Religious Indian Idol On Astha

The Indian version will enjoy a vast audience, especially among the young - regarded as key viewers by Aastha.

The show will be known initially as Religious Indian Idol.

The show is presently in the planning and pre-production stage. It is scheduled to go on air during the festival season around September.

'No losers'

Prizes include vacations at various religious sites across the country.

The producers plan on making the programme as broad-based as possible - from visiting schools and colleges across the country to launching the programme in three Indian languages.

The show hopes to emulate the success of its American counterpart

Aastha Chairman Kirit Mehta told the BBC News website they would encourage people from different backgrounds, religions, faiths and sects to take part in the programme.

"The songs will be in keeping with the profile of the channel. There will be folk music, folk dances based on festivals, classical songs based on God or philosophy or life's values, so we will have this kind of a broad classification," he said.

Bollywood dance songs will not be allowed, but should a devotional song feature in a movie, a participant will be allowed to sing that in the programme.

Mr Mehta said it would be an anchor-based show and there would be a panel of judges, but the details were still being finalised.

The winner will be chosen on the basis of the judges' decision and a public vote, but Mr Mehta maintained the show would be different from the others because there would be no losers.

"There is no competition," he said.

"It will not be like someone saying 'I am better than the other person so I have to sing and dance very well,' there will no pressure there.

"There will only be the joy of competing very honestly and frankly."

Reality shows have been popular amongst Indian audiences, especially when they feature film and television stars.

I wouldn't mind participating in such a programme Sheetal Jain

Indian versions of shows Pop Idol and Strictly Come Dancing enjoy tremendous popularity among viewers of all age groups.

Mr Mehta said it was hoped a music-based programme would draw a wide cross section of viewers in addition to the young.

The idea has caught the fancy of some youngsters.

Seventeen-year-old Jinay Savla says he would not mind participating in such a programme, and would certainly watch it.

"I think our generation believes more in God and is not afraid to show it as compared to the earlier one.

"I would love to see people sing such songs from their hearts, it would be quite an experience."

Religious discourses

Another student, Sheetal Jain, said she would also try and catch the programme whenever she could.

"I attend classes where I learns about my religion, Jainism and I think I am quite religious by nature. I wouldn't mind participating in such a programme," she said.

However, computer instructor Vandana Parekh feels religion is something personal that one "does in one's free time" so Religious Indian Idol will not draw her to the sofa.

"I don't watch any religious channel because where is the time? I go to temples every now and then and my daughter also attends religious discourses but that's as and when we can manage.

"I think such a programme would certainly create some interest among those who already view religious channels.

"There are already so many such similar programmes running on entertainment channels, I doubt if such a programme in itself would be enough to attract more viewers to a religious channel," she said.