They’re changing

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge has undergone many changes down the years. Bidisha Singha tells more about the new format.

Guess who’s changing? Zee TV’s flagship show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009. The singing contest has been on air for the past 13 years and the format has undergone several changes down the years. But it’s the first time that a change has been called for midway .

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Then and now
Currently, two singers from every gharana perform once every week. Out of the eight who perform, two are eliminated every weekend. In the new format, all contestants will have to sing every week. Four contestants will be eliminated instead of two. Ajay Bhalwankar, programming head, refutes rumours that the change was brought about following the show’s average ratings.

He says that it was done in accordance with the suggestions from the gharana gurus — Himesh Reshammiya, Pritam, Aadesh Srivastava and Shankar Mahadevan.

Why the sudden shift, considering the fact that the previous seasons, which followed the original format, were huge hits? Is the show feeling the heat from Star Plus’ Voice Of India, Says Bhalwankar, “It was the best time to bring about the change as it is still early days in the competition.”