacrifices in life to move ahead. And besides my parents will be with me.

About my prospects:I will not feel sorry if I am eliminated. On the contrary I will feel good that I have done something worthwhile.
Favourite singers: Lataji.

Sameer Mohd.,
KPS Memorial School, Mumbai, age 11
Coming to the show: My friends in school told me about the show.
Family history:My father is music director Ghani. My uncle Ali teaches me music every day.

Scared of:I'm not scared of anything, not even scared of faltering.Among the judges I'm only scared of Abhijeet sir.
My ambition:I want to be a professional singer. I have to be that only.

Prospects: I am not worried about the prospects. I know only one thing and that is I have to perform well. Winning or losing will, for me, just be a matter of luck.

Sanchita Bhattacharya,
Shibpur Chatterjee Girls High School, Howrah,
age 14

Know-how about the show:I was at my uncle's (jethu) place when my cousin sister told me that I have to appear in an audition the next day at the Ballygunje Sikkha Sadan. Under the watchful eyes of Abhijituncle,I was among the 12 selected from the 12 from Kolkata.

Songs you like singing: I like doing my own thing. When we had to sing rain special songs, I chose to sing Geela eela... from Aitraaz. Thee's no point in singing a song that everyone else has already sung.

Liking old songs: Yes, very much but frankly speaking, I can't sing old songs because I tend to forget the lyrics.
Training: I have learnt music at home.

The atmosphere here: We kids at Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs are like one big family. We're having a ball. We sing, dance, talk and tease each other.

Pawni Pande,
Utpal Sanghvi School, Juhu,age 14
Training: I have been training in classical music under Usha Deshpande since the last couple of years. I know one thing for sure is however you are good at singing, all depends on the timing.

Hobby: Astrology.
Your dream of this show: There are uops and downs but I am singing to the best of my capacity. I anm sure to be among the top four.
Yearn to be: A professional playback singer.

Comments of the Jury

Bappi Lahiri: Sabhi bacche achha gaate hain. When I heard them for the first time, I never imagined that they would, in a short time, start singing like thorough professionals.

Alka Yagnik: Hats off to the six contestants. Yeh bacche kal ke chamakte sitare hain. They are bound to go places.

Abhijit: These children are performing like thorough professionals. What they need is a lot of practise and proper grooming. Otherwise there is nothing much to say.

Johnny Lever: Indeed the Television channels are doing a lot of yeoman service. They are providing upcoming singers and actors a platform to come into the limelight. See people like me; I have come to the TV arena (Johny Aala Re) after doing films for a long time. And, frankly speaking I am loving it.These children have indeed made me happy to no end. I congratulate them and offer them my best wishes.

We also spoke to two students of the school which was in attendance

Vishal Patel: The Jury should be strict while passing their judgement. Once they pronounce somone as a winner, they should not go back on it in any circumstances. Look at how Armaan and Gurpreet were eliminated and the events that followed. To me either Sameer or Abhra Kanti will be the winners.

Pooja Nambiar: The show is very intersting.Yes, they should not show the parents fighting as was shown in the case of Gurpreet. She should have admitted that she was eliminated because she was not singing well. According to me Sameer will finally be the winner of the show.