A musical soiree, a dash of filmi drama

Season six of Indian Idol has begun on Sony and with it the usual country-wide auditions drama. The crowds get bigger and bigger every year; and you could be forgiven for thinking that there are more people at the auditions than there are viewers for the show.

Season six of Indian Idol has begun on Sony and with it the usual country-wide auditions drama. The crowds get bigger and bigger every year; and you could be forgiven for thinking that there are more people at the auditions than there are viewers for the show. The hordes of girls and boys waiting anxiously for their turn seem powerfully motivated — though less than their eager, bordering on desperate parents. (Who said something about parents living out their own unfulfilled dreams through their children?).

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All the candidates who cleared the auditions wept. Often, they didn’t just blink back the tears or cry a little; they broke down. One participant had been rejected a couple of years ago and said he faced much ridicule when he went back to his hometown (Banswara). He moved to a bigger town (Ahmedabad) to learn music, so that he could prepare himself for the auditions once again. (Yes, he got through).

But here’s the thing. After all the intense build-up and over-blown expectations, what happens when the show is over? There is only one winner, the other contestants fall by the wayside. But they would have tasted blood by then — the temporary but intoxicating feeling of being famous, appearing on TV for weeks on end, getting fan mail, being interviewed by the press etc etc.

If they’re incredibly lucky, a flourishing career as a playback singer awaits them. If they’re slightly lucky, a career as one more playback singer among many playback singers.

Otherwise, there are only a couple of options left for them. One is making a living doing live shows, singing their way from Bhubaneswar to Birmingham. Two, retiring hurt and getting on with their lives, their 15 minutes of fame reduced to a bitter-sweet memory. And the worst case scenario: living with disappointment and regret, unable to forget what could have been.

But frankly, should we be bothering ourselves with what happens after the lights go out? (In which case we would have to wring our hands with worry whenever we watch a TV talent contest). Or should we just enjoy the show and the music? I’m inclined towards the latter.

As for the judges — Anu Malik has settled comfortably into his assigned role of Mr Motormouth. Sunidhi Chauhan provides the glamour. Salim Merchant is the sweet and gentle foil to Anuji. Once Asha Bhonsle enters the picture, be prepared for endless bowing and scraping from both judges and contestants.

Colors’ latest fiction show, Madhubala, has opened to good ratings — and this when the serial is in its setting-up stage and the hero has not even made an entrance. The story has moved from Bihar to Mumbai, from a feudal Thakur background to the Hindi film industry. And not a day too soon — any more of actor Raj Zutshi’s over-the-top portrayal of the sadistic, slightly crazed Thakur Baldev Chaudhary and I’d have been a basket case. But now he’s been replaced in the over-the-top department by Rakhi Vijan who plays Roma, a loud, tough-talking, alcohol-loving Bollywood extra with a heart of gold. If Rakhi’s face was any more mobile, you could probably make calls from it.

But actress Drashti Dhami is quite charming as the simple, good, lower middle class heroine — and since the story revolves around her, hopefully Madhubala will turn out better than most other serials.