Monday, April 24, 2006

SANDEEP INTERVIEW


Sandeep takes home a crore


After weeks of speculation, prejudiced campaigning and vaulting the high note, Indian Idol 2 has claimed its name � Sandeep Acharya. Kunal M Shah gets the new Idol to talk about his title


How does it feel to win Indian Idol 2 � one of television's most coveted titles?
The day has started on a very positive note. I am getting a lot of positive feedback. The fact that I am now the Indian Idol is yet to sink in. In my dreams I kept seeing myself become the Indian Idol. I can't tell you how happy and satisfied I feel.


Everybody rooted for Karunya, and you were given a secondary verdict. How did it feel to defeat the most popular contestant?
It was very satisfying, especially because competition was so tough. I have sung very well and right from the gala rounds, my performance kept getting better day by day. I got some very good feedback from my audiences and the votes started increasing. Karunya is a great singer and to beat him was no mean feat. I was never tense about the hype surrounding him... I didn't feel like he was everybody's favourite and I was the underdog. I knew exactly what I had to do. I devised ways to improve my performance and tried to ignore the hype around him. I think I pulled it off well. Anyway, whatever happens happens for the best.


What would you like to say to the people of your hometown Rajasthan, who dropped in the maximum number of votes for you?
I am extremely thankful to them. They were a great support. I don't know how to thank them but all I want to say is that I will try and always keep them happy through my work and not disappoint them.


Now that you have won Rs. 1 crore, what do you plan to do with the money?
To be very frank, I have not planned anything so far. But I can definitely say that I will use it to do some good work. A large amount of the prize money will be used to good effect.


You surprised everyone by singing the song �Enna meena deeka� before the finals�
It was very satisfying, as it was completely different from the kind of songs I had sung before. The song was also so unlike my own personality and by singing it, I had tremendous confidence for the finals. I enjoyed singing it too, and the audience and judges appreciated it very much.


What was that one thing that gave you an edge over Karunya in the finals?
If I have to choose just one thing � it has to be my voice. My voice supported me throughout and I think at the end of the day, it was what made me the Indian Idol.


People have compared your voice to Udit Narayan's�
I consider myself lucky to be compared to someone like him who is a talent house. Everyone has their own idols, and Uditji is mine. I will always try and do justice to him; the kind of response he has given me is heart-warming.


Who was your favourite contestant?
I can't pin-point just one� but yes, Kartunya was definitely the
toughest. I also think that Amey Date was on par with him. The only difference between Amey and Karunya was the number of votes each received. But I think Amey would have been as tough a challenge as Karunya.


Your mother was very emotional when you won the contest�
Yes, my mummy was very happy. It was one of my favourite moments and I can never forget it. The love, the faith and confidence she had for me during the finals was unbelievable. I also want to thank my guruji, Ratnadeep Hemraj, and Rajendra Changani for their blessings without which I would not be talking to you today.


Finally, how did you feel when Sonu Nigam imitated you?
It was a lot of fun, embarrassing but fun. I think he was creating an identity for me. Now that I have become the Idol, I will start working on my album within the next two days and I plan to put everything I have into making it.

SANDEEP WON THE TITLE

Sandeep gets populist Indian Idol vote

Sandeep Acharya the winner of Indian Idol 2
As the moment to announce the winner drew near, it was no surprise about who will emerge triumphant. Sandeep’s victory was a foregone conclusion. The support from the crowd for Sandeep was unbelievable.

However, television channel Sony refused to divulge the exact margin by which Sandeep Acharya beat NC Karunya.

Soon after, Karunya told SUNDAY MiD-DAY, “I knew I would lose. I was expecting it. The result has not come as a shock to me. I am not shattered. The public support which Sandeep had was to be seen to be believed. But I am sure that if singing was the only criterion of winning, I was more deserving than Sandeep and would have edged him out.”

Co-host to Mathur, Aman Varma said that Karunya should have won the contest. “Karunya is a far better singer. But I think the Hindi channels are not popular in South where Karunya comes from, and that did him in.”

Karunya’s mother chipped in, “There is a lot of multiple voting which takes place. This was one of the reasons why my son could not make it. But I think the people who matter in our country know that Karunya is the real Indian Idol even though he did not win it.”

Sandeep argued, “Personally I don’t believe in regional voting. The whole nation was attached to this programme and votes have been coming in for all of us, from all quarters.” His mother could not control her tears of joy. She said, “Main jaanti thi mere bete ka smile sab ka dil jeet lega. Aur wohi hua.”

Judge Farah Khan said that Sandeep had come a long way. “I still remember the first day of the competition. He walked in with a long kurta and lots of oil in his hair.”

Sonu Nigam added, “But with in that awkward appearance, ek sone jaisi awaaz thi.” And Anu Malik opined, “Sandeep took the harsh comments constructively and worked on all his grey areas. I think Karunya had this notion that he’s already there.”

'Indian Idol 2' winner Sandeep to bring out album


By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, April 23 (IANS) Sandeep Acharya, who won Sony's popular 'Indian Idol 2' singing contest that had millions across the country glued to television sets, says he was confident of victory and plans to release his first solo album soon.



Sandeep won over N.C. Karunya, the popular and discernibly better singer from Hyderabad, in the closely fought talent show Saturday night.

'I was confident of winning, though I wished all the best to my competitor and friend Karunya. Even if I had lost, I wouldn't have regretted. But having won, I feel a terrific sense of satisfaction,' Sandeep, from the small town of Bikaner, told IANS after winning the title.

'I am too dazed to decide what I want to do next. But yes, an album is definitely going to happen immediately,' he added.

Sandeep confidently sang Mohammad Rafi's 'Gulabi aankhen', Udit Narayan's (whom Sandeep idolises) 'Ruk ja ae dil deewane' and the Sonu Nigam qawwalli 'Tumse milkar'.

But no one suspected that defeat awaited Karunya who stunned the judges and star guest Kajol with his impeccable rendering of 'Sayoni', 'Badan pe sitare lapete huey' and 'One love'.

When the results came there was a look of stunned disbelief on everyone's face. But the audience poll triumphed over qualitative evaluations. In fact, Karunya had expressed his misgivings earlier during the evening.

He said: 'The voting from Sandeep's home state Rajasthan shows a clear partiality towards him. I believe it is like 90:10 ratio. Of course, I am confident of winning. But if I don't, it won't be a blow. I'll continue doing what I am here to do - sing.'

The show had innumerable highlights. The two finalists put up a brave fight against each other as the three judges - Farah Khan, Sonu Nigam and Anu Malik - joined by star-judge Kajol who for some strange reason squinted her eyes throughout to catch the razzmatazz, cheered clapped and even wept.

Farah's eyes turned moist when all the 12 contestants from over the months came on stage to sing the 'Indian Idol' theme song 'Woh pehli baar'.

Karunya dedicated his performances to his mother who celebrated her 50th birthday during the finals.

Copyright Indo-Asian News Service



“Indian Idol was never about singing only or else Karunya would have won over Sandeep. Unlike Karunya, Sandeep connected with the audience,” said Nigam. Malik agrees with Nigam saying that Sandeep was a package of good singing, humility and charm.

Farah smiled, “I think I was brought into this competition mainly because the channel knows that I have it in me to pick a star — the person who has the potential to be a super entertainer and popular with the opposite sex. Sandy is just that.”


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NEW INDIAN IDOL

Agla Kaun? Sandeep Acharya is Indian Idol II

Sandeep Acharya from Bikaner is the second Indian Idol !! Almost all judges and the hosts were predicting a Karunya win but Sandeep’s ever smiling presence and lovable personality along with his singing talent helped him become the Indian Idol. Karunya from Hyderabad is regarded as the better singer by most of the judges. The fact that he is from South India where not many people watch Hindi programs could have been one major factor in this win.

Sandeep Acharya Indian Idol 2

One of the best singers India has today, Sonu Nigam, also a judge in this contest said “Sandeep connected with the Indian audience in a big way, and made a place in their hearts. His attitude throughout the competition, and the improvement he has shown, have been remarkable. Also, Karunya may not have won the title, but we all know how incredibly talented both these boys are. They have a very promising future.”

Sandeep joins the elite league of Indian Idols and will be presented the Asian Paints guitar by the first Indian Idol Abhijeet Sawant who had become a celebrity overnight after his win. Interestingly Abhijeet Sawant had declared that he would like to see Karunya win.

Indian Idol 2 Karunya

Such talent shows both help new talents to get the limelight and attention and the television channels the viewership and money through SMS votes. However multiple voting from a single mobile phone has always been the cause of biased voting. Public mobilisation and campaigns by contestants and their friends and relatives play a big role in these contests. Channels care less as more votes mean more money for them.

Indian Idol is not just about singing and Sandeep with his charming smile and cool personality has a mass appeal and this coupled with his vocal talent made Sandeep Acharya the Indian Idol. Congratulations Sandeep !!

Friday, April 21, 2006

Who will be?


So, who will it be? Wait and watch

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As competition between Karunaya and Sandeep hots up, audiences await D-day to dawn
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The stage is set and the countdown has begun. The audience is on the edge of their seats, waiting on tenterhooks, as it were. The big question: `Kaun banega Indian Idol 2?’. And the final contenders, as is well known by now, are Karunaya and Sandeep with Anuj being out of the fray. And for those who’ve arrived late, each of one of these two finalists is a distant winner in himself. But then, the room at the top will, of course, only accommodate one. And the wait continues to be shrouded in suspense as to who will finally wear the crown.From the looks of it, each of the contenders is pulling up his socks, giving it his best shot. The competition seems to have taken an interesting turn. On the one hand, there’s the nation’s heartthrob Sandeep and on the other hand there’s Karunya, with his mellifluous voice which is a magnum opus in itself.The judges too seem excited about the grand finale. Says Farah, “It is unpredictable to say who the conqueror of the battle will be. Personally, I want Karunya to be the next Indian Idol.” As for Anu Malik, one of the other judges believes, “Seeing the fan following, I have a gut feeling that Sandeep will walk away with the cake...” Statistics say there are about 4.3 million viewers glued to the television waiting for the voice of the viewers’ choice to ring in. And the trend seems to be undergoing a subtle metamorphosis. Reality-based shows not only hold out a platform to give recognition to talented people but also offer that shred of hope to hitherto-unknown faces to prove their mettle. The competition has not spawned any animosity among the contestants. When asked, the two finalists as well as Anuj who returned to the pavilion, concurred on the pressure and urge to win the title in the early months, had indeed created a bonding among them. “Irrespective of who wins, we will remain friends,” was their unanimous refrain. Sounds like a rather sweet lyric, ain’t that? Well then, let the music begin...

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Thursday, April 20, 2006

ALISHA COMING





ALISHA FOR FINAL

She’s won every award in town for the song of 2005 and now, Alisha Chinai is going to sing Kajra re for the first time on stage. The occasion is the grand finale of Indian Idol 2 where the two contenders Karunya and Sandeep will join in with their last performance before the winner is announced. “Both the singers are incredibly talented and it would be great to find out how well they sing Kajra re,” Alisha told Metro.

Even though she hasn’t been following the talent hunt, Alisha has liked whatever little she’s heard of the two finalists. “I think shows like Indian Idol are a great opportunity for singers to make a name for themselves,” she said.

As for her own singing, Alisha is very clear that she doesn’t want to be part of every Bollywood soundtrack. “I have been choosy about my projects and that helps me come up with quality work,” she smiled. You can check out Alisha performing live with Karunya and Sandeep this Saturday, 8 pm on Sony. Also making an appearance in the finale would be Ishaa Koppikar. And the star guest? Kajol!

n She is awaiting two releases in the next few weeks — Uns, the Hindi film co-starring Sanjay Kapoor and Sudhangshu Pandey, and Taposhya, the Bengali remake of Mumtaz-Rajesh Khanna’s Aaina. In one she plays a strong woman who wants to walk out of her marriage, in the other she’s an all-sacrificing bread-earner who turns to prostitution to support her family.

But before the big screen takes over, Rituparna Sengupta (picture right by Aranya Sen) took time out to dabble in dance, a favourite activity apart from acting. The actress shot for Rabindranath Tagore’s dance drama Shapmochan, to be aired on ETV on May 14 as part of the bard’s birthday celebrations. It is presented by her production company Bhabna Aaj O Kaal.

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LAST PERFORMANCES


With the postponement of Indian Idol Finale to April 22nd, the Final TwoN.C. Karunya and Sandeep Acharya were asked to lock horns for one last battle! The only hitch though was the fact that both finalists had to carry an entire episode on their own accord!

I read in a newspaper daily here that N.C. Karunya was a bit upset with the postponement and I could certainly understand why! I will explain that later, but for now – let us address the postponement for a second or two!

Many have come up with the notion that since Sandeep was winning in Voting Battle, this was a drastic move made by Sony to ensure Karunya gets the needed votes!

Some others claimed that this was desperate move by Sony in order to milk the gullible Indian voters’ money!

I however believe that the reason for postponement was much more simpler, April 22nd is a Saturday – so the ratings would be high! Also, I think that in India nothing screams success, if there is no celebrity audience present at such shows!

Having said that I want the members here to prepare themselves for one of the two eventual points that this board would witness after the finale!

1) If Karunya Loses – be prepared to read statements akin to, “I Told You So!
2) If Karunya Wins – be prepared to read statements akin to, “The Voting Was Rigged!

Now, shall we move to N.C. Karunya Night?

Ok!

Now, I have too much spare time and hence, I keep on finding silly coincidences! The latest one takes the cake! When I created the Virtual Finale – I somehow changed the rankings and placed Karunya ahead of Sandeep – the last two episodes of Indian Idol also changed the ranking and placed Karunya ahead of Sandeep! No wonder, my friends in real life call me spooky!

Anyway, I must warn members who love Karunya to understand me, because what I am about to say might not sit well with them! I am often criticized that I favour Karunya by so called supporters of Sandeep, but I think if such individuals read the harsh words I had for Karunya in the past would not call me biased! Well, I am not posting anything to please anyone – I am posting what I see, hear, and feel! And frankly speaking Karunya Night was very under-whelming!

The show started with a stupid enacting of Hindi Movie or Western Movie cliché of sizing up the competition with voice-overs! Seriously, who comes up with such crappy clichés?

One half (Aman Verma) of the Gruesome Twosome AKA Aman Verma and Mini Mathur informed the audience that the Two Finalists were waging a final war and first move would be made by N.C. Karunya and on the next day, Sandeep would retaliate!

Aman Verma then introduced the resident judges –

Anu Malik, Farah Khan and Sonu Nigam!

Aman – Where did Mini go? As if we care! Ho-hum!

Aman Verma then introduced the Guest Judge, Javed Akhtar!

Javed Saab is a poetic genius and possibly one of the best writers in India!

Aman asked Javed Saab to say some encouraging words to the Final Two!

Javed Saab gave a cricket analogy! Now, let me stop for a minute and confess that I hate cricket! I find it extremely boring! I often say, “Cricket sounds like a very bad poetry by T.S. Eliot!

Anyway, Javed Saab said that making ninety runs is difficult enough, but the ten runs required for a century are even tougher and it remains to be seen who makes the century now!

Ok, I will admit that Javed Saab can make a boring game sound real exciting with his words!

Oh yeah, he wished the best to both competitors!

The show started with Sandeep’s Challenge to Karunya! Oy!

Sandeep wanted Karunya to sing a soft ballet, originally sung by Sonu Nigam – “Ab Mujhe Raat Din”!

I will admit – technically, the song was rendered well, but I somehow just did not care for it! It was a boring song as far as I was concerned! I don’t know – I found the entire song, very mediocre and though I am sure Karunya must have done justice to it, I was not impressed!

Judging started with Sandeep Acharya, who said that Karunya performed better than he expected and when Aman asked him how Sandeep would rate the performance from 1 to 10 – he said 10! I think everything is a round figure as far as Sandeep is concerned! When Aman asked him who might do better justice to the given song, Sandeep said that he was more capable! Talk about innocence and simplicity!

Sonu Nigam stated that the song was rendered well, but Karunya did not enunciate some words correctly! He stated that to be a great singer Karunya must learn enunciation as soon as possible!

Anu Malik said that Karunya’s tension was quite evident and he needs to lighten up or his tension might work negatively for him!

Farah Khan said that Karunya could not grab her attention and her eyes wondered to the dancers (who were terrible – mind you!) who were dancing around him! She also asked him about his health! Ok, call me insensitive, but at this stage I don’t want any warrior to come with excuses – so you have a cold – fine! I don’t want to hear about it! To me what matters most is how one sings – I am in no mood to listen to sob stories! Sorry! Although, I do realize that Farah brought it up – I still think it was unnecessary!

Javed Saab said there were merits and demerits to be the last person to say something! Merit was, how much one can delete, and demerit was thinking of something new to say! He did not waste words and simply said that he agreed with Sonu Nigam regarding the enunciation as he too was disturbed by the “Kh” sound!

Aman reminded that Karunya was well received in Hyderabad and Karunya said that his home-state treated him so grandly that he was humbled! Then they showed a clip of him visiting his mum’s office where he spent his early childhood in childcare! He introduced the two ladies who were his nannies!

The second theme was Indi-Pop – after Virtual Finale – don’t you think I should be hired by Idol people?

Ok, I will say this – I give an award to Karunya for taking on the Great Sufi Maestro Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saab with “Afreen Afreen” penned by Javed Saab!

It was a brave attempt! However, in my opinion this song was way way bigger than Karunya! Look, I am an ardent fan of the Ustad and in that vein; I found numerous flaws in the presentation! The Sargams itself can kill any good singer! Yes, Karunya managed to rework the Sargams well to suit himself, but at this stage, such a risky move is almost akin to suicide as far as my thinking goes! Look, don’t get me wrong – he gets props for trying, but at the end of it all – it was just that – a trying effort!

Javed Saab confessed that the song brought back memories of the great Ustad as the album was released just before the Ustad passed away prematurely!

Anu Malik said that Karunya came back with a bang as Karunya knew that this was his forte, he came with great confidence and that he did not care for the critique as he knew he would perform well!

Farah Khan said that forget the dancers even if Lisa Ray was performing next to Karunya – her eyes would just feast on Karunya!

Sonu Nigam said – it was a good performance, but unlike Farah, his eyes would feast on Lisa Ray, while he listened to Karunya!

Aman asked Karunya about his trip to Kolkata and the audience saw him having a jam session with the first lady of Indi-Pop, Usha Uthup! I love; no make that I am in love with Usha Uthup! I strongly suggest to all the members to catch her act at least once in your life! She is so effortless that I am rather amazed that she is not that big with the masses! Oh yeah, he managed to get a great response from the people of Bengal as well! One gal said that Karunya was the best and Karunya confessed that the gal is question screamed in Telugu that she loved him!

The Third Theme was Patriotic Song! Ok, so we missed this segment in first two finales, but Venkat mentioned it in nick of time!

Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon”! This was a brilliant presentation! I have nothing negative to say about this performance! It had soul and it was touching and it had the pain that anyone with a sense of patriotism can feel!

Anu Malik said that it was a brilliant performance and rendered poetry (if you can call it that) for Karunya – which almost killed me!

Farah Khan said she loved the performance or something like that!

Javed Saab said that any artiste – be it writer, singer, painter can be judged on two things – his presentation skills and his soul – spirit! He said he knew that Karunya had the presentation skills, but this song proved that he had the required soul – spirit!

Sonu Nigam said this song brought Karunya back! It was his favourite performance, but he said that Karunya missed great moments of Rafi Saab and suggested that Karunya should listen to the song again and realize what he missed!

Javed Saab said it was unfair to ask a newcomer to be Rafi Saab! As an upcoming star, Karunya gave a great performance!

Aman asked Karunya how was he patriotic! And Karunya said that he hated people who criticized anything Indian – he hated people using patriotic songs as ring-tones on their mobile! Sonu interrupted him and asked him why can’t people use patriotic songs for ring-tones? Why was it wrong? Karunya said that these people halted the tune midway to answer the phone! Visibly Sonu was stumped!

They showed both Karunya and Sandeep working with Lalit of Jatin – Lalit fame on a Fanaa song – “Subhaan Allah”! Which they would perform on the D-Day! Lalit wished them best luck!

The last theme was Folk Oriented Film Song! We had that in our Virtual Finale!

Karunya performed “Prem Jaal” adequately and although I hated the choice – he performed it rather well!

Farah Khan stated that this performance proved one thing that Karunya was extremely versatile!

Sonu Nigam stated that he loved Karunya’s performance!

Anu Malik asked Karunya, what he wanted to be, a Singer or Indian Idol? Karunya honestly replied Indian Idol, thus provoking Anu Malik to render yet another poetry!

Javed Saab just said that it was a brilliant performance!

When Aman asked Javed Saab to finally comment – I had no idea whether Aman was asking him to recite poetry or what!

Javed Saab finally said that if whatever Anu Malik recited had a meter or rhythm, it would be poetry! Unfortunately, his so-called poetry missed both! Ouch, BURN!

Sonu Nigam stated that he loved Karunya’s answer to Anu Malik’s question – saying it reminded him of the dedication Arjun had when he could see nothing but the eye of the sparrow!

Then they showed a clip of Sandeep and Karunya roaming the streets of Mumbai gathering votes! It was rather stupid – if you ask me!

Last – Sandeep and Karunya performed a medley in a face off situation! Nothing great to write home about!

After that Sonu said that he was given love notes everywhere he went addressing Karunya and said I hope that these gals just did not send love-notes – I hope they are voting for Karunya as well!

Javed Saab was asked to join the Final Two on the stage and Javed Saab handed Karunya the note given to him by Sonu stating, “This was the first time, I am asked to deliver a love-note that I never wrote!”

Javed Saab said that one should take inspiration from Bhagwat Gita and be like a leaf floating in water stream, which has half side drenched in water and other half dry! He said one should know how much should one attach to something and how much detached should one be!

Javed Saab also stated something that most should consider and what I am screaming from the get go! He said no one should send in votes, because they sympathize, because if one promotes a person who is not really able – they are not doing him any favour! The higher you put a person, the greater the fall and if he is not a talented individual – he would surely fall!

Please take Anuj Sharma’s example – he reached Final Three and walked away without any contracts, while people like Monali Thakur, Meenal Jain, Antara Mitra and Amey Date walked away with at least a promise of better tomorrow!

The Top Two sang “Sandeshe Aate Hai” bringing back memories of Monali! Sonu Nigam joined in and Anu was desperate to join him, but as soon as Anu started singing – the song came to an abrupt end! Again, Karunya drowned Sandeep!

Javed Saab said it was rather interesting that while it was a fact that he wrote the song – the music director, the singer and the choreographer were all present on the judging table!

All on all, I thought Karunya Night did not deliver as much as I hoped it would! True, Karunya did not suck that badly, but considering his winning streak, this was a step behind and that rather troubled me!

I can now understand why Karunya did not favour the postponement, but if I know Sandeep and I think I do, he carrying the entire night is something so dreadful that I am already cringing! Let’s hope that Sandeep proves me wrong!

I know many individuals are not going to like my opinion on this show, but I always report what I feel! Sue me!

Let the discussion begin!

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ARBAZ ON INDIAN IDOL



ARBAZ ON INDIAN IDOL
THE NIGHT" to crown the nation's AGLA INDIAN IDOL is just 3 days away...BUT before that one last chance was given to the finalists to display their talent...woo the audiences..their judges...so that maximum number of votes can be won. After Karunya's final gala, it was Sandeep's final and last chance to once and for all gather as many votes as possible...did Sandeep manage to make a difference? Is he finally known as a singer at par with Karunya now? Is Karunya able to face the competition that Sandeep's huge fan following is challenging?

Bollywood macho man ARBAAZ KHAN judged Sandeep's performance in his final gala, "I think Sandeep will be the Indian Idol as his soft voice and pleasant personality punched with the X factor in him is very attractive...Karunya might be a superior singer but Indian Idol is not just about singing but someone who woul dmake the nation sing along." said Arbaaz.

In one of the most touching moments of Indian Idol, a stage which brings together the entire nation on one platform and moves people to tears and a feeling to participate which all the celebrity judges are eager for made macho man Arbaaz Khan sing along with the Karunya and Sandeep. While Karunya and Sandeep dedicated Arbaaz's movie song "Hello Brother" to him, he couldnt resist singing along with them....even though we quite agree with Arbaaz himself that his singing is best behind bathroom doors...

But our TOP 2 finalists' singing talent is too precious to be hidden behind closed doors....but who does the nation want should actually come out of the shadows and sing for us? Everyone's chosen their favourite so when Sonu Nigam told Sandeep that his mother was a great fan of the Bikaner Boy and that every Monday and Tuesday she would regiously watch Indian Idol for a glimpse of Sandeep..the Indian Idol finalist was at a loss of words and was overwhelmed with emotions

Friday, April 14, 2006

KAJOL ON INDIAN IDOL





Kajol on Indian Idol II finals

Indian Idol II has definitely caught the fancy of the nation. All eyes are on who the next idol will be.

The show has also been a big hit because of all the celebrity judges that it features. For the final round of the show, the producers have roped in Kajol as the guest judge. The grand finale will be held on April 18 in which the two finalists Karunya and Sandeep will compete against each other. The voting for the two began on April 10 at 9:00 pm, after the gala round. It will go on till 9:40 pm on April 18. The winner of the coveted title will get a reward of Rs.1 crore, a contract with Sony-BMG and also a Maruti Baleno car.

Best of Indian Idol: Click here for exclusive videos, contests, message boards and more

Stars like Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Will Smith, Fardeen Khan, Viveik Oberoi and Shahid Kapoor have all made special appearances on the show. And with Kajol for the finals, we think the producers saved the best for the last!




Two much

Despite intense competition and alleged favouritism, the two Idol hopefuls have got their act together

Namrata Sharma

IT’S light, camera and final action for the Indian Idol 2 finalists — Sandeep Acharya and the judges’ favourite N C Karunya. After six gruelling months, the stage is set, the crown is out and the battle between north and south India (Acharya is from Bikaner while Karunya is from Hyderabad) is all set to begin.

We are at City Studio, Kamala Mills, in Lower Parel where the final episode is being shot and Suneil Shetty has been invited as the celebrity guest. The audience, too, is geared with slogans, pictures of their idol, loud cheers, and dhol beats for the denouement of this musical reality show.

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Karunya is dressed in a yellow tee, blue denims and a green corduroy jacket, and is shuffling between make-up and hairstyling. ‘‘I have planned nothing special for the finale,’’ he says, making nothing of his 24-hour practice sessions. ‘‘Although I have put in quite an effort for my choreography and performance, the emphasis is on singing with maximum emotion.’’ Acharya is more candid about his preps. ‘‘I practice for about two hours a day and I focus on my voice primarily.’’

So is competition giving them sleepless nights? ‘‘No, it’s healthy and only encourages me to give my best,’’ says Acharya. Karunya is all praise for his competition. ‘‘Sandeep has a charming smile and a sweet voice,’’ he says.

Karunya also has Andhra Pradesh bigwigs backing him. ‘‘We went to Hyderabad recently and the response was overwhelming. I met the chief minister, the mayor and actor Nagarjuna, and they all helped me in voting pleas.’’

The show has had its share of controversies and criticism. ‘‘Although it can be said that I am the judges’ favourite, I have constantly been among the bottom three in garnering votes. So, even if we say that favouritism does exist, I don’t think it affects the competition,’’ states Karunya.

But Abhijeet Sawant has been idle after becoming the first Indian Idol. Does that deter their drive? ‘‘Good talent will always be rewarded and Abhijit will do great,’’ says Acharya. Karunya is oblivious. ‘‘I was down south and really didn’t keep a tab on such things.’’

But the competition has got them a new bunch of pals. Karunya promises to keep in touch with all 11 competitors . ‘‘I have their numbers and they call me regularly.’’

Highlights
Sandeep
Quirk
Keeps a small idol of goddess Saraswati in his pocket.
Fanfare A young girl from Lucknow printed his name 1,000 times on a T-shirt
Worst and Best Went off-key while singing O Mitwa. The best was Sonu Nigam complimenting his voice, saying it was the best
Celeb Call Fardeen Khan saying, ‘‘You rocked man!’’
Top 3 Idol women Yasha-shree, Meenal and Antara

Karunya
Quirk
Keeps an Om locket in his pocket and prays to goddess Kalki
Fanfare A mother-daughter duo in Delhi jumped the barricades to see him
Worst and Best Had sung Chak de, which is not a performance number. The best was when Sonu Nigam stood up and applauded
Celeb Call When Dia Mirza said, ‘‘If you don’t win, I’ll stop believing in Indian Idol’’
Top 3 Idol women Monali, Meenal and Antara

Karunya with Usha Uthap





Meet Karunya's special date!

by Subhash K Jha

The Indian Idol finalist Karunya is on a new high. On Tuesday he landed in Kolkata for a free-for-all concert, and headed straight to meet the ageless crooner Usha Uthup.

Karunya went to meet Usha Uthup at her studio. Recalling the meeting Karunya says, "I was very excited about meeting Usha Uthup for several reasons. She is such a talented singer.She sings in South Indian languages and also Hindi very fluently. And let's not forget, she's is a south Indian like me."

Usha Uthup welcomes Karunya waremly. "People of Kolkata are very patient and enjoy music like no one else, all good artists enjoy performing in Kolkata...so enjoy performing here..and give your best performance to the people of this city!" Usha exulted.

She gifted Karunya a stole with Bengali words printed on it and told him to keep it always as it's a very lucky stole

She offered sandesh (bengali sweets) to Karunya and asked him not to worry if he doesn't win the title and to always remember that she too had never won a prize in her entire life but had never given up hopes and had put in all her efforts and had made a name for herself

Karunya sang songs for Usha Uthup in Rajasthani, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi and Kannada

Said Usha Uthup, "This is the hallmark of a true singer"

Usha Uthup taught Karunya a Bengali song which he decided to sing at the concert in Kolkata. The song…."Kkolkata kolkata don't worry kolkata".

Karunya has no reason to worry.





15 Secounds Fame

Fifteen seconds of fame


- The lure of celebritydom

As the country gets ready to welcome yet another superstar once the results of Indian Idol 2 gets announced within a few days, the one trend that will surely witness an unprecedented rise with every such victory is the rise in the number of teenagers, who want to achieve instant success and grab their 15 seconds of fame on television.

Neha Singh (name changed) a student from a reputed city school travels to and from Ranchi frequently to participate in a weekly television show. The reason is simple, her parents cannot afford to look after a family and Neha at an young age is chipping in to save the family in times of crisis. Moreover, the 15 seconds of fame on the small screen is too hard a temptation to resist.

Genuine cases like Neha can be one in a million, but the fallout of reality television has surely been on the teenagers today.

Urge to get instant fame, money and a classy lifestyle in a metro, such dreams have given many teenagers a reason to run after television and silver screen, often at a price.

With every success story like that of, Abhijit Sawant, Debojit Saha and Amit Sana, there are many other unknown faces that never get to see the arclights. When many enter the tinsel town they are unaware that these professions require as many hard hours of work and toil as any other. Therefore, the chances of a burnout is quicker and more prominent.

According to a study conducted in the United Kingdom, the lure of celebritydom is so great among teenagers that almost one in 10 would readily abandon their education if they had the chance to appear on television. Although the odds of hitting the jackpot through reality television are 30 million to one — greater than those for winning the lottery — a considerable chunk of teenagers believe they are ready to take the leap of faith.

With the recent generation fed with reality shows, big money, the poll of nearly 800 youngsters in the 16 to 19 age group, commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), found that money and success were their main motivating factors. Experts feel: “For many young people, trying to be famous through reality television can be tempting, particularly if they are unsure of the direction they want their lives to take.” And the stories of Richard Branson, J.K. Rowling and David Beckham whose almost over-night fame is alluring enough.

Question remains how “glamourous” are these shows in real-life. City girl Jigisha Chanda who had participated in two rounds of a successful music shows on a popular Bengali music channel has a different story to tell.

“The pressure to perform and to prove oneself is tremendous mostly resulting in depression, its almost like a rat race. Nervous breakdowns are a very common thing, but at last it all depends on how a participant takes it into his stride,” says Jigisha.

P. Ghoshal, a city musician who had participated in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa about two years ago seconds her opinion. “The reality that lies behind the camera, is totally different from what is being shown on television and the hardwork that goes behind it is tremendous. There is no glamour behind these so-called glamourous shows,” says Ghoshal.

But that is hardly deterring millions of teenagers across the globe, who rather hit the bullseye with one shot.

“I think education is important but for me I do not think a 9-to-5 job would be good enough. I would not like to go to the same job every day. I do not think you can become really rich with a normal job. I think you can just be comfortable. When you are really rich you can do whatever you want. Being comfortable is not the same thing,” rues a school student from Jamshedpur.

Though leading city doctors refute such cases as one in a million and not such an alarming trend in the city, but Aatrayee Chandra, psychologist at Telco Hospital recalls a particular case that she had to deal with recently.

She recalls the case of a teenaged girl, who wanted to be a model, but was not ready to put in any hardwork in the form of exercises or going in for a healthy diet. Instead, she blamed her mother for all her failures.

“The girl’s mother had some skin problem, which she inherited. She kept on blaming her mother for her inability to perform,” says Aatrayee.

When brought to the hospital, the girl was told about the major pitfalls of choosing a career in modelling, but what startled most was the desperation the she showed in achieving her dreams.

“She was completely aware of the kind of exploitation one has to go through. But she was ready for everything,” says Aatrayee. This type of obsession leads to a state of extreme depression if there is failure of some sort. Doctors feel that the only way to break this stupor is to show these youngsters the real picture behind the camera.

And then there is counselling. Experts feel that counselling can help in a great extent to solve these problems and make students come out of a make-belief world. “In most cases, the craze leads to extreme depression and the only treatment left thereafter is treating depression, which in itself is a long drawn process,” added Aatrayee.

Nilanjana Ghosh Choudhury



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Monday, April 10, 2006

Sunil shetty on indian idol



Suniel Shetty in Indian Idol 2

The “Maha Sangram” of Indian Idol Season 2 hits television screens across the nation as Karunya and Sandeep enter the final battle for the coveted “Agla Idol” title. From this round onwards, the voting lines will be open for the viewers for one final time, before the votes are counted and the king of Indian television be crowned. The celebrity judge for the show actor Suniel Shetty brought the glitz and glamour to the stage as the two finalists battled it out for the Top Spot.The final episodes are promising to be exciting beyond our expectations with surprises being thrown at us at every second! The appearance of action hero Suneil Shetty had the audience screaming for him and the audiences were even more zapped by the sudden introduction of CID star Shivaji Satam and Ek Ladki Anjani Si star Arzoo Govitrikar who had come to meet their favourite Indian Idol finalist, KARUNYA! Words of wisdom by the Bollywood action hero to the TOP 2 were, “You are brilliant but always remember that you are supposed to love people and use things but with success you should not start loving things and using people!” WELL SAID……the magical moments of the show were enhanced by their heart wrenching performances…Karunya’s fan following seems to be increasing by the minute with Bollywood stars and television personalities vying for him and announcing him to be their favourite. “My daughter, my son, my entire family religiously follows this show and is a HUGE fan of Karunya’s…so for me my next Indian Idol is Karunya! Though I fear for Karunya as the southern part of India does not watch much hindi shows, so he might lose out on their votes…and Sandeep as a competitor is very strong. The boy from Bikaner has impressed me immensely as well” said an excited Suneil who was completely bowled over by the TOP 2’s performances. Sandeep too did not have any reason to be let down as the frantic audience which had come to witness the Final Gala between the TOP 2 was screaming and shouting for Sandeep as they would for the biggest rockstar of the nation! The show which is full of surprises, continued with its box of surprises and finally the TOP 2 sung an extremely melodious and sweet sung composed by the Music Directors Sandeep Chowta and Sameer especially for the one and only Indian Idol! The song, “Jana hai Mujhko jana hai” was an extremely melodious song, which tugged at the hearts of all present on the sets. The judges were left dumbstruck at the beauty of the song and the brilliance with which the singers had sung the song! This song will be part of the Album which the Agla Indian Idol will sing.

RAVINDER RAVI ALBUM





Indian Idol contestant Ravinder Ravi releases debut album `jatt lutiya gaya' By Karan Kapoor,

Ludhiana: Call it destiny or a true rags to riches story, but the fact remains that Ravinder Ravi, who started life as a wall painter is today a pop idol. The journey to fame started with the reality talent hunt show –Indian Idol, and Ravinder recently made his mark in the world of commercialmusic with the launch of his debut album `jatt lutiya gaya'. lady look came knocking at his door, soon enough and in one giant leap, he made the transition from his one-room tenement to the glittering world of show biz. Illiterate, for having never attended a school in his life, today, Ravi stands as a real `idol' for the young, and wants that more such platforms like the one that catapulted him to stardom and fame, be provided to help others display their hidden talents. Performing at his hometown to tell the world about his debut album, he says, is a dream come true. “Every person wants to move forward, but because of certain cramping conditions didn't sometimes they don’t succeed. It was the same with me as well. The television talent hunt shows have been encouraging the singers, who were facing hurdles. I personally think such shows must go on,” says Ravinder Ravi. It was `Arjun Music World', a new music company that launched Ravinder's voice worldwide. Starring former Miss Norway Anne Lena Hansen and model Amandeep Dhaliwal, the song `Norwaych Lutiya Gaya' was shot in Barcelona in Spain. The album of eight songs is made up of romantic, qawali, emotional and songs in quick tempo and beat. While `Indian idol' provided him the platform to be recognised as an upcoming star, it was the album `Jatt Lutiya Gaya', which made him rule the hearts of his audience, and in spite of his pre-eminent position in the music world today, he has not forgotten his struggling days. “I even had no money to buy a bicycle and people were not very friendly. My relatives too ignored me. Now all that has changed and everyone is so co-operative and relations, so loving,” he said. Some people have all the luck in the world. And there are others who have none. Despite their best efforts, they can only fall back on their fate. Ravinder Ravi is one of the few who have had luck favour them, and he aspires to derive the best out of it.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

LAST TWO FINALIST


LAST TWO FINALIST


April 5: As the Indian Idol 2 talent-hunt approaches its grand finale, the two finalists - N C Karunya and Sandeep Acharya - are upbeat about their chances of winning the coveted title.
A crore rupee of prize money with a one-year musical contract with Sony TV will be the treasure of the winner.
The TV audience in not only India but even abroad are going crazy behind the realty show 'Indian Idol - 2'
Credibility at a premium
At the same time there has been almost a national-level debate on the selection pattern of the reality shows. On the one hand, there was that shocking episode of the judges Anu Malik, Farah Khan and Sonu Nigam walking out of the show protesting over the elimination of a certain talented artiste with their decision being overruled by the phone-in voting.
On the other hand, the credibility of voting is in question. And it is not without basis. The nation's voting can be influenced and certainly manipulated. Any contestant or his lobby can financially sponsor the SMS's from across the country and tilt the balance in his favour. This is a serious matter that has to be taken into account by the TV channels.
Further, if the phone-in ballot rules the show, what are the judges there for? No wonder Anu Malik came out with a biting remark which almost sounded like the judges were made to look like fools. It is a different matter if some cynics feel that even the protest walk-out was stage-managed so as to boost the hype of the show.
At the end of it all, there are even more cynics who insist that most Indians who have already become addicted to the idiot box and turned into couch potatoes are now become 'Indian Idles' under the influence of 'Indian Idol'.
As two considered the best have reached the finals through the public vote, let's hear what the contestants say.

N C Karunya
Date of Birth: March 1, 1986 Place of Birth: Hyderabad Currently Residing in: Hyderabad Education: B-Tech (Third Year) in Electronics & Communications Family: Father, Mother & Younger Sister
Karunya says "I am very confident about myself. But being confident isn't enough. I also need public support.
Do people really say I'll be the Indian Idol? There's a lot of difference between what's said and the voting pattern.
Why, I don't know. Yes, I know the judges love me. I am very thankful to them. No matter what the results would be, I intend to pursue a career in singing in Mumbai.
I gave up my engineering and came from Hyderabad only to become an Indian Idol not to be the first or second runner-up. But if I don't win the title, I won't lose confidence. I'll think God has bigger plans for me.
Fan following? It's suddenly on me and I have no choice but to deal with it. It does feel nice. But the attention embarrasses me. I wonder what my parents back home in Hyderabad would be thinking."


Sandeep Acharya
Date of Birth: February 4, 1984 Place of Birth: Bikaner Currently Residing in: Bikaner Education: Bachelor of Science Family: Father, Mother, 2 Sisters & a Brother
Sandeep says "Yes, I am nervous about the outcome. But the stress to perform isn't that much any longer. I know I have made it to the top three. I am doing my best. I consider the competition to be really tough.
I am from Bikaner and have been struggling in Mumbai for three years. My aim is to be a playback singer. My struggle to sing well will continue even after Indian Idol."

ANUJ IS OUT



Anuj Says Bye to Indian Idol 2
rediff News
April 4 is a sad day for Anuj Sharma, who has been voted out of Indian Idol 2. It leaves viewers with just two candidates to choose from -- Karunya N C from Hyderabad and Sandeep Acharya from Bikaner. We spent a few hours on the sets of the show this morning. And it was a touching experience. Karunya's name was called out as the bottom two of the three. Everybody felt bad, the audience screaming in protest. He was asked to sing a song just in case he didn't make it to the final three. Knowing it could be his last performance, he picked Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Piya re Piya re. Like most of his previous performances, it was superb.
The suspense then started to build. Anuj being dropped wasn't exactly a surprise, considering he was in the bottom two a week ago as well. Farah Khan had even said, at the time, that his reaching the top three was surprising. When it was announced that Anuj was in the bottom two, he was upset, but didn't show it much. He too was also asked to sing a song, and he picked Chala Jaata Hoon Kisi Ki Dhun Mein from Mere Jeevan Saathi. It wasn't as good as Karunya's performance.
Later, after arguments between judges and the host on different issues, Anuj's exit was announced. He struggled to hold back his tears, but failed. He said he wanted to sing one last song for the audience and his friends, but he couldn't manage for a while, choked as he was by emotion. When he finally sang Hum Hain Iss Pal Yahan from Kisna, his fellow finalists joined him, holding each other tight.
After the show, Sonu Nigam voiced his opinion. "I was worried about Karunya and thought he would be dropped. When I go on outdoor assignments, people tell me they agree with our decisions, but that is not shown in the voting results, which is shocking. We always thought Karunya, Amey and Sandeep would be in the final three, but Amey was dropped. So, you never know."
On Anuj being voted out, Farah Khan said, "I think he is a sweet boy and he has been lucky. Even though he was out in the piano round, we brought him back. He shouldn't react bitterly. In fact, he should learn from this and improve."
"None of the girls made it to the final three. I was expecting at least one. Being men, we would want girls to sing in front of us," added Nigam, laughing. "But, jokes apart, I think it's a chauvinist society. Even girls don't vote for girls." Speaking on the same issue, Anu Malik said, "I felt very bad that all the women were voted out. I think women are the best thing to happen to the world. They are better in so many ways, and are focused. Why shouldn't they be Indian Idols?"
Farah and Anu also felt that people have already decided who the next Indian Idol will be. They maintained that this made them feel relieved.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

RAHUL VAIDYA IN KUWAIT

INDIAN IDOL FAME RAHUL VAIDYA IN KUWAIT

The final countdown begins for the most awaited entertainment programme - " INDIA DAY " to be held on firday,31 March 2006 at the Doha Entertainment City From 10.00 am onwards.

This whole day programme is held to bring together the Indian Community for a day full of fun and frolic with some of the lastest new rides at Entertainment City and promises a surprise package for the forthcoming event.

The star attraction will be Rahul Vaidya of Indian Idol 2005 fame and Indi-Pop star Sukhdev Singh who will perform for the second time by a popular demand. The event will also feature for thw first time a well know mimicry artist from India.

The event will be a fulldays entertainment with group dance, competitons , stalls serving a variety of Indian delicacies with lots of promotions, handucraft stalls and many more surprises. There will be Gifts for all people of every age.

For Futher details conact:
Hilary Mathias 9636206 /
4879455 / 4879545

LAST THREE

Karunya is the Indian Idol in the true sense


Indian Idol 2 could simply not get bigger and better and hotter than this. The three thunder balls � Karunya, Sandeep and Anuj of Indian Idol 2 were on fire during their 10th Gala Performance. The audience could not control themselves when their much-loved TOP 3 stood in between them and started singing the evergreen song �Amar Akbar Anthony�.

Stunning performances punched with brilliant singing made the Indian Idol stage come alive like NEVER BEFORE. Famous music directors of the recent Bluffmaster and Salaam Namaste fame VISHAL and SHEKHAR were floored by the jaw-dropping performances and talent of the TOP 3 especially everyone�s favourite 19- year old KARUNYA from Hyderabad. For the first time in the galas the finalists sang songs chosen by the judges and India�s greatest singer Kishore Kumar�s songs in the second round.

With each passing episode viewers and judges are witnessing better and better talent�is there no end to such perfection? The 10th gala performance it seemed to be THE BEST Performance of the TOP 3 with the audience screaming and shouting for the TOP 3. The fear of elimination in the final leg of the competition is so high that the effort levels have reached its very peak. The perfectionists, Vishal and Shekhar were as awed by the fire in the TOP 3 as were the Indian Idol judges, �We had heard them a lot, they sing so brilliantly but hearing them sing live is a different thrill altogether. Karunya completely bowled us over�he on the basis of today�s performance is for sure the AGLA INDIAN IDOL.�

Indian Idol judge, Sonu Nigam while thoroughly enjoying his favourite, Karunya�s performance informed the audience that during his recent world tour, he witnessed the frenzy of the people of Melbourne for the TOP 3 of Indian Idol2. �I realised that Indian Idol�s popularity has reached to the very ends of the world, people of Melbourne were crazy about the finalists and they had their favourites well in place.� said Sonu. After Karunya�s performance Sonu�s excitement and enjoyment is evident in every episode, but in the 10th gala round, Kaurnya�s performance shook Sonu�s very roots as well and he was left speechless. When host Mini Mathur asked for his comments on Karunya�s performance he said, �Now I don�t have any words left to praise him so instead�� and so saying he stood up and gave a standing ovation to Karunya.

Well, the anxiety and the excitement does not get hotter than this. India�s biggest Talent hunt is at its peak as it rolls into its final episodes. With the whole country rooting for the three young boys on the stage, they know that their future lies in the hands of their audiences. As the competition heats up to the highest degrees, stay tuned and keep voting to catch the action and emotion as it unfolds only on Sony Entertainment Television�s Indian Idol 2 Mondays and Tuesdays at 9 pm.

Songs to watch out for this week:
Sandeep: Is pyaar ko main kya naam doon Zindagi ek Safar (Kishore Kumar song)
Anuj: Fiza Chala jata hun kisike dhun mein (Kishore Kumar�s song)
Karunya: Bunty aur Babli Hum the who thi aur samaan rangeen samajh gaye na (Kishore Kumar song)

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