So let's start by introducing the judges! We need judges, because sometimes audience voting can get out of hand, and we want the best winner. That's why we have judges to help balance things.
The 4 Judges will be
xobile- Very knowledgeable in judging singing. Can accurately judge and has shown this before. Not only can he pin down exactly what went right and wrong in the song, but also has great knowledge in the history of indian music. Ask sxobile any question in indian music, and he will know. Also is very logical and unbiased in his comments. Can also be controversial though. Think Anu Malik here. Lastly, he will stay active throughout. Great judge!
ssk13809- This would be the controversial judge of the show. Come on, every show has one. Has shown good ability to judge singing, both accurately and unbiasedly. Also is very active and is also an experienced judge like xobile. But at times can get argumentative, think Himesh Reshammiya on this one. Overall, a judge who will diversify the judging lineup and thus an asset.
Someone999- Another great judge! If you ask me, I'd say someone999 is the most unbiased poster/judge when it comes to rating singing. Very fair and that's why I like it when someone999 is the judge, because you know you'll get a very unbiased and fair rating. Besides for that, has shown good ability to judge singing in general and is pretty active.
Cutiepie Rani- Another awesome judge! Probably the best actual singer out of all the judges. Might be on the next SRGMP. Very cool! But here is a judge who actually knows how to sing well, so having someone like this judging is just great. I can't say too much on this person's biasness or judging ability, but I have no doubts that it will be just great!
Overall, all the judges have proven good ability to judge songs, and there is a nice overall mix with each bringing something on the table. I like this group!
Now let's meet the contestants! Here are all 12, along with a live performance link, so you can get to know them if you don't, and a quick summary of what they bring!
Alphabetical Order Alisha Chinaihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUfbpG5lBgAOne of the more popular singers participating. Great singer, has had many hit songs over the years. Got popular in the late 90s, and had some huge performances in the 2000s. Overall, is definitely one of the stronger participants here. Great voice!
Alka Yagnikhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9F2Jrb7RCYEveryone knows Alka Yagnik! Already a singing legend. She has been the premier female playback singer throughout the 90s and early 2000s as well. Some have called her the present day Lata. She's won many playback singing awards, more filmfare than anyone here, and really does anyone suit an actress's voice better than her? Definitely a strong contender to win this contest.
Kavitahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0_G9Cee39I&feature=relatedAnother one of the finest singers of all-time in bollywood. She also dominated the 90s. Some called her the undisputed best female playback singers by the mid-90s. At 1 point she had won filmfare playback singer 3 years in a row. In 94 she became the only one besides Lata and Asha to sing for RD sir. All in all, here is another legend, and a strong contender to win this whole contest.
K.S. Chithrahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6JnqGuaevs&feature=relatedThey call her the "Nightingale of South India". For those who know what is implied there, this is a very strong compliment. Without a doubt one of the best singers ever to sing for India. She is an amazing 6 times National Award winner, more than any other singer here, and has just an amazing voice. Though she has sung primarily in the south, she has left a mark in bollywood singing some of the finest songs in the past 2 decades. Another singer who is a legend and is a contender to win it all.
Madhushree http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBeDZiEDjbwAnother great singer on the show. Having sung in many AR Rehman films, she has made in name in Bollywood in less than a decade. She is a clasically trained singer, who is also from the south. So she has sung a lot in the south, nonetheless, some of the most popular songs in bollywood have been sung by her. Overall, one of the better contestants here.
Mahalaxmi Iyerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeG23ul0n_kAnother one of the finest singers in bollywood today. For about 10 years, Mahalaxmi has made her presence fell. She is has a very fine voice and has had some of the best singing performances in the past decade. I think she is one of the better singers in this contest for sure. When you start listening to her, you will too agree with me.
Richa Sharmahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbe_xYpDRcAnother veteran in this contest. Unlike most here, she has a powerful voice and this helps her stand out. She has had a successful career, singing many big songs over the years. It all started in 1996, and by 2000 she had made her name in Bollywood. She kept singing well in the 00s and is one of the more popular and better singers here.
Shilpa Raohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKTTRG62lpsOne of the upcoming talents in Bollywood. She has gotten her name across in just little time and is one of the more known-upcoming talents in Bollywood. She has a nice smooth voice. And overall, she has great potential overall, and is one of the more younger contestants here.
Shreya Ghoshalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5QRTZN4Qh4A very well-known singer of today! She is already considered a legend by some and it's been less than 10 years she has been here. She has won the National Award 4 times already, and with that many bollywood playback singing awards. But we don't need awards to tell us how good of a singer she is. She is starting to become the premier singer in bollywood, and almost all MDs want her singing those nice romantic songs for their movies. Truly a special talent.
Sunidhi Chauhanhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQr8lD7KvpkDo I really need to even introduce here? For those who don't know, she is a judge at Indian Idol this season! And boy has she been dominant in this past decade. She has taken over all the fast-paced, pop, and party songs in bollywood. Anytime there is a hit dance song, Sunidhi was the singer who sang it. She is still very young and has already accomplished quite a bit in her early career. This is Indian Idol forums, she is a judge, so she should have plenty of fan support here!
Tulsi Kumarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOM0vho6nKsAnother young contestant in this competition who has made her presence felt with her lovely voice. Her career started in 2000, and since then she has sung in many hit songs. Like Shilpa, she is someone who definitely has potential to make it big with such a great voice.
Vasundhara Dashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCeJfo1MK1o&feature=relatedAnother relatively young singer, starting her career in 1999, and has sung in many hit songs over the years. She also has a great voice, and has sung a variety of songs in this past decade. Not only that, she is the only singer here who also was an actress at 1 point. Either way, a good contender here.
And the Wild Card Enteries
Anuradha PaudwalA Singing Legend. After Lata, there was Anuradha. She was the first one to overtake Lata Mangeshkar. As one famous MD put it, "Lata is finished, Anuradha has replaced her". Though much of her success was in the 80s, she also was very successful in the 90s. She was clearly the best female singer in the early 90s singing often the full albums when she did playback singing. She took a long break from playback singing in the mid-90s to sing Bhajans, and after that didn't do much singing, but still had some hits in the 00s as well. In summary, she is a legendary singer and her entry in the competition will make it tougher for anyone to win.
Monali ThakurA great singer. But the main reason she is in because she originated from Indian Idol. Thus, this is a special case, for all the IF fans to see one of the contestants from Indian Idol in this competition. Kind of just for fun entry. She has sung in some hit songs.
Sadhana SargamAnother singer who should be considered a legend. Really, she should've been part of the original 12. Just an overlook I guess. But now she has the chance. She is a legend, and like all legends she has sung well for many years now. She started in the 80s, and all the way up to the 00s she was singing well. She gave many hits in the 90s as well, and has sung the 2nd most for AR Rehman from all female singers. Truly tough competition for the rest!
Edited by risingabove - 15 years ago
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