PRESS RELEASE: Southasian Super Star

PRESS RELEASE 12/12/08

The newest reality television series to hit the airways this season is Southasian Super Star, launched by TV Southasia, with pop star Najam Sheraz as a celebrity judge.

This six-week series follows thousands of aspiring singers from their preliminary auditions and regional competitions in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to the final competitions amongst ten finalists, culminating in the Mega Finale held in Kolkata where one will be chosen to become the next Southasian Super Star.

The winner will be signed to a year's contract with TV Southasia and Taramuzik, and will receive a long list of gifts that include a new car and laptop computer.

Contestants are judged by five musically talented celebrities: Najam Sheraz, huge pop star, singer, producer, and songwriter from Pakistan; Sharang Dev, awarded composer and son of icon Pandit Jasraj from India; Aagun, pop star and son of legends Khan Ata and Nilufer Yasmin of Bangladesh; Diliup Gabadamudalige, composer from Sri Lanka; Raju Singh, music director from Nepal; Usha Uttup from India joins the judges on the final round.

Judge and guest performer Najam Sheraz opened the competition with his hit Hum Bolen Mohabbat Ki Ziuban, backed by the top ten contestants of Southasian Super Star. At the finale, Najam is scheduled to perform Menu Tere Naal (the original version of Bheegay Hont Tere and his next video to be launched in India) and his world peace anthem Only Love.

More important than a talent competition, this show focuses on music tearing down barriers of language, bridging often contentious cultures with the universal message of song. This brother and sisterhood of music is a powerful tool that's needed now more than ever in today's sensitive relationship between global neighbors.

TV Southasia was founded on a similar premise; it is a collaborative channel, bringing together television stations from diverse South Asian nations and cultures in order to share common viewpoints.

Participating channels bringing you Southasian Super Star are: TV Southasia - India, Image Channel - Nepal, MTV - Sri Lanka, RTV - Bangladesh and Aaj TV - Pakistan.

Premiere dates: December 7 in Nepal, India and Sri Lanka; December 19 in Bangladesh; Mid-December TBA in Pakistan

In India, the show is aired Sundays 9:30 AM IST and 7:30 PM IST (repeat), Fridays 9:30 PM IST and Saturdays 7:30 PM IST (repeat)

The show can be viewed live on TVsouthasia's web site.