Other Topics : Art Culture - Fashion - Tourism

Latest & Hot Bollywood Film News : * hourly updation

Back to Bollywood Current News Section

Whopping 12.5 million SMSs for 'Sa Re Ga...' episode
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Feb 2 (IANS) "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005" has received a record-breaking 12.5 million SMSs in the audience poll section that has left only Debojit and Vinit in the race.

                          Advertisement

Hyderabadi hero Hemachandra has been ousted in Thursday's episode, when Tabu was the star-guest.

The programme's producer and director Gajendra Singh says the show hit an all-time high of 12.5 million SMSs in the audience poll section.

Once again Debojit topped the audience poll this week, with nearly four million SMSs from the eastern region - Assam, West Bengal and Bihar - alone.

"It is a serious problem," said judge Aadesh Shrivastava.

"The motto behind 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' was supposed to be 'Aapki Choice India Ki Voice'. But how can it be the nation's voice when one sector corners all the votes for one candidate? I am worried," Aadesh told IANS.

But Singh seems fine with the regional tilt.

"As long as it is the public's will, how can we question it? Debojit is a very fine singer. Both Debojit and Vinit are equally worthy of winning the finals."

Vinit cornered about 2.2 million of the audience vote this week.

Thursday's star guest Tabu, a keen student of poetry and music, was seen getting bowled over by the quality of singing.

"She reacts to the lyrics and poetry like a true artiste. Her rapport with fellow-Hyderabadi Hemachandra was instant," said Singh.

On Friday, Subhash Ghai was back on the show for the third time in a row, this time with his "Shaadi Se Pehle" leading man Akshaye Khanna - who not only interacts with the participants but also sings "Nahin samne tu" from "Taal".

Incidentally, Akshaye loves to sing on stage. "I'd rather sing than perform live," he once told me.