@TMLisa has summed up most of what I wanted to say. Let me just add:
You have to admit that today's recording artist doesn't have to stretch himself or herself that much when they record a song. These days, it's all in the mixing and multi-track recording, pitch correction, overdubbing and so on.(I don't profess to understand the technical details of the recording process but have heard many singers comment on this themselves). The real test of a singer, imo, is when they sing live. I don't doubt Monali's caliber or the fact that she may have won a National award, but to me, her singing sounds weak when I hear her live.
About her comment to Raenit, I still think it was in poor taste and uncalled for. It is exactly victim blaming that is so rampant in our country. Disability is very hard to live with and if you are suspecting someone of lying about it on National Tv, then that is the lowest point of humaneness that you have reached. Empathy maybe hard for some people and maybe even compassion, but the very least one can do as a human is to not doubt the veracity of a person confessing to his/her disability in front of a TV audience. Rainit offered to show her his scar! She put him in such a defensive position and that was wrong on so many levels. I have to disagree on this and I maintain my stand. Monali was wrong and I think she knew it too, because in Rainit's very next performance she tried to sugarcoat what she said.
I'm not sure about what happened between Chetan and Monali - I think I may have missed that bit.
About Hemant- I have no doubts about his talent. He is an amazing singer and I have said that he deserves to win too. I agree, Rohanpreet is weaker compared to him, but then again am not willing to vouch for regionalism or his chocolate-boy looks being the only reasons for him getting votes. Vishnumaya comes from Calicut and I know for a fact that Hindi shows are not much watched in the South. Yet she consistently gets votes close to 90%. It means people appreciate her singing. Yes, in the end, regionalism or favoritism maybe what will make the difference in deciding the winner but right now all 5 singers are more or less on par and it's hard to predict who will be the winner.
In regard to the channel branding the contestants a certain way - they do that with everyone. The Brijwasis have become a brand name, they have Hemant and Akhtar Bros perform on every episode and never fail to point out what great singers they are. Rohanpreet is the heart-throb, Zaid is the cute, shararti, innocent baccha, Chetan is the guy with swag, and Vishnumaya is Thangabali 🤪.As a South Indian, I can't tell you how offensive this is to me on so many levels. In this day and age, this kind of regional stereotyping is so tacky! 👎🏼 So she doesn't know Hindi. Does that mean they have to make her do gross impressions and laugh at her? No one bothers to speak to her in a language she understands. Shankar is a tamilian, he could try to at least talk to her, convey what is being said. She just stands there with a dazed look on her face. One may argue that this is a Hindi show, but that doesn't stop some contestants and even Diljit from lapsing into Punjabi every chance they get!
I have no problems with Hemant attributing his success to his father. It's the absolute lack of mention of any of the women in his family that mystifies me. I also pointed out that that seems to be the case with Zaid too. It's not just the Brijwasis. And I agree with the other posters who have said that it's the channel that keeps bringing up personal stories in a bid to stir up controversy and debate. That said, again, I hope it's not the case and the Brijwasis don't come from a clan of people that believes in sidelining women. I actually missed that comment that Hemant made about aurat ka haath and mere paapa ka haath and even if he did say that I have no problem with it. I don't consider that statement to be misogynistic per se, but coupled with the lack of mention of any women in the Brijwasi's life, it does seem fishy to me, I'm all for giving them the benefit of doubt though.
None of this takes away from the talent that Hemant has and I'm sure everyone in this forum has acknowledged that. Each of us may still have a personal favorite that is not Hemant. Nothing wrong with that! The Akhtar bros are terrific too, but they fail to strike a chord in me. It's all very subjective, don't you think?
Edited by LizzieBennett - 7 years ago