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Another reality show has come to an end - this will have varied effect on different sections of the society. The media will heave a sigh of relief; mobile companies will rue the loss in income and the reality TV viewing junta will spend less on their mobile bills!

Looking back, there's no doubt about the fact that Indian Idol 2 was a mere shadow of its original version. It was what can be called thanda! There was no excitement for the unexpected to happen...the twists and turns felt flat as did the final result.

Admittedly, while all seasons of American Idol have raked in consistent TRPs, the Indian version has not been that consistent. This makes me wonder if the channel's going to persist with another season or take a break!

The one interesting aspect that it threw up was the choice of Sandeep as the idol. What's interesting is that he is so much like the other reality show winners - he's shy, reticient, from a small town and above everything else, experts thought that he will lose! Doesn't all or atleast one of these qualities remind you of Qazi, Debojit, Ruprekha or Abhijeet Sawant? Well, if you looked at it closely and in relation to one another, there's a pattern in the choice that the viewers have made. They have sided with the underdog again! The viewers seem to have an affinity with contestants who have been criticised by judges (Qazi); pitied those who have struggled to find their dream (Debojit); and rooted for those who are humble in victory (Abhijeet).

Another thing that struck me throughout the show is the fact that these contestants are here not only to win a competition, but to realise their dreams and the masses who vote, know that! They now find themselves empowered to make or break their careers, their lives. So what's the one thing that goes through their minds - "He's already got the looks and a voice to match...let's vote for the other, who doesn't."

Interestingly, this week in American Idol too, Ace 'the face' Young, was voted out by viewers - if you have seen him on screen, you would know why he was the hearthrob of millions. But his fan following didn't help him to acquire votes; perhaps Karunya too suffered due to this - he was promoted as an Abhishekh Bachchan look alike and has been more in news because of his looks (that's true for Panna Gill and Amey Date as well) than his singing abilities...and that perhaps is one of the things that has given Sandeep that extra edge!

This is a trend that's true for shows like Jassi Jaisi... - it was more popular when Jassi was an ugly duckling than when she turned a babe! Aspirational characters always find that special place in the hearts of viewers and reality shows are no exceptions.

It's not only the contestants who have benifitted from this whole affair - Aman, Mini, Farah Khan, Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam have all been in news because of the show. After each elimination, one or more of the judges would make an appearance in Sab's Taka Tak and subsequently find mention in the next day's newspapers! For Sony too this was one steady show that was something of a competition for other channels at 9:00 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays!

All in all, Indian Idol 2 has given a platform to 10 singers, who now have an open playfield to explore the industry. They are known faces, they already have an album under their belt and above evrything else, they know what it takes to be a star! The Idol mania is still raging because it means instant stardom - and in a country like our's that's one thing that seems so distant!

Pics by Satej Shinde