Both Sony's Jhalak Dikkhla Jaa and Zee's Sa Re Ga Ma Li'l Champs culminated last weekend, and I followed a thumb rule I have set for all TV finales, from experience. Switched to each only during the last half hour of the two hour episodes, and believe me, hardly missed much except for some perfunctory performances and nervous, stricken faces of the finalists. Mona Singh was an expected win, and one suspects that the very real tears that Shveta Salve shed were more anguish at the realisation that it isn't just talent that wins at such talent shows.
As for Lil Champs, the chaos during the live declaration of the winners told on Sanchita. The poor girl didn't realise she had been crowned the winner as Shaan grandly announced the name of the runner-up, and the rest of his announcement was drowned in a blaze of firecrackers! Judge Alka Yagnik had to bring up the shaking girl from the end of the stage and make public her predicament. And second runner-up Sameer was adolescent charm itself when he staunchly maintained in a choked voice, "Main naheen rouunga!"(I won't cry!")
It may have been a grand end to a good show, but it was a trifle unsettling to have to watch kids grapple with so much stress in front of a national audience and a massive, cacophonic live audience. Oughtn't we to wait till they are mature enough to handle the fickle fame and fortune that such TV talent shows can bring? Or perhaps not.
http://www.indiantelevision.com/special/boxpopuli/y2k6/nov/b oxpopuli26.htm
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