yeh jo public hai.... MUST READ

By public demand, really?

Kshama Rao

Mumbai, January 23, 2006











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They say 'Yeh jo public hai, yeh sab jaanti hai'.

But ask Rahul Saxena (one of the early and big upsets of the first edition
of Indian Idol), Nihira Joshi and Himani Kapoor (two of the top contenders
at the ongoing Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge), Shilpa and Apoorva Agnihotri
and Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi (celebrity couples who were
part of the recently concluded Nach Baliye) and they would probably tell a
different story.

For all of them have borne the brunt of the unpredictability of 'audience
voting' on these shows.

Audience voting -- an off shoot of reality shows like Indian Idol, Sa Re Ga
Ma, Fame Gurukul, Nach Baliye etc -- is lucrative for the channels but,
most often than not, an unfair elimination system for the participants,
which gives the right to the audience to 'sms' or vote in their favourites.

While audience voting is mainly used as a device to get the viewers
involved in a show, it also adds to the drama (especially when the results
throw up unexpected exits) and is also a revenue-generating tool (all the
tie-ups with cellular phone services help, you see) for the channels.

Besides, while the judges may strictly focus on the 'singing', the audience
tends to get emotional about the contestants.

For instance, a contestant who comes from a modest background or
maybe from their native village, may receive a lot of audience support
compared to somebody who they perceive as one who could easily get
another opportunity.

Talking about audience votes, keeping the 'drama' quotient high when a
20-something Sagar Savarkar, an Idol 2 finalist -- widely tipped to be
Abhijeet Sawant's successor -- is ousted in the first round itself, weeps
inconsolably on national television, it is indeed a 'TRP moment'.

Or for that matter when upset contestants stomp out of a show because
somebody else got the majority vote, it's ideal fodder for reality TV.

Speaking of the channel perspective, Nina Jaypuria, vice president,
marketing and communication, Sony, says an audience vote is "To give
the viewers a chance to select their own representative. At least Indian
Idol is for the people, by the people and of the people. Yes, a lot of
factors do come into play when the viewers vote.

"For instance, people were voting for Ravinder Ravi of Channel [V] super
singer for a long time because he came from a modest background but
after some point they didn't see an Idol in him. The judges can be given
the sole right to choose the winner but it's something else when your own
country chooses you. I don't think only viewers' vote adds to the drama.
Even if the judges had to put Sagar out of the show, he would have still
wept because that's reality TV."

Shaan, host of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has a slightly different opinion. "I think the
audience vote is not always fair but again, as far as my show is
concerned, it's been pretty decent. When it comes to judging a singer, the
audience doesn't just hear the voice, to them the way the contestant
looks, walks, smiles, talks everything matters while a judge may just go
for the voice quality.

"Having said that, the judges too sometimes look for different things and
so there could be a disparity there too. All said and done, I still feel
letting the audience solely decide on what could be the most important
decision of somebody's career is not right."

Ask Nihira who was one of the mentors' favourites and a strong
contender for winning the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contest if she thinks the
audience is fair and she says, "Yes, the audience should have a right to
vote for their favourite simply because at the end of the day it's they who
buy your album. When I entered the contest I was mentally prepared for
any outcome. As I look at it, the audience votes can help a show in
deciding what kind of a person or winner they are looking for."

However her mentor and music director Ismail Durbar feels that "if a good
singer like Nihira can be out of the contest, then Himani's ouster is not
surprising. I think the audience also looks to the judges for some
direction and if the judges themselves make dishonest decisions, then
why blame the audience? I think the audience should decide for
themselves and not be swayed by other factors."

Says Varun Badola, "Contestants who find favour with the audience would
always want a vote. It's a subjective issue. In a reality show, it's the audi
ence vote which deter mines the drama and hence is required. Have your
viewers vote, but don't hand over the entire responsibility to them."

So while audience voting does give the viewer a right to choose and a
sense of responsibility, it's also important for the viewer to use it sensibly
and vote with conscience.

This is in today's Hindustan Times, sorry I forgot to mention that.

AUDIENCE VOTE SHOULD BE THERE BUT ONLY ONE VOTE PER PERSON AS SIMPLE AS THAT

either one vote per person, or a percentage of votes are for the audience
and a percentage for the judges... that could be another way to stop
skewing the results.... just a thought.

nice article thx for sharing 😊

you're welcome. was a bit hesitant after seeing some nasty comments
about "newbies" ... but took a chance anyway!

I think both Nihira and Himani sang exceptionally well .. although with
totally different styles.. the music industry is very big.. i am sure there is
room for all of them.. just hope that himani is able to shed her image of
having been the ring leader of revolt... irrespective of whether its true or
not. But then I guess this is what reality TV is all about! Talent yes, but
drama and melodrama even more!!!

I think the point made by shubha mudgal (refer to an earlier post by me a
couple of days ago) about the very concept of Gharana... should be read
by all the mentors... its not only the kids who need to be humble... if their
mentors are so arrogant as they seem to be then its a sad state of affairs
all around.

But for all the kids .. more power to them. they are young... we all make
mistakes as teenagers. I hope they go very far... they've got a head start
on so many more with the kind of platform this show has given them...
they should not squander it even if they dont win the challenge. As the
public that watches and listens, while it certainly is our prerogative to like
or dislike any one style i think we should wish them all well irrespective of
what our own preferences are. They are talented.. all of them. and they
have already come a long way. Here;s to hoping they go farther.

Perhaps.. but did anyone notice that AS knew the name of the lady who
made that assam's voice, india's voice comment... i watched the repeat
and he said "yes seema you want to say something, please give that lady
the mike she wants to say" .. that doesnt seem too honest to me!