Saregama's ideology: Himani?Nihira

There is little consensus on what SRGM is trying to do

Discover the next Lata/Asha who can sing but not dance? Think Nihira. That strategy worked in the 50's, but does that work today?

Or the next Nazia Hussain who can perform? Aap jaise koi...

I think SRGM fans and organizers are confused alike.

Himani's popularity suggests that it is the latter. I'm not saying she's not a good singer, she is (Punjabi, dance songs, but remember Nazia Hussain sang disco songs well and who remembers her today). I'm saying she is not versatile.

It is a total system failure that she was the highest female vote getter. The problem was she never had to face a judges choice round that was a requirement of the earlier SRGM format, or she wouldn't have got this far.

And when the two sang ai mere watan...that HUGE mistake was so painfully obvious. Better late than never.