Nazar - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007: A Review

Issue 3, March 2008 | Archives

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007: A Review

My summer and the beginning of my sophomore year in college were punctuated with Friday and Saturday night viewings of my very (and only) favorite show on Zee TV. While my mother's an avid fan of the network and all its less-than-appealing offerings, I have to admit this talent extravaganza had me hooked. (For the record, less-than-appealing is to be defined thusly: that which includes dramatic camera angles—the dizzy practice of constant zooming in and out, unrealistically posh outfits worn in the day time and the ubiquitous phenomenon of so-and-so disappearing in a car accident then reappearing after serious plastic surgery to be played by a different actor.)

Celebrity Judges Salman Khan and Lara Dutta
Photo Source

Few people [care to] know that Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is a contest that far precedes its less prestigious American counterpart. People in India and the subcontinent have not auditioned to make fools of themselves, nor has the network exploited the talent-less to increase ratings. Singing in the (largely) Indian tradition is a discipline, one in which people are trained from birth and are considered good only when truly exceptional.

The quality of the singers combined with their personal narratives, believe it or not, makes for addicting television. Plus, this is a public instance in which the dispute between India and Pakistan is begged to be reconciled by members of both sides. As my father also noted, “This proves that the subcontinent is one place of true religious toleration.” And it's true; the Pakistanis and the Indians, the Muslims and the Hindus are loved according to their skill. My own liking, however, will be portrayed below. I have ranked the top 9 singers in order of personal fondness and ‘deserved' recognition (Warning: I'm neither classically trained nor particularly forgiving).

9) Junaid Sheikh – Two words: extremely handsome. This Pakistani talent was a joy to watch until his decline. At one point he became noticeably terrible, a sad fate caused by a throat sickness of sorts. I think he wasn't terribly suited for the contest. His rocker style often left him lacking in the classical department, but his talent and charisma were notable nonetheless. Since the show, he's developed a [basically] all-female cult following of which I'm a guilty member.

Most memorable performance(s) : “O Haseena Zulfon Wali” (Black & White episode) – this performance showcased his talent and proved his versatility by earning the affections of the Black-and-White era crowd.

8) Harpreet Deol – What a joker. He was usually less lauded by the judges compared to his peers, but when he performed he really performed . He wasn't unserious so much as he was playful, and this seemed to set him apart from the other contestants. He was always able to get a rise out of the audience and was visibly supportive of his peers as they performed. The episode in which he was eliminated was both sad and unexpected, but I don't at all disagree with the general placement of his elimination.

Most memorable performance(s) : “Soni De Nakhre” (Dance Songs episode) – he was, to say the least, an absolute ham. My mother and I watched and re-watched his goofy “poh poh” noises. A+, Harpreet.

7) Mauli Dave – Flat out, I was never a fan. Especially not when people told me I reminded them of her, but in all seriousness she was perhaps my least favorite. She could only really sing one type of song—breathy and angry. Though I'd heard it from friends who knew her personally in Houston, I could see for myself she was a diva. But her story was an interesting one—she was a professional dancer and beauty queen who could also sing. For me, this earns her a lot of respect. She's clearly a hardworking individual, but her attitude, forced charisma, and over-pleasing nature were the reasons I was unsurprised that her elimination was the biggest drama-fest.

Most memorable performance(s): “Maiyya Maiyya” (first episode) – she really caught everyone's attention and showed she was in it to win it. “Ali More Angna” (Qawwali episode) – finally showed everyone she could sing more than Sunidhi Chauhan songs.

6) Mussarat Abbas – To my knowledge, he seemed to be most favored by the…older crowd. (This is the part where my mother will say my name in a low, threatening voice over the phone when she calls to tell me she read my article.) But I think this can be attributed to his niche being mainly classical. He killed those kinds of songs and less-than-rose to the occasion when the more poppy melodies would come up. He was, admittedly, easy to develop a fondness for, though the nature of his busybody, irritating, persistent guru Himesh Reshammiya made him less likable.

Most memorable performance(s) : “Koi Jaane Koi Na Jaane” (Favorite Movie Stars episode) – yet another song my mother and I watched repeatedly. Not only is it a slick, catchy tune, but he sang the heck out of it. “Afreen Afreen” (Qawwali episode) – this was more his style, and after barely getting by, this reinvigorated the faith of both the audience and the judges.

5) Poonam Yadhav – “Pocket-sized Powerhouse,” the nickname so affectionately dubbed by the host or at least the writing staff, is more than appropriate for this pint-sized diva. Her voice was a force to be reckoned with, and I have a sneaking suspicion that her gender held her back in the contest. While she was undeniably talented, her personality was a little strange. She often spoke oddly to her guru, once saying, “Seeing you smile makes me smile” in a really stalkerish voice. Like Himesh, she had an awful tendency to talk on and on. Other than that, her personal story was truly heartbreaking. She grew up literally dirt poor with an ailing mother for whom she was able to provide very little. Zee TV, while graciously sponsoring the family, sort of exploited the whole ordeal which, for me, caused a downfall in sympathy. But only slightly—I wish she had been at least 3 rd place.

Most memorable performance(s) : “Ni Ma Samajh Gaaye” (Favorite Movie Stars episode) – her voice to the max. That is all that can be said.

4) Amanat Ali – Another old people favorite. I'm sorry, but I swear it's that classical thing again. This Pakistani boy-wonder started out as a shy, conservative ghazal-ing power, but eventually grew to be as hip and poppy as they come. The constant commentary surrounding him was encouraging audience interaction. Sooner than later, he gave in and really gave all. For his talent and development, I would've given him higher than 3 rd place, I think, but at least he's come a long way and is possibly more marketable now.

Most memorable performance(s) : “Parda Hai Parda” (Qawwali episode) – this is when he really broke out of his shell. Instead of, “Akbar mera naam nahi hain” he busted out with, “AMANAT mera naam nahi hain.” This personalizing tactic shocked the crowd, his peers, and mostly, the judges.

3) Aneek Dhar – He's only this high up on my list because he won. That's it. Really. To this day, I'm bitter about the victory. Mark my words, everybody's jaws dropped in unison in the finale. At first he was my favorite because of the Bengali bias, but then at the urging of his still-irritating guru Himesh, his impressionable 18 year old self became an unreasonable attention-whore. Not to mention the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla controversy. (If you recall, or don't, he was the winner of the Zee Bangla version of the show and the judges wondered if his participation was ethical. Ultimately, obviously, he was let in and had become a sore spot for some spectators.) I was also not a fan of the constant look of constipation on his face as well as his song selection which comprised of Sonu Nigam, Sonu Nigam, and…Sonu Nigam.

Most memorable performance(s) : “Saathiya” – he ruined it, what else is there to say? The judges backed me up on this one. “Oh Oh Jaane Jaana” (Salman Khan episode) – this is where we saw him become a shirtless, pudgy fool. “Shakalaka Boom Boom” (Dance Songs episode) – this performance is memorable only because of the simultaneously creepy and useless background dancers that gyrated needlessly around him.

2) Sumedha Karmahe – My favorite, I think. As my mother said, in many ways she was the best one. Whatever song she sang, her voice suited. Though delicate and often forgotten, she was always loved when she performed. She was, unfortunately, the victim of much Himesh-induced gossip which I think may have contributed to her elimination, though she certainly should have been higher up on the totem pole. But unlike many of her fellow contestants, she is young and beautiful and has a fantastic shot at redemption and a real career.

Most memorable performance(s) : “Chupke Se” (Love Songs episode) – Shekhar gave her a standing ovation on this one, and really, who didn't? “Jadhu Hai Nasha” (Favorite Movie Stars episode) – as many have noted, she sang this better than the original. I…love her. I'd better stop before I start tearing up.

1) Raja Hassan – I had mixed feelings about him throughout the season. At first, I found him mind-blowing. And I mean this genuinely, not in the way the judges overused the phrase. But then we found out that he wrote the lyrics on his hand. What's worse, he would accidentally smudge the writing and then literally be at a loss for words. Though some might see these as mistakes from which no recovery can be made, I beg to differ! He was, in my mind, the clear winner from the start. Even that bumbling fool Himesh was his biggest fan. What went wrong in the final voting?

Most memorable performance(s) : “Ghanan Ghanan” – he hit this right on the money. “Rut Aa Gaye Rai” – I think I only liked this one because his uncle with the flaming orange hair was featured so frequently. “Chinamma Chilkamma” – like Aneek, the bizarre background dancers made for a nice effect. “Chaiyya Chaiyya” – as noted by Farah Khan, his erratic dancing was priceless! “Dard E Disco” – he turned this new song into an instant classic!

Agree with me, or don't—I don't really care either way, just know that all of these fine performances are available on YouTube. And at the end of the day, this was a great show that showed me the true power of the DVR.

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