ULFA threats frightened us’

Melodrama and threatened walk outs seem to be the order of the day on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005. The latest, high-tension moment occurred when Debojit won the maximum public votes on Friday, leading to Himani, Vineet and Hemachandra walking up to the stage and telling the judges that they wanted to leave the show. It appears that the ULFA's alleged threats have succeeded in frightening the daylights out of the finalists.
Although Vineet, who was spokesperson for the group, didn't utter the "U" word, instead attributing the decision to the fact that the three felt the process was unfair and demotivating since they also had good voices, the contestants seem to feel that winning is not worth their lives.

Says Hyderabadi boy Hemachandra, "We had read a news report about ULFA activists sending threats to the judges and that really frightened us. We are worried that in case one of us wins the contest instead of Debojit, our families might be targeted. But the judges convinced us to change our mind, saying that since we had reached this far, we couldn't walk out now and it would be a sign of accepting defeat," he says.

He is quick to disassociate Debojit from the ULFA threats. "Personally we don't believe that Debojit could be behind those threats but people think otherwise. I know for a fact that Debojit himself is quite shaken by the threats," he says in an attempt to defend his colleague, adding, "He is nine years older to us and we share a good rapport."

For his part, Debojit maintains that the group holds no animosity towards him and treats him like an older brother. Speaking about what happened behind the scenes after Ismail Darbar confronted Vineet threateningly on stage, he said, "Nothing dramatic took place. I personally feel that it was wrong on Vineet's part to have talked about having a good voice. Who are we to make such sweeping statements in front of such eminent judges? In fact, that was not what the three of us had actually decided to say. I don't know why Vineet said what he did, but yes he apologised to Ismail sir."

When asked about how he felt about Ismail's comments and behaviour, Hemachandra was diplomatic. "Look, we are all freshers and in no position to comment on other people's voices or rate our own skills. We are still raw and Ismail sir is a senior. He was not being rude to us. Whatever he says will only help us in our career and we must take his views in the right spirit," he says.

But now it seems as though only Vineet and Hemachandra will have to take this fight forward for their pal Himani has been eliminated leaving only Hemachandra to keep mentor Aadesh's banner flying high. "I'm feeling very bad. After Pratima and Rajiv left, there was only Himani and I from Aadesh's gharana, now I'm on my own," he says. Hemachandra tries to cover up the on screen drama by saying that everything is fine and hopefully things should progress smoothly now. Let's just hope his confidence is not misplaced.