Title: Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007
A lot of people like batsmen who step out to the bowlers and hit huge sixes. I, for one, am highly entertained by batsmen who do the same but get caught in the deep. I love robust ambition constrained by mediocrity of execution – it’s my type of entertainment.
Despite sharing Amit’s fondness for Indian Idol 3, I love the potent mixture of tacky loopiness and bravura singing on Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007.
Let’s take Bappi Lahiri for instance. He covers himself with bling, itraos constantly, breaks into song at random moments, gets embroiled in hilarious controversies and pronounces singers as the Britney Spears and Shakira of India. And we’re still on the guru who barely gets out of his seat.
While Indian Idol 3 focuses on the competitive camaraderie of its contestants, SRGMP is powered by hierarchical and relational interactions that reflect traditional Indian social values. All of this staged on a set that looks like the adda of a sworn Sith nemesis of 007.
And lest you think it’s all a hoot, SRGMP is lined with excellent singers. How good? Only Emon and Amit from Indian Idol could go toe to toe with any one of their best 10. But it would have to be on their best day. And their competing singer from SRGMP would have to make a particularly bad song choice. Then they’d be in with a chance.