|  The
show is a huge contributor to Zee's coming back in the reckoning
It has
helped Zee TV to reach the no. 2 slot in the general entertainment channel ratings
stakes. Since joining Zee in 1992, Singh has grown to become a leading in-house
director for a range of reality TV programming for the network. Says he, "I
learn every day, the trends, techniques, approach is rapidly changing. I adapt
with a definite goal in my mind. We had hoped the show would attract viewers of
all ages and it definitely has. We make a true effort to get good talent."
"As
a youth, I would always be amazed at hearing people sing at school, college and
community events. There were just a handful of playback singers that ruled in
Bollywood. I always had a desire to give these unknown talented voices a platform
where they get a break and do not fade into oblivion. Quite often, good talent
remains hidden under the cover of anonymity. It is mediums like television and
radio that showcase them to the entire world. Kunal Ganjawala, Avdhoot Gupte,
Sanjeevani, Sneha Pant and Shreya Ghoshal are examples of achievers from Sa
Re Ga Ma Pa."
How has he survived in this rapidly changing
world of Indian television
My aim is very clear. I make this show to
give top of the line playback singers a chance to explore and make their careers
singing in films. The sustained growth and popularity of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa
stands proof of my objective. With even runners up receiving enough fame and popularity
to sign record deals on their own, it shows that I set out to determine the best
"undiscovered" singer.
USP of the show
Do a good
job and present talent in such a way that the contestants benefit. I did not want
it to be mere marketing hype. I looked back at the loopholes of 10 years of Sa
Re Ga Ma Pa and changed the format, introducing gharanas and mentors. I conceived
a format where the ultimate benefit should go to the contestant. In this revamp,
the goal was that the contestants should have direct access to the composers so
that they reach their ultimate destination - singing in films.  That's
why we got a whole range and spectrum of composers to groom the contestants and
serve as judges. This season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa saw top music directors
Ismail Darbar, Aadesh Srivastav, Himesh Reshammiya and the Jatin-Lalit duo contesting
for the top honours through 32 shortlisted contestants to be trained by them as
the show goes on. Also, as every network across the world now carries a copy of
Antakshari and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, it makes me happy to see that people
are willing to take my vision forward.
"Even American Idol
came up only in 2002. Leading international format distributors are expressing
keen interest in the programme. It is the first time they have heard about this
format of top music directors contesting against one another on a reality show."
Controversies/ regionalism factor /Ulfa threats/ drama's/exits with judges
this year - how did he cope
Reports that the controversies were pre-decided
stunts to get publicity hurt me. I have shown barely 10 per cent of the conflicts
in the show. I went through a lot of trauma reading such baseless reports as my
years of hard work and credibility were being questioned. There were moments I
felt that it was not worth it and I should just end the show. Had I wanted higher
TRPs, all I needed was to air the footage that had far more explosive stuff. The
central point was the contestants and the fighting at no point was personal.
 The
episode where the kids walked out and it showed me screaming in response was the
one where I felt I had failed. It troubled me that the focus of the show had shifted
and I had started questioning whether I could go on. I am proud of Sa Re Ga
Ma Pa and was depressed that the show was attracting attention for all the
wrong reasons. I had to motivate myself saying that these kids depended on me
to give them their biggest platform and I could not fail them. After a point,
the allegations only made me work harder to get the best show out. The audience
poll was part of the initial format, and not included later as alleged. It was
designed with an aim to include the masses and reach more audiences.
Reality television is a genre of television programming which presents unscripted
dramatic or humorous situations and I do not need to manipulate events on screen
by editing. My show has far more substance and does not need any gimmicks to get
audiences. The winner was decided by public voting through SMS, telephone, and
through the Internet. The whole voting procedure was so transparent as one could
check out at every stage which part of India was voting for whom.
Changes
brought about in the format since inception
We started with an audience
of 60 people. Today, we saw more than 60,000 people rooting for their singers
at the finale in Andheri Sports Club. It has been a long journey. The look, feel,
concept of the show has all grown more than a 100 times. But, 10 years later,
there is still so much amateur talent left to be discovered. And, the most interesting
aspect of the show was the slice of India that it offered. Taking the show abroad
is only a natural progression.
We had celebrity judges, mentors and
the audience voting and have changed the format continuously to bring newness
to the show. But the essence to get the best talent has not changed.
 |
| 'I
strongly believe that there was a supernatural force guiding us on the day of
the finals' | Highest
point of the 2005 Challenge
Undoubtedly, it was the finals. The finale
was cutting edge and delivered much more than anticipated. The energy was infectious,
everybody pitched in and the results are there for all to see. Shaan was simply
amazing. A natural on stage, he anchored the show in a manner that had people
asking for more. We
designed every aspect of the finals, spent days deliberating which historical
site or location would be the best place to hold the finals. Andheri Sports Club
in Mumbai was picked because of the capacity it offered plus the 360 degree environment
it gave the audience, helping us capture the mood in the stadium. I strongly believe
that there was a supernatural force guiding us on the day of the finals.
I am amazed that the finals took place as smoothly as it did because 48 hours
prior to it, I was convincing Ismail Durbar and Himesh Reshammiya that these songs
have to be recorded in the studio. Reshammiya refused as he felt Vinit sang better
in a live performance. On the other hand, I had Durbar refusing to let Debojit
perform live. They both threatened to quit and I was at my wits end convincing
them to continue. Everything was in place, the buzz for the final was at its height
and I did not know if the final would even take place. It took me two days to
convince them that playback singing is what Sa Re Ga Ma Pa was all about.
Those specially composed songs showcasing the best talents of each singer had
to be recorded in a studio. It was very tough and I felt I had lost the show after
coming so far. I imagined being made a laughing stock in the industry. That's
why I say that a force unknown to me took over on the final day and my efforts
did not go wasted.
The finals retained its competitive spirit. Its streamlined,
fascinating coverage had a distinctive look. It came across as fast paced and
entertained many on television. Days after, I am still receiving calls of congratulations.
Lowest point of the 2005 Challenge
It was when Jatin-Lalit said
that the musicians deliberately played badly when their singers sang. The team
of musicians have been a major part of the show for years and to see them crying
over the allegation was truly the lowest point for me in this Sa Re Ga Ma Pa
Challenge 2005. I was ready to change the format, remove the mentors when
the musicians begged to be allowed to leave the show. It is only when I said that
the show would not continue without them, that they relented.
Singh
sees the rush for stars as a healthy development on the game shows and talks of
his experience of handling stars
I did not get celebrities to impress
audiences. My focus was on getting people who know about music, like Sanjay Leela
Bhansali, Subhash Ghai, Priyanka Chopra and Tabu. The experience when superstar
Salman Khan came as a guest to the show will always be etched in memory. He requested
the contestants to sing after the show was wrapped up. So, with no audience and
camera, Salman stayed over two hours just listening to the contestants sing. He
was so lost in the world of music and I hope to get him back on the show. It is
such a response that keeps me going.
Mistakes made
For this
show, I got negative feedback from many that the initial rounds dragged on for
too long and should be cut short. My reasoning was that I was not just making
a show, I was grooming the participants to realise their strengths and weaknesses
and to cut it short would mean giving them less time to recognize their true potential.
But, I will keep this in mind as I do the next series and work on making it more
crisp, yet getting the desired results.  How
has Shaan fared in hosting the show
The show has seen Sonu Nigam, Aman
Ali Bangash and Ayan Ali Bangash and now Shaan as hosts. Pop-star Shaan had a
large fan following even before he anchored Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. He is the soul
of the show. His honesty as he sees talent unravel before his eyes woos the audiences.
The fact that he believes in music and has a fine sense of music only adds to
the show. He has carried the show on his shoulders very well with his wit, presence
of mind and charming smile. He is well liked by all age groups.
Who
did he think would win the 2005 Challenge
I thought Hemachandra had the perfect voice to win the contest. Himani, Nihira
and Rajiv are also good singers. Nihira has lent her voice to the hit song Dhadak
Dhadak from the movie Bunty Aur Babli. Himani has recorded a song with
her mentor Aadesh Shrivastav. And, Himesh has made Vineet sing for him in Kalpana
Lajmi's Chingari. Vinit and Debojit, have become household names. But,
all credit to Durbar in the manner he focused on Debojit after Nihira was voted
out. He worked very hard on Debojit.
What is the objective with the
new show with ousted contestants Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Ek Main Aur Ek Tu slated to launch
on 16 March We
are bringing back favourite contestants from Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Challenge 2005.
The new format of the show this time will involve the contestants singing in pairs.
No one has shown a jodi. The chemistry between two singers has not been explored.
Singing solo is very different from singing as a duet. This show has a wild card
entry couple who were previous winners. It will run for 14 weeks. Every week will
see an elimination of a couple. The winners will get a contract with record label
T-Series and a cash prize.
 |
| 'Sawaal
Dus Crore Ka was a hasty decision going wrong' | Failures
I have seen failure too. Sawaal Dus Crore Ka was a hasty decision
going wrong. Similarly, I believe that the concept in Baazi Kiski hosted
by Ashutosh Rana was good. I hope to bring it back. I have new formats in mind.
I had spoken to AR Rahman a while back and I would love to do a series with him,
one that reaches a wide audience. The year ahead is challenging and I hope to
do better work. Threat
from Sony's music based reality shows
Not a moment goes by that I don't
feel the threat by similar formats on other channels. I watch out for competition
and do not take the success of the show for granted. On
rumours that he is being offered big bucks to switch to other channels
Yes,
it is true. I am reminded by well wishers that it is time to move on. But, my
thoughts go back to my initial days when I faced a lot of ridicule when I had
first conceptualized Antakshari and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. I joined Zee
when it was still in its infancy in the industry. These were the days before GRPs
and TRPs. Everybody laughed at the concept and had written me off. I had given
up hope. But, Zee chairman Subhash Chandra said he believed in me and that I had
his support to make my vision a reality. I go back to that moment whenever I get
any new opportunity. If ever I would leave, it would be a mutual decision. Besides,
Zee feels like family. The Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005 had all
members of Zee collectively working to make it a success. The entire team in Zee
network, right from the senior management, sales, marketing to the peons in our
office worked hard for the finals of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.
 |
| A
hard day's work that paid off: Singh seen here with Zee TV marketing head Tarun
Mehra during the Challenge 2005 final event preparations |
All
the 10 semi-finalists were made to sign a two-year contract with Zee, which bars
them from accepting to perform for any other company
There is a reason
to it. After giving them this platform, it is essential to see that they are not
exploited and reduced to doing mere shows. We only bar them from making albums
or perform at shows in this period. They are free to playback. With so many talent
hunts, it is very easy to get lost in the maze of stardom. The whole purpose of
the show will be lost if we fail to make them successful playback singers.
For a man who has taken 'TV to the next higher level', Gajendra Singh comes
across as modest, emotional and one who does not take his success lightly. He
has maintained obsessive quality control and did not fall into the trap of making
the show merely for garnering TRPs. That he has succeeded in his efforts is vindicated
from the offers pouring in for the contestants on his show. |
