ISS concludes, IPL begins

I really didn't bother to write about the conclusion of ISS because I knew Najim would be crowned the winner. However I wished Amrutha could have been in the top 4 instead of Arun Gopan.

Like SSG, the winner was already pre-decided and all that last minute voting are purely rigged. ISS put on a better finale than SSG which was nothing short of chaos. Only twice there were transmission problems but otherwise things seemed to go smoothly. Ranjini was good and bad at the same time. Throughout ISS and the finale she seems to be handling too many things. When Najim finally won it she persuaded him to do a repeat performance of the song that was not fully telecast during his performance. Najim struggled to get back his cool to sing the song. I can't imagine we all have to put up with her for another year. And why that song with Ranjini being chased by those 4 guys? Did you also notice how many times she used the phrase "and of course".

For many of the performances the singers were only lip-syncing. Even my son could detect that. How can Asianet be so foolish to make us believe they were not. Remember the first song where all the singers came in to sing the prayer song. They could have at least fixed a non-working mic on the dress of each performer there to make it look real. Many other things suck but then they are all a part of the shows we poorly imitate from the west.

Will I watch these shows again in 2008? Certainly I will not be wasting time as I did on these shows like I did but it is always nice to watch new, true and good talent. However there is this sense of middle class longing which I wouldn't want to be a part of. Programmes such as these are only capitalizing on such a thinking. The way Ranjini was screaming repeatedly "40 lakh apartment" is proof of such thinking. It also makes the participants feel that the goal of their singing career is eventually the prize and not what lies beyond the competition which should be their true goal.

Where are these winners going to go? Like veteran singer Hariharan said these new singers will hardly last a couple of years chiefly because there is too much competition from a very big talent pool. So singers who lasted decades are soon going to become a thing of the past. Roopa confessed to me that after she won Gandharvam Singer Senior in 2002 she hardly got one offer. This time though she told me she has already sung one song (a duet with Yeshudas) and awaiting more promised offers.

Meanwhle the much awaited IPL (Indian Premier League) begins. More on that later.

Roopa and I

Tomorrow is the Grand Finale of SSG, and it is going to be telecast live at 6:30 P.M. My home is going to be full to some extent as we intent to make it a family viewing event. I have voted like crazy for Roopa but I am weary of the outcome because Roopa is still trailing behind the leader Jeethu. In fact if Roopa loses it will be a shame for the show having voted a winner just on the basis of votes. I just can't imagine Roopa not winning the crown after all those memorable performances. If she wins it will certainly be a celebration for us.

Anyway here's something I wanted to divulge only after the show because I didn't want people to misunderstand I was canvassing for Roopa on this blog although I can perfectly be doing just that, why not? The fact is, I have been in touch with Roopa. It all happened exactly one week after I wrote that big post on this blog just a few weeks ago. Sometimes the "law of attraction" is unbelievable. I was so passionate about the post on Roopa and I couldn't believe that a distant relative (Jaya's cousin Shuba's husband Ajay) actually was a close friend of Roopa's violin teacher. After getting Roopa's number I didn't call but sent her a couple of SMS messages and to the second one she replied asking me to call her whenever I found time. I was so overjoyed that I still retain that SMS on my mobile. I called her that Thursday morning and both I and Suji spent a good deal of time talking to her. She was going to her old school that day for a shoot. After that we have spoken several times although I make sure she isn't disturbed or taking her voice rest before her performances. Sometimes I just send SMS messages.

I consider myself priviliged to have helped Roopa by providing the tamil lyrics for four of her songs on SSG, Kaatril Enthan Geetham, Thulluvadho Ilamai, Enthan Nenjil Neengatha and Singara Velane.

If you find Roopa worthy of the title please do vote for her. As of this writing she is trailing behind the leader Jeethu on SMS votes. If you think you haven't watched her performances check out my earlier posts on her or check out the site made for her at www.rooparevathi.com You can also watch her performances on YouTube. Just enter "Roopa SSG" in the search field on the page and perform a search. Here is one of her recent memorable performances.

Latest on ISS and SSG

The way ISS is going it looks like contestants may be asked to write a written exam as they have run out of ideas to test performances. I wonder what the programmers of the show have in mind when Sharath asks contestants to imitate his rather funny tunes after their performances. Imitating is one thing they can do but sometimes they have no idea when they are asked to do a "vocal Jam" with him.

Ranjini has already started her announcements for ISS 2008. She is also asking for feedback including if the host needs to be changed. Of course! She needs to be fired. Just imagine putting up with her for another year, i.e if I am going to watch ISS 2008.

Meanwhile on SSG elimination was such a pleasant thing unlike the melodrama, tears and play acting the guests do when they announce the winners or losers on ISS. As M G Radhakrishnan said on SSG, "On other shows (he was probably referring to ISS where his brother M G Sreekumaran is a judge) they hurt contestants and are made to cry..." unlike on SSG.

Meanwhile Roopa has done her part well on SSG. She gave memorable performances and subscribing to Tata Sky was worth it for all her wonderful performances. She concluded in style last Thursday. Unni Menon was right when he commented on Roopa as to how composed and collected she was. It is now a battle of votes. This is where I disagree with SSG. As they do on ISS contestants must have been graded. It is not surprising how Jeethendra is on top and Teena could beat both Praveen and Ratheesh to the top 3. It will be a pity if Roopa does not win the contest on the basis of SMS votes alone. All I can do is vote and pray.