DesiDabba - Boss, Thoda Sa Roomani Ho Jaye

Most Indian Entertainment Channels are busy these days unleashing one reality show after another. NDTV Imagine is out with its second attempt Idea Dhoom Macha De.

The concept of the show is pretty clear-cut; eleven of India’s most popular and professional singers competing against one another for the title of the country’s Best Live Performer. The contestant list goes something like this - Anaida, Baba Sehgal, Babul Supriyo, Devang Patel, Jaspinder Nirula, Jassi, Kamaal Khan, Richa Sharma, Sapna Awasthi, Suneeta Rao and Taz. And Shankar Mahadevan, Prasoon Joshi and yesteryears superstar, Sharmila Tagore, are judging the show.

The hatke factor as stated by the channel and other concerned parties is that this musical reality show is not a hunt for musical talent but an electrifying live performer from the lot of already established singers. All fair and square, me thinks. However I am not very convinced with their version of an “established singer”, I mean come on - Devang Patel, Baba Sehgal, Suneeta Rao, Taz, Anaida, etc - most of these guys are what we call “one-hit wonders”. Given the fact that their respective careers never really took off, using words such as “superstars” and “popular” is nothing but misleading the television junta.

Anyway giving them the benefit of doubt, I did force myself to watch Idea Dhoom Macha De’s Republic Day episode and this is what I thought.

Malaika Khan Arora – You know, I am bloody hell surprised that the members of the so-called “moral brigade” till date haven’t sued this woman. Agreed she has some sexy styling taste and equally sexy figure to go along with it but when did “bosom exposure” become so much necessary on Prime Time Television? Looking at what the anchor was wearing, my aunt immediately commented, “Utte da thalle gir raha hai aur thalle da utte”, meaning her top was coming down and her skirt was way up. I sincerely do believe that Mrs. Khan excels in her anchoring skills however toning down of the wardrobe is the need of the hour. It is a family show after all and not some Bollywood item number.

Sharmila Tagore – Just as Shilpa Shetty was in JDJ 1, Maliaka Khan was in NB 1 & 2 and Sonu Nigam was in Indian Idol 1, Sharmilaji is the “nice” judge on IDMD. Always encouraging and applauding even the crappiest of performances – it’s her first time at full on judging a reality show so won’t be too nasty. But seriously the woman should try not to mix Hindi in English and vice versa because the ending result is simply awful. For instance, this is what she said to pop singer Taz – “In your singing there is mitti ki kushboo”. I mean I can understand one needs to be different from another in their judging remarks but this is way off-track re.

[ADBLOCKHERE]Babul Supriyo – Boy! Now did this man apply make-up or did he apply make-up. His cheeks hands-down toped the scale of rosiness surely being the envy of all female participants. On a serious note though, I believe Babul Supriyo is most likely to win this show considering - he has had a decent playback singing career, done tons of Live-stage performances, known acquaintances with two of the judges and is quite popular among the masses. Somehow to me his inclusion seems slightly un-fair towards other participating singers.

Baba Seghal – Okay, I know he doesn’t even qualify as a “talented singer” however his performance was one of the few I really liked. I found myself still grooving to his one-time hit “Thanda Thanda Pani” and it did bring back many fond memories.

Anaida – Undoubtly the worst of the lot and mostly likely to the first to be bumped off. Coming to think of it, was she even singing?

A look at others - Devang Patel, the less said about him, the better. Sunita Rao, Taz, Kamaal Khan and Jassi were bearable. Richa Sharma, Sapna Awasthi and Jaspinder Nirula were impressive, not surprising though looking at their playback singing experience.

Overall I would say Idea Dhoom Macha De makes a decent watch; nothing out of the ordinary but much better than most reality show on air at the moment. And definitely far superior than their first attempt.