INDIAN ? YES. IDOL ?? PROBABLY NOT.





After a great start to season 1 Indian Idol has been going steadily downhill. Season 3 had a nepali winner in Prashant Tamang but as even the most Gorkhakli-ko-chora among us will admit, his singing was mediocre at best and the only reason he won was neglected nepali pride rather than artistic merit.


The judges too have been going from bad to worse.


First it was Udit Narayan confusing himself (and everyone else) with his History and Geography and then you had a tone deaf (but very pretty) Sonali Bendre who looked more lost than the contestants.

So this year it’s a bloody relief than we have great judges - with big egos (Anu) and even bigger noses (Salim) – and a high quality of singers.


But then again, as always they are looking at the ‘complete package’ and not necessarily 'singers' so anything can happen.

Let the games begin.



Shashi Suman, Patna


Shashi is allegedly a classicaly trained, and he started off with what was possibly the best performance to date when he sang Jaane Tu. But after that it has been downhill for him too. He’s still not bad but he has yet to be outstanding like the first time. He is also eminently forgettable. I just found out that he has also provided the backing vocals on More Piya from Rajneeti

Winning Chances 65% : Too boring to be a complete package.



Sreeram, Hyderabad



One of the best and seems to be on the upward curve with his singing. Spoilt it when he sang Rahman's Guzaarish, improved vastly with Pritam's Tu Hi Meri Shabb and then yesterday nailed the Rabba Rabba from Monsoon Wedding. And what a performance it was. The best singer of the 10.


Winning Chances 45% : Why? Because people from the south have far better things to do than vote for Indian idol. Don’t believe me?? Ask Karunya.




Bhoomi Trivedi, Baroda



The ultimate hindi heartland girl. She can sing western numbers but falters when given a purely hindi song. Pretty and non-controversial.

Winning Chances 80% : Pretty. Check. Young. Check. Good Voice. Check.
Whats not to like.?




Shivam Pathak, UP



A big fan of Sonu Nigam and sings almost as well. He’s very clever (or lucky) in the choice of songs. They have all been audience friendly (including yesterday’s Khaike Paan). Judges love him.

Winning Chances 80% : Judges love him and till now it looks like the audience loves him too. But he better beware of the Anu Malik curse. Whoever Anu praises the audience seems to love to vote out. Not because they love the contestant less but probably because they hate Anu more.




Yashraj Kapil, New Delhi



Started well. Great sympathy factor with the visual of his father kneeling in front of the judges still fresh. Then he started to sing. Not great at all. Then he began to talk ('I compete with only myself' he said) and it got worse.
Was getting the tween girl vote for his boyish looks and then last week he decided to show Swaroop how to swim and he lost all remaining ‘girly’ votes when he flaunted his ‘man-boobs’ on national television. Bad move.

Winning Chances 30% : Not a fav of the judges and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets voted out this coming week (unless the ‘madam’ from Cal goes first)



Rakesh Maini, Agra



The real dark horse in season 5. He has the good-heartland-desi-boy appeal and the most important fact is that he sings great. And consistently. He has rarely been bad and the last 2 weeks was mind blowing.
Simple and to the point. Just great singing.

Winning Chances 70% : The makeover isn’t helping him. He looks better but where’s the drama in that. If I remember both his parents are very old and both have recently had eye surgery. He needs to bring them on stage. Preferably with walking sticks. Better if they also have eye patches on. Sure winner then.



Naushad Ali Kawa, Jaipur



At every episode Naushad has been called the “Rajasthan ka ab tak ka subse handsome contestant” and even though he has not yet fallen prey to that absurd flattery his singing is beginning to falter. NO range too. But then he is eminently earnest and with the voting public that’s always a good thing.

Winning Chances 88% : Rajasthanis have been known to vote for one of their own (remember the Idol 2 winner ??) and he might just have the edge over compatriot Swaroop. And then there’s the hair. I have yet to see a reality show contestant with long hair who has lost. Think about it.



Swaroop Khan, Jaisalmer

No one can match him in folk songs. Period. But Anu (for once ) was spot on when he called him over-confident. The word I would have chosen is ‘Arrogant’ but you get the message.

He massacred Pankaj Udhas’s Chitti Aayi Hai and has come back with Nimbooda yesterday but he does seem to have taken to Bombay rather well. I have a feeling he’d have abandoned that turban of his a long time back if it hadn’t been for the votes.

Winning Chances 65% : He’s a great horse but also a one track pony. A cocky one track pony. And for Rajasthanis Naushad seems like a better bet.


Arpita Khan, Kolkata

Arpita wowed everyone with a stunning performance of Khalbali. Then she dressed in a gaudy sari to sing Bindiya Chamkegi and the only thing that image of her reminded me is of a ‘madam’ sitting in some kotha in Sonagachi. I know its not fair and I also know that its probably sexist too but like poor blind Meghna found out 2 weeks back, your look do matter.

Winning Chances 20% : She has always been in the bottom 3 and if Mr. Man-Boobs doesn’t pip her to the end then she’s definitely out this week.




Tia Kar, Mumbai


She’s the weakest singer of the lot. Big Deal.
She has been victimized and that’s made her the underdog.

She has been mocked and she’s gotten all the sympathy.

She looks hot, she can rock the smile and baby, oh baby, can she cry.
Who cares about the singing.

Winning Chances 50-50% : If her fellow contestants know better they will stop picking on her. Let her just sing. That’s the only way to get her out. Else she’ll be crying and getting the trophy.

But that’s just me.


What do you guys think???

Let me know……

Luv


Vish