Sony set to replicate Indian Idol's success

Sony's new reality show, Fame Gurukul, will try to cash on Indian Idol's success.

After the success of its talent search

HT Image

Indian Idol

, Sony Entertainment Television is all set to replicate the reality TV drama with another music competition

Fame

Gurukul

based on internationally successful Spanish format

Operacion

Triunfo

.

Announcing the next offering in Kolkata on Wednesday, its executive Vice-President and business head Tarun Katial said Fame Gurukul will tell the story of 14 talented singers who vie for a place in a coveted music academy for training in rendition, song writing and stage performance.

"We have chosen this format in keeping with the Indian tradition of guru-sishya and lined up a galaxy of big names from the entertainment industry to host and judge the show just as in Indian Idol," Katial said.

Sixteen contestants would be chosen from a four-phase audition beginning on May 6 in Kolkata, followed by Delhi, Indore and Mumbai.

Fourteen of them will get an opportunity to enroll in a 'gurukul' where they will live together and will be disciplined in vocal training, song writing and stage performance.

The jury, comprising lyricist Javed Akhtar, singers Shankar Mahadevan and KK Menon and the 'head-mistress' of the academy Ila Arun will choose the final winning duo of the show hosted by Mandira Bedi and Manav Kohli.

Sony has bought the format from Dutch company Endemol akin to its deal with Freemantle for Indial Idol.