Getting ready for fame

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Nankri

@Nankri

Dazzler

Posted: 20 years ago

SPACED OUT!
The interiors of Fame Gurukul
Pic: B L Soni

As headmistress Ila Arun deliberates on the code of conduct at Fame Gurukul, the 14 participants have some surprise visitors on this Sony show tonight.

Nandu (Gaurav Gera) from Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, along with Kshitij (Amit Sarin) and Kumud (Aashka Goradia) of Kkusum, arrives to boost the morale of the participants under the watchful eyes of the headmistress.

"How strict I will be with them depends on how the participants behave," says Arun. "They should realise that this is a lifetime opportunity which should not be wasted," she says.

The daily is presently airing the audition rounds while the participants are busy with the training at the Gurukul before they move bag and baggage into it.

"Once here, their every move will be on camera and they will have no contact with the outside world. We even decide whether they can make phone calls — the rest of the communication will be via letters," says Arun.
Their daily regime includes singing, dance, fitness and grooming. "They will be so busy throughout the day following a strict time-table that by the end of it is those who have the perseverance that will survive," informs Arun.

The making of the Gurukul

Fame Gurukul has been set up by designer Sameer Chanda at the Jeevan Oil Mills compound at Saki Naka, Andheri. It incorporates a blend of the traditional and modern with a singing corner, a dance floor, a recording room, dining area, bedrooms, a phone centre and a lounge area (their only contact with the outside world). Every move of the participant is on camera.

Adapted show

Fame Gurukul is a licensed adaptation of the Spanish reality show, Operacion Triunfo. The winning Fame jodi will be awarded a recording deal with a leading music company, and a contract worth Rs 1 crore with Sony.

The jury includes writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, musician Shankar Mahadevan and singer Kay Kay Menon. The show is anchored by Mandira Bedi and Manav Gohil.

Mumbai's super six at Fame Gurukul

AMIT JADHAV (24)
Music has been a way of life for him but he has never had any structured training. He does not feel disadvantaged because of it. Amit has learnt everything he knows from Hindi film music. He is an accomplished, self-taught dancer.

REX D'SOUZA (24)
He loves to perform and enjoys being on stage. His favourite numbers are romantic songs. It was his mother who encouraged him to join an orchestra. Rex has had no formal training in music. He has been participating in gigs and has performed with Johnny Lever.

KIRTI SAGATIA (26)
Music runs in his blood and he comes from a strong lineage of folk music. His father, Karsan Sangatia, was the one who punctuated the songs of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam with a Gujarati flavour. Kirti has always been close to showbiz and has never thought of doing anything but singing.

SHAMIT TYAGI (25)
His is a story of a struggling artist who has been doing all kinds of jobs just to be able to keep on singing. He has worked at a call centre for five years. He has six years of classical training and believes in connecting with the audience through his voice.

CHHAVI SODHANI (18)
This Hyderabadi girl moved to Mumbai a few years back in order to pursue a career in music. Extremely focussed and hard-working, Chhavi has been learning music from the age of five. Currently studying at NM College, Chhavi writes poetry too.

ARPITA MUKHERJEE (23)
Arpita has been single-mindedly chasing the goal of becoming a playback singer. With her mother as her first guru, she is a quick and willing learner in search of perfection. A trained classical singer, Arpita likes Asha Bhosle's singing style.

The rest of the participants

1 Qazi Touqeer (Srinagar)
2 Mona Bhatt (Delhi)
3 Anubhav Suman (Ghaziabad)
4 Deepak Singh Meher (Delhi)
5 Deepshikha Sharma (Jaipur)
6 Ruprekha Bannerjee (Kolkata)
7 Arijit Singh (Murshidabad)
8 Gurpreet Kaur (Jabalpur)

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Getting ready for fame

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