MTV VJ HUNT ENDS

MTV India concluded its VJ hunt last weekend with a well-coordinated event in Mumbai. 12 finalists strutted their stuff in front a galaxy of celebrities, and judges. The VJs were tested for their wackiness, their camera presence, their intelligence and sense for fashion. Leading Indian artistes including Usha Uthup, Annamika, Rahul and Raageshwari put up live performances at the event.

The climax was a stunt that the channel pulled of during the announcement of the winners. A bunch of cops arrived wielding truncheons and they went around trying to disrupt the event claiming that liquor was being served without a licence and that everyone should leave. MTV officials and attendees pleaded with and growled at the cops not to take such a drastic step but they were ignored by them and they marched up on stage and proceeded to arrest what turned to be the three winners of the VJ Hunt. The gag was too real for most to stomach.

The event had its share of misfortune when film actress and judge Raveena Tandon was manhandled by some drunken youth on her way out from the event venue. MTV regretted that the actress was roughed up adding that the security at its events is always very tight.

Sponsored by Colgate Gel, the MTV VJ Hunt attracted more than 6000 entries from wannabes all over the country. Live auditions were held in five cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore and Chandigarh - after which the list was pruned to 12 finalists.