When Indian television's most popular music contest began recording this week's episode on Monday to be aired on Thursday, no one knew what was in store. Himani's mentor Aadesh Shrivastava is shocked. "I can't believe these things can happen to a creative and extremely productive talent show like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Like Ismail Durbar, I can walk out. But it won't be right at this juncture for me to do so. But Himani's ouster and the three contestants' threat to quit this week, have left me stunned." Refusing to comment directly on Debojit's caliber Aadesh says, "I've been working on music and singers for twenty years. Everyone ought to know their limitations… Eighty percent of audiences' votes come to Debojit from Assam… as low as two percent from Mumbai and other regions. Bhagwan kare, Debojit wins. Let's see what he does after that. Nihira, Hemachandra, Vinit are all excellent singers. Sunidhi Chauhan, Hema Sardesai, Richa Sharma and now Himani… these are my discoveries." Elaborating on what transpired Aadesh says, "We were all shocked when the three kids suddenly announced their decision to quit. The other contestants complain." ****

Apparently Himani, Vinit and Hemachandra were scared of the ULFA backing that Debojit is apparently getting.

Says Aadesh, "These are all kids below 18. Obviously their parents will be concerned. I don't blame them for offering to quit. Vinit's dad in Lucknow heard about the ULFA threat… He naturally didn't want his son to be part of any dangerous endeavour. I'm very upset with the kids. I asked them why they did something so rash as to offer to quit. They told me they were scared. These are innocent 17-year old kids. They don't know how to manipulate SMS messages from their home towns. The way things are going Debojit will win hands down-no doubt about it. But let's see what he does after that. After Himani was ousted this week I was tempted to leave the show. But I'm not a coward. And I know what the future holds for not just Himani, but also Hemachandra, Vinit and Nihira… Ab final kya? Mera final ho gaya. I've ten films on hand for Himani to blossom as a singer. Kasam se, kitna tagda gaati hai. After she sang Lataji's qawaalli Der ne ho jaye and Chitthiye, everyone from Mrs Jaya Bachchan to Rishi Kapoor's mother-in-law called to ask about Himani."

****

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But with the really meritorious contestants getting eliminated and other contestants rising in arms against Debojit's Assam connections, what next? Gajendra Singh is in a fix. "We're definitely in a crisis situation. Thursday's episode was viewed like reality TV… walk-outs, temper tantrums, protests, tears, screams… This isn't what we want on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa."

If you think the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa team is amused and entertained by all the publicity and if you think the walkouts and show-downs on the show are being orchestrated by the popular show's architects, then think again.

Sa Re Ga Ma producer-director Gajendra Singh is a very distressed man. "I haven't slept for more than forty-eight hours. My show is being reduced to one of those cheap reality-TV type of programmes on the other channels where contestants pretend to faint and then they are 'revived' with sprinkles of water. Please, Sa Re Ga Ma doesn't need all this publicity. We don't want to be written about. Please don't call the tragic happenings on the show a publicity stunt. Don't write about us. But don't belittle our efforts. I've been doing the show for more than decade. I don't need to prove my credibility or the show's credibility."

Singh breaks down. And then reveals that the most recent scandal on the show-namely the threat by three contestants Vinit, Hemachandra and Himani to quit-and all the effort to malign and descredit Debojit, have been orchestrated by one of the show's judges.

"It was he who instigated those poor innocent kids into behaving this way. He couldn't bear to see another judge steal all the limelight by staging a walk-out. So he decided to be a star-judge in his own right. His conspiracy back-fired. And my show has suffered immensely in terms of credibility and face-value. I plan to expose this man who has abused the guru-shishya relationship after the finals. Right now I need to salvage the show, boost the finalists' morale."

In a startling revelation, Singh defends the controversial contestant Debojit's alleged ULFA links. "What ULFA links? I agree one of the Sa Re Ga Ma assistants did receive a call from someone claiming to be part of the ULFA. But has anyone verified if Debojit had anything to do with the call? Why are we hounding him just because he has so much support from his home- state Assam? In fact all these ugly happenings on the show, including the three contestants' collective threat to quit-are nothing but one judge's efforts to discredit disqualify and dismiss Debojit from the show. I've Vinit's mother on tape accusing this particular judge of dubious intentions. I agree, Himani's elimination from Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is a tragedy. But the show must go on, and it will."

Gajendra Singh takes a deep breath and regains control. "I repeat, we don't need all this publicity. Our contestants are good enough to carry the show. I leave the gimmicks and stunts to the music contests on other channels."

*****

The popular topi-wala contestant Vinit on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa quietly turned 17 on Sunday.

"It wasn't what I'd call a fun birthday… not in the way it used to be at home in Lucknow," Vinit sounded down in the dumps. "In the morning all of us Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contestants went for the Marathon run. Then I had to record for the show. So there was no time for any birthday celebrations. But in the night my colleague Himani got me a cake, and we all had a flash party."

Though they're the same age, Himani mollycoddles Vinit and looks after him constantly.

Though Vinit's mom was in Mumbai he wasn't allowed to meet her. "There was no time to meet Ma… But yes, the love of my life was here… That was my gift. We've code-named her Shantabai on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. So that no one gets to know her real identity," the streak of mischief surfaces in the baby of the show.

So how does it feel for Vinit, who many feel, will finally energe the winner, to be 17? "I feel this year has been a turning-point for me. I'm just 17 and I'm already known all over, thanks to Sa Re Ga Ma. I don't know how to handle all this attention."

Vinit who has already recorded songs for Himesh Reshammiya has now decided to make Mumbai his home…for better or worse. "Until the finals on Feb 10, I can think of nothing except singing. And after the finals I can think of only….singing," he burst out laughing.

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