I just saw the show. I'm posting without reading the forum due to time constraints, so please forgive any repetitiveness. I post these critiques solely to start a lively discussion.
Theme: First Love/Pehla Pyaar
I thought the show opening was lame. All the contestants looked bored and tired of the dancing. Nobody was in sync. Himani had to remind Debojit to get down on one knee during one part of the dance. I again implore Zee and Gajji: just let them all sing live in the beginning!
I felt that the choice of guest judges was poor. Dino and Onjali (whatever her name is) had zero personality. Pooja was alright, but she has really let herself go (I know that has nothing to do with the show, but it's just an observation on my part). But at least Pooja gave some decent comments. I liked what she said about Himani and Nihira. The other two were like statues flanking her. Their film "Holiday" or whatever it's called, is a scene-by-scene rip-off of "Dirty Dancing".
On to the contestants and their AVs and songs:
Paresh: I was too distracted by Vinit constantly and vigorously rubbing his eyes while sitting behind Paresh to notice what his wife was saying. I think bringing his wife on stage was a well calculated ploy on the part of HR and I agree with those who believe that Twinkle probably scored higher than Paresh but Paresh was allowed to stay because his wife and in-laws took the trouble to come all the way from the UK (so what? didn't Swananda's husband also come from the UK, why didn't she get to stay?) anyway, he sang well, but then again, even I could've sang such an easy song in perfect sur with no training. Again, a well-calculated decision on the part of HR, who's as shrewd a businessman as he is a composer. I personally did not feel that Paresh sang the song better than Lucky Ali. He didn't deserve two 10's. HR said "Next to the Black song, this was the best performance of SRGMP!" Uh yeah, sure...if you give a 10th standard student a 5th standard exam, of course he will pass with flying colors! đ I guess HR was dozing off during Nihira's, Himani's, Hema's, or Sharib's performances to think that this particular one by Paresh was the best! AS was like, "You sang it better than the original singer, whoever he is" Whoever he is? Dude, you're a music composer/director, how could you not know who sang the song? Even people who don't know ABC about music know that Lucky Ali sang that song! Moving on...
Ujjaini: The AV on her was funny. The song she chose was beautiful but she didn't do full justice to it, I feel. Better to leave those types of songs in the hands of the capable Nihira and Himani (henceforth referred to as the entity "Himanihira") đ Ujjaini has a lot of potential, but I think she herself knows she's way behind Himanihira. And of course HR, instead of commenting on Ujjaini, went off on one of his irritating tangents about Vinit and his mehbooba. 𤢠I'm sure Ujjaini felt real great about that!
Vinit: I didn't pay attention to his AV. What was the point of the AV when we are treated to a running commentary by HR? Vinit's start-off was good. I closed my eyes and was able to picture his voice on Abhisekh. But as soon as he hit the "Seene se yeh dil.." part, the high pitched baccha voice was back. I thought he was a tiny bit besura on the first refrain. Obviously HR (mentor) and ID (composer) were thrilled. I think AS gave him a 10 because he knows the show is fixed for Vinit to win anyway and by this point AS is probably like "O.k., a few more weeks of this, then I get my pay-off and I can go home". Looks like HR's antics rubbed off on ID, who handed over his first earnings to Vinit, prefacing it by saying that he was saving it for his son. If I were ID's son I'd be mighty pissed off! ID said he earned that twenty years ago...so that was before Vinit was even born. Nice going, ID đ. Of course our dear HR was not to one-upped by ID, so yet again we were treated to a vote-begging/ass kissing marathon. Sick. đ¤˘
Debojit: His AV was one of the best ones. His wife plainly said how they met, how he proposed, bas. None of the natak baazi of the other AVs. They make a nice couple and she seemed to get emotional during his performance, which I thought was well-done. He should've at least got 9 & 9 instead of 8 & 8. He's a good singer and can make it in the industry. His voice can suit most heroes.
Nihira: Her AV clearly showed that she has no desire to waste time on love and dating. The girl is 100% focused on her singing. That is a really good thing, but she is in danger of looking like a goody two shoes in an industry that is all about material things and appearances. I couldn't help but chuckle when Shaan said after seeing the AV, "Mujhe laga kisi satsang mein aagaye!" But, kudos to Nihira for her firm faith in God and in music. She gave a perfect performance today, and even added in those little Kavita Krishnamurthy-isms (the original singer of the song).
Hemachandra: His AV "beep" was Twinkle. I can read lips and Hema's friend said the name Twinkle. Ah, but who really cares about that, I wanna talk about Chandu's velvet voice because once again he mesmerized me! Not only was the sur pakka (maybe one tiny,barely noticable slip) but he sang with playfulness and complete originality. I thought it was sweet how his dad was whistling along with the whistling parts of the song. Some here have accused his dad of being a little loopy, but really I think it's just a father who is really proud of his son and wants him to succeed. I closed my eyes and could picture Chandu's voice on Saif, Shah Rukh, and Abhisekh. He should've gotten 10 & 10! If he had sung "Pehla pehla pyar hai" from HAHK? he would've surely gotten 10's, but I think he wanted to stay away from the SP Balasubramanium numbers.
Himani: What the heck was her AV all about? I totally did not get that. I didn't recognize the song she sang, but I thought she sang it very well. I loved the folky feel of it and she has a powerful voice. Later Pooja said the song was from her film "Paap". Himani picks unusual songs but she does them justice. Shaan gave her good comments (about how he's heard people say "rongte khade hogaye" but he really felt it with her singing), ID also said "itna khoobsurat gaathi ho, koi khoobsurat ladka bhi miljayega". AS gave the utimate compliment in calling her his daughter.
And the little bonus AVs with the mentors' wives and Shaan's wife:
AS: It's nice what he said about Vijeyta, how he loves her more than his life. Too bad his brother-in-laws JL are not on the show anymore and didn't see that. Vijeyta looks a lot older than AS. I remember her as the chulbuli girl from "Love Story". Anyway, God bless 'em for having a long and happy marriage.
ID: I don't remember his wife's name, but I've seen a special about them on the show "Frame Three" and it showed them frolicking on the beach and singing together. ID's comments about his wife were also very nice.
HR: No woman would be foolish enough to marry or even date such an egomaniac, so no AV for him, HAHA!
Shaan: His wife (don't remember her name) is very pretty and told how she met him in a club and he had long hair and was wearing Bata chappals đ. The way he proposed (on the beach, with the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire) was very romantic. I hope he sang her a song in that proposal too!
The show ended with a fake-o wanna-be "Dirty Dancing" type performance (it was barely two twirls, so I don't see how it deserves to be called a dance performance) by Dino and What's-Her-Name. I guess this is how Gajji will fill the time once more and contestants get eliminated and there is less and less singing. I hope they wake up and realize that they can just have the remaining challengers sing for longer periods of time rather than wasting audience's time with time fillers.
Anyway friends, I'm signing off now.
Indian Idol 15
