Sonu Niigam had promised to sing with his favorite singer Kailash Kher when he had come last. This week we will see him keep his words as he and Kailash take the floor with élan. The two gave a mind blowing performance with Ya Rabba…. When Sonu is around how can fun and laughter be far behind? Amongst all the laughter, Sonu displayed his seriousness when it comes to his craft. He demonstrated his observation about all the singing greats down the ages from Mohhamad Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Talat Mehmood, Hemant Kumar, Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor… There are few as talented as Sonu Nigam in the industry today and even lesser when it comes to sharing their knowledge with newcomers. But that is what makes Sonu Nigam so special and a cut above the rest.
Do not miss the most entertaining musical delight, on Indian Idol 4, this Friday February 6, at 9.00 pm only on Sony Entertainment Television.
source: http://www.realbollywood.com/news/2009/02/sonu-kailash-together.html
Sonu Nigam and Kailash Kher jam together on Indian Idol 4
Idol vote appeal in Calcutta
The journey to the top five position of Indian Idol 4 has not been easy for Rajdeep Chatterjee. Now, his family wants to ensure that the singer’s remaining road — perhaps to success — is less bumpy.
After appealing for votes in hometown, the Janata Dal United Students’ Union (JDUSU) has turned its gaze on Calcutta, where it is campaigning for Rajdeep. Though the Loyola lad has given power-packed performances time and again, his supporters do not want to leave any stone unturned while the show is in its last lap.
About 50 activists of JDUSU have campaigned at Jadavpur University, Scottish Church College, Rabindra Bharati University, Ashutosh College and St Xavier’s College in Calcutta and they say the response has been overwhelming.
“We do not want to take any risk now. People of Calcutta have an ear for music and we hope they would vote for a Bengali boy. The response we got from the crowd there was more than expected,” said Sanjiv Acharya, the national secretary of JDUSU.
The student activists have also campaigned at Gariahat, Maniktala and Salt Lake.
Though Rajdeep is elated to be among the top five contestants at the musical event, votes are still bothering him. He said that pressure is mounting as the show reaches its final leg. “At reality shows there is no second chance. I have to perform well every time to stay in it. But despite my performance the votes are not pouring in for me.”
He acknowledges the fact that audience love have made him reach this position but being in the bottom three is bogging him down.
“Wherever I am today is because of the love and affection of people. If I am enjoying the moment but at the same time is a bit tensed. I am feeling the heat of the show now,” Rajdeep said, over the phone from Mumbai.
The 17-year-old feels that if he wins the title it would not only be his success but everybody who had voted or wished for him.
“The love is definitely there which is coming to me in the form of votes but I need more to be in the safe zone and to win the title, which is everything I want now,” Rajdeep said.
Amid the fanfare, ask him what he misses the most and pat come the reply. “ My father. I have been away from him for eight months now and I have not been able to talk to him or see. If I win the show he will be so proud of me,” he saidsource: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090204/jsp/jharkhand/story_10480831.jsp
I don't want to be another Sonu: Emon
But, despite being among the top contestants and regarded as a talented voice, isn't he scared of fading into oblivion like many of the earlier winners?
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/I_dont_want_to_be_another_Sonu_Emon_/articleshow/2353443.cms
Red FM gets breather, FICCI cautions against bans
New Delhi: Radio channel Red FM will not go off air for the moment. The Telecom Disputes Settlement Tribunal has given a stay on the ban imposed on the station by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
West Bengal witnessed violent outbursts last week when the RJ of the radio channel passed a derogatory remark on the ethnicity of Indian Idol Prashant Tamang. The protesters pelted stones on the Silliguri streets a week ago, enraged by the remark that a ‘Gurkha’ has won the Indian idol contest.
The radio station has since apologized and the RJ who allegedly made the remark has been taken off air. Priyaranjan Das Munshi proposed a ban on Red FM for a week as punishment.
However, TDSAT the telecom watch dog, which was to decide on the ban has put the decision on hold. So the Red FM will stay on air at least till the next hearing on November 13. Since there are no existing guidelines the TDSAT will have to rely on the Indian Penal Code to determine whether the remarks were derogatory or not.
But radio broadcasters across the country are up in arms against Ministry’s big ban syndrome. They say that it conveys precisely the wrong signal to a fledgling industry, which is trying to put a code of conduct in place.
source: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/red-fm-wont-go-off-air-ficci-subsides-indian-idol-row/49895-3.html
Indian Idol finalist Amit Paul felicitated
Shillong, Oct. 4 (PTI): Meghalaya government today presented a cash award of Rs 1 lakh to the "Indian Idol" finalist Amit Paul at a home-coming reception here.
Presenting the award at Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh said that Paul would inspire youths of the state to excel themselves not only in music, but other spheres as well.
Paul, who has been chosen by the state government as the Ambassador for peace, communal harmony and excellence, enthralled the crowd by singing songs like "Nasha Yeh Pyaar Ka Naasha Hai", "Pehla Nasha", "Bulaah Ki Jaana Me Kaun", "Ngan Iai Kynmaw (Khasi)", Garo and Bengali songs for more than an hour this afternoon.
Tourism Minister Charles Pyngrope was also present on the occasion.
source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200710041823.htm
And where is she, Indian Idol?
In Malhi’s words, Cooking Is Not Rocket Science is a kitchen for British cuisine — what’s that? She’d be better off teaching us about ham and eggs, watercress sandwiches, crumpets, scones... scrumptious. But this is NDTV Good Times and if you don’t like it, fly away with Kingfisher perched on its shoulder. The new lifestyle channel has other food shows such as Highway On My Plate. Here, two hunks, always hungry, eat up the miles looking for food. The plump one does all the talking, the muscular the eating; their relationship with food is one way — they consume it. In Amritsar, how they ate — Golden Temple langhar, betki fish tikkas... That you don’t learn how to cook should bother you as little as it does them. Food stars on Good Times: The Single Female Traveller sees Ambika Anand sampling Goan food while she see the sights; a show about weddings, also in Goa, had plenty about wining and dining — maybe that’s why it’s called The Big Fat Indian Wedding. Us locals have attended enough weddings to know what they are about — and what they are about is not this wedding in Goa that was designer labelled for NRIs only. The last time you saw a Wedding Planner was in the film by the same name If you eat so much, you have to exercise. Suniel Shetty got plenty of fat off obese individuals on The Biggest Loser (Sahara). Here, he leads you through to a Sweat, while lesser mortals huff and puff up an appetite. Good Times looks good enough to eat, a desi Travel & Living without its humour. Nothing is out of place — not even a strand of hair. You get the feeling everything is too, too that — natural as hair styled with mousse. A few ads the minister of information and broadcasting may like to ban next. The first has a fetching blonde eating strawberries. Mouth-watering, until she adds: “flavoured condoms”. Should we be advertising the taste of condoms? Another has a crowd of Tibetans rush into a holy sanctuary, with a reverential “Rimpoche” They kneel, bow before a small boy who sits with a halo around his head. The boy hastens to join them leaving behind a shining bulb. Don’t think the devout will find this amusing. Sony’s Indian Idol 3 made news before Prashant Tamang was declared winner: Aaj Tak, CNN-IBN, NDTV 24x7 and Star News crooned with Prashant and Amit Paul all Sunday, heightening the frenzy that has seized the North-East. The night’s entertainment was longer than Amit and Prashant’s kurtas but fun enough, although judge Javed Akhtar wore an expression that said, "And I thought I had seen/heard it all" and the Delhi audience was lukewarm. This is the most heavily-politicised talent hunt so far with PM and Congress President Sonia Gandhi meeting the two boys in a battle between Shillong and Darjeeling. Also, a female is still to win Idol or Sa Re, c’mon, Chak De, girls. source: http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=17353
t’s definitely not cricket, It’s Not Rocket Science either. Nor is it biryani. Manju Malhi’s version resembles rice mish-mash (is there any other kind?) with tomato ketchup chutney. Who in this big, bad, mad, wide world, cooks a vegetarian biryani that needs tomato sauce to make it go down in the most delightful way (thank you, Mary Poppins)? And why would millions of Indians who, by Malhi’s count, know of 49 other ways to cook biryani, want this 50th one?
Oh yes, Lounge lizard Rajat Kapoor is all over the place. A talk show host asks questions and guides the conversation in different directions. Kapoor is weak in geography so he doesn’t know where the conversation is leading.