The Reality of Music Reality Shows

By Sashi Preetam - the writer is a well established music director in Indian films

Everything is positive in this world and that is how, we have to begin our analysis. When, we criticize, we tend to over do it and in the bargain, we overlook all possible positivism. Having said that, we can claim that music reality shows, have created a fantastic portal of talent search of budding singers, barring a few that do not live up to the standards.

So what ruled, before TV REALITY MUSIC SHOWS?

The contribution of a person is felt only in his or her absence. So it would be appropriate to start our analysis of Music reality shows from times, when they were not in vogue. Then are we talking of a decade or more. In real ZEE sa re ga ma was one of the first Indian TV reality music show that started to introduce latent talent to the people. This was way back in the mid 90’s. Until then Singers, were once in a while appearing on the TV screen for festivals and special occasions in group singing and rarely in some solo performances. Other than Television, Music Reality competitions were very common be it on campus, All India Radio, neighboring community centers and so on. The campus competitions and inter collegiate wars were very prominent and getting through them was real tough. Unless a singer was outstanding, he or she could not wade through the hooting college audiences to impress the judges and reach the final goal. In one way, those were the competitions which gave the actual testament for real talent. They were the Real Reality shows before Real audience. Unlike the ideal conditioned platforms created in today’s Television studios. There was no second take, or re-shoot or technical snag, it was all real and the singer had to prove his brilliance against all odds. So what happened to all those shows now? Have they been overshadowed by the glitz of today’s TV world?

The age of Television Music Reality Shows

As TV started to grow, more and more channels started similar shows and multiple programs and platforms sprung to welcome fresh talent aboard. Good talent from all over the country started pouring in. Besides giving passionate musicians once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contest on their show, the producers also work on each participant’s overall personality and make a thorough performer out of them. On a 60 minute music program, the contestant who can attract maximum attention gets maximum footage. And maximum footage means maximum visibility or recognition. That’s how maximum recognition earns maximum support and votes. Therefore, the criterion to be successful in these shows is not just winning the title; it is to get ‘identified’. And history has witnessed this. Be it Kunal Ganjawala, Naresh Iyer or our very own Hemachandra, Karunya and Venu; they might not have won the contest they participated in, but definitely have much more successful careers than the ones who won the show titles. Karunya was declared the unofficial winner of Indian Idol 2. Such was the love and affection that the country had for his talent. Hemachandra was flooded with film opportunities from big music directors while he was still a contestant on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005. Venugopal started with Padutha Theeyaga and stood before the host and legendary singer SPB and he still says that was when he knew he belonged to the industry. 

How did TV Reality shows shaped careers?

Time and again it has been proved that mere winning a contest does not always assure the best of success. But that doesn’t imply that the ones who won have never been successful. Singer Usha stood first in Padutha Theeyaga (hosted by SPB), Navaragam and also came to the finals of Meri Awaz Suno and these shows gave her, the much required push to her singing career. Today, she has over 450 film songs and 600 private songs to her credit. Shreya Ghoshal had won Sa Re Ga Ma as a child, and moved to Mumbai to get trained in classical music from Kalyanji and later got identified during her performance in Sa Re Ga Ma in 2000. And there has been no looking back, in her life, thereafter. Even the ‘Mast’ singer Sunidhi Chauhan has had her own ups and downs in her career, since the age of four. Before even she won Meri Awaz Suno in 1996, she was the lead singer for Kalyanji’s ‘Little Wonders’ troupe. And even after recording an album Aira Ghaira Nathu Khaira for HMV, Sunidhi did not get her rightful share of recognition. And this ‘yearning for more’ pushed Sunidhi Chauhan to become the youngest playback singer at the age of sixteen. She had already done over 350 songs while she was still in her teen. Sunidhi Chauhan is one of the most sought after singers in the country today.TV reality shows, be it on the national level or regional level have done their part in shaping careers.

Before TV Reality Shows

Another most significant aspect to be noted is that Music Reality shows on TV have redefined the status of a singer in society. Two decades back, how many fathers were proud to announce in a social gathering that their son took up singing as a profession? Singing was mostly considered, as a long term hobby for women, that too if it was classical singing. With occasional concerts at the state run cultural auditoriums or temple festivals and a handful of them, who would continue to teach singing classes at home for kids, because of the undying passion in them for music. In short, classical singing for girls was an added qualification for getting married. So for men taking up a profession of singing, it was a serious setback for the family. With that mindset, the society took a U turn within a decade. The entire credit goes to TV Music Reality Shows and not those Real Reality shows at colleges and schools which could not show a door to success after the competition.

So, what actually transformed the scenario?

The first catch is that a TV reality producer ropes in a big time personality to judge and endorse the contestant’s talent. As Film music, light music and other forms of western music in India do not have recognized courses to approve of the talent and the level of their talent, a famous celebrity manages to authenticate with his testimonial, the capacity of a singer. This instills confidence not only in the contestant but his family and supporters to encourage him to try his luck in the Industry. Next comes the promotion of the shows with multiple advertisements and brand endorsements which approve that the participants of the show are talented and therefore the investment. This magnum opus display ensures the decision making of the meticulous mind of a father to gauge the career path of his son or daughter and take a calculated risk in allowing them into such shows. In earlier days, including the legendary Kishore kumar; were runaways from home and needed no approvals from their families. Who knows, if they had waited for such approvals, they would have never even stepped in Victoria Terminus, Bombay. At least today, every aspiring youngster knows what he needs to do, when he wants to be a singer. He would seek his parent’s permission to participate in a Music Reality show on TV. Now the question is, whether this is the right thing to do or is it the only way to be a successful professional singer? Are Tv Reality shows really doing the justice to the entire fraternity of new singers? Obviously not, as TV is just one of the several paths to make it big in the industry.

Choosing The Right Path

If we keenly observe even among the established singers mentioned above who have come from TV reality shows, it took them long to establish and make their mark as a singer of repute and this definitely did not happen with the TV show they sang. It took several, consistent hits to position them as singing icons. Once you are out of a contest either by losing or winning, the road ends there and further connect is purely based on the talent and PR of a singer. A singer should have immense talent or should know how to package the talent well and market their services.

Akriti Kakkar - Singer, Mumbai

There are many singers in Mumbai who have not got big success but have got well established with their singing careers. Akriti Kakkar is one of them who sang many numbers for Himesh Reshammiya, Pritam and has performed shows with Shankar Mahadevan. She has also released an album with HMV and Sony. She is very well trained in hindusthani and western classical music and is an awesome performer. She performs shows to perfection that has brought her stability as a singer.

Sri Krishna - Tollywood Singer

Sri Krishna, another winner from shows like Padalani undi and MAA super singers says, that “it took time to establish as a playback singer until his hit number reached the hearts of audience in the film Ashta chemma. In the days after winning in the shows and before the actual magical break in films,he was working as a Radio Jockey in RED FM.”

Taking The Right Decision

Nothing comes easy until you do your homework well. So for taking up a career in singing your first step will start with your singing classes and rigorous practice. TV reality show or no show, you should be able to sing any kind of a song when asked for.

Once you have such grinding you will fare well in any situation. The second factor is knowing your forte and marketing it well. Should you be a playback singer, a jingle singer, a chorus singer, a stage performer or a choir singer or a classical performer and the choice is so wide that you need to focus on what you are best and what you want to be. 

Smita - Telugu Pop Singer

Smita Telugu Pop singer is one classic example of picking right choice. She never waited for that magical film song to make it big. She etched her career on a parallel path of pop albums, putting in hours of struggle not only with singing but, dancing, fitness regimes, acting and performing. With the right encouragement at home she could see success in some of the albums she did initially; even till her latest devotional album that is doing rounds on media and online forums successfully well. 

MM Srilekha - Music Director

Music director MM srilekha also agrees to say, that “it is talent and hard work that scripts success and there is no doubt in that”. She also feels, that back in those days, no TV, no Radio, no Internet did the magic, it was always the artiste who had to climb up meeting every director, carrying samples and proving in that one single BIG opportunity they would get. 
It was a MAKE OR BREAK”. 








True, like in today’s reality show you do not have audience polls, judges’ sympathy, tears shed, to welcome you back into the game.

"The Real game of life gives you only one chance to get known as a SINGER in music reality. Prepare well, give it your best and we would all love to call you a SINGER ...." 

By Sashi Preetam