Plans to bring Himani back on 'Sa Re GaMa

Mumbai, Feb 21 (IANS) Organisers of "Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005" are planning to bring Himani Kapoor, voted out by the audience, back on the show.

"I must admit, Himani's ouster was a mistake," says "Sa Re Ga Ma" producer-director Gajendra Singh. "The voting pattern was definitely not full proof. And we plan to take concrete steps to rectify the wrong done. Contestants like Nihira (Joshi) and Himani must not be eliminated."

Himani's popularity was in evidence last week at a concert to spotlight the two "Sa Re Ga Ma" finalists, Debojit and Vinit, which turned out to be an impromptu platform for the ousted contestant to shine.

The venue was the Ansal Plaza in Delhi. A crowd of about 20,000 fans thronged the venue chanting Debojit and Vinit's name. Himani was suddenly brought on at the fag end of the show at 9.45 p.m., 15 minutes before closing time.

The crowd went berserk.

Himani is in a daze. "It is all happening so fast and so suddenly. I don't feel I have been ousted from 'Sa Re Ga Ma'. In fact, everyone seems to be more responsive to me than ever before. The Delhi concert was an eye-opener. And I'll have to reluctantly admit that the response I got in 10 minutes was unequalled by anything else."

According to Singh: "We had no prior plans of bringing on Himani. The concert was meant to promote the two finalists. But our last-minute decision paid off. In her brief appearance Himani had the crowds hysterical. They mobbed the singers for autographs. Not only that, we had hundreds of fans waiting for them at Park Plaza where we proceeded for dinner. So it was evident their popularity has gone far beyond the stage."

Apparently Himani got more appreciation for her 15-minute appearance than what the others received for the rest of the show.

"I would not like to say that," says Himani. "But it was all very unexpected. I am glad they decided to include me in the concert. I never thought it would turn out the way it did. I had time to perform only one number 'Sajna ve' (from 'Chameli'). I'd have preferred to sing something more dreamy. But going by the concert's mood, I guess the tempo was timely. It caught on."

In more good news for Himani, music director Himesh Reshammiya and one of the judges at the show is also all set to take her and Vinit on world concerts, including one in Dubai, in a month's time. He has decided to make her sing three forthcoming songs.

I have nothing against Himani, but if they would have brought Nihira on the stage instead, the crowd would have been more happier. Note that article also had to mention Nihira.