"Thousands will try, only one will win" - Idea Star Singer 2007

Idea Star Singer(ISS) is a music reality show that is telecasted on Asianet from 8.30p.m to 9.30p.m on all weekdays. As the programme continues its triumphant journey to the deeply competitive rounds, there are only ten contestants left out in the run. Even when their final result is uncertain, they have already melted the hearts of the audience with their mellifluous voice.

Starting out in 2006 on the lines of Indian Idol, the chief judge was Malayalam music director M. Jayachandran, while the panel included famous personalities like K. S. Chithra, M. G. Radhakrishnan, Tippu, Deepak Dev, Jassie Gift, Chithra Iyer, and many other pioneers from the field of music. Co-anchored by singers Afsal and Rimi Tomy, over 7,000 contestants participated from various states, and the ultimate winners of ISS 2006 were Arun Raj in the male category and Kavita Jayaram in the female category. The winners received a gift of Rs. 1 lakh, a contract for playback assignments in Jayachandran's upcoming film projects, and a deal with Satyam Audios and doing concerts abroad.

ISS 2007 returned in an even bigger and better format, anchored by Ranjini Haridas, a former Miss Kerala. The prize was an opportunity to sing in the next project by film director Vinayan, and an apartment in Cochin worth Rs 40,00,000. The judging panel featured playback singer M. G. Sreekumar, music director Sharath, and another popular playback singer Usha Uthup. The fourth judging spot featured a celebrity guest who has an importance in malayalam film industry. The 2007 talent hunt was inaugurated by Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, and more than 20,000 hopeful singers applied to participate in this edition of the show. Only 45 singers were short-listed from the 100 contestants in the preliminary round, followed by an elimination round on TV via SMS and the decision of the judges.

ISS 2007 for the last few weeks witnessed moments of excitement coupled with tears and joys, heartbreak and jubilation, learning and achievements. Raising levels of viewer delirium is evident and the show goes on. The present 10 contestants of Idea Star Singer 2007 who are currently participating in the pre-quarter finals are :- Amrutha Suresh, Arun Gopan, Durga Vishwanath, Hesham Abdul Wahab, Najim Arshad, Roshan N.C., Sannidanandhan, Thushar, Vani Jayaram and Vijay Madhav.

However, some times I do feel that its not a singing competition any more. Its shame on well known musicians like M.G.Sreekumar and Sharath to show favours to some participants explicitly. The Judges should rank each of the contestants using the same caliberation. Even an ordinary music lover like me could find out mistakes in the song and performance of Najim and I am surprised to find that he gets 87, where as others who has sung well has got less. Defenitely, it seems there is a hidden agenda to make Najim the winner.

It is rumoured that eliminations are pre-decided, staged and context-frame shot to look like a drama rather than a 'Reality show'. Some of the contestants who are getting lower marks were not coming to danger zone. The channel clarified later the elimination process by announcing the time of making the episode when the eighth stage performance telecast was completed. This gave an opportunity for the public to participate live in the elimination round, however, ISS being a reality show, Asianet neither publishes elimination shoot dates in advance nor announces the participants order of appearance for their performance rounds in each stages.

Asianet has not made clear how the SMS votes are attributed before and after on each contestants reaching the 'danger zone' leading to their elimination. It is alleged that the SMS votes received are not being added to decide the ranking of the contestants. Number or the percentage of SMS votes received by each contestants are kept private from the viewers of the show. Since the channel has its reach over 60 countries including the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka, China, South East Asia, Middle East, Europe, USA, Singapore and the lower half of the former Soviet Union at various time zones, the SMS voting end-time was initially not announced. Asianet later clarified after the eighth stage that SMS voting deadlines are based on Indian Standard Time.

The show appears to have lost some credibility when one of the contestants was eliminated without being present at the stage on the eighth round of eliminations. The reason behind this contestants deliberate absence remains unexplained to the audience and was told due to 'personal reasons' and 'not so serious matter' concerning him, ISS & Asianet. They have confirmed that he was elimated from show due to violating one of the rules. There is a rumor that the contestant got booted after he declined from signing the exclusivity rights contract with Asianet not to sing in movies, attend stage shows, or other television channel's programs for a period of 18 months.

What ever happens behind the scenes, there is no doubt that ISS 2007 has become the most viewed program in Malayalam Television programs.

A note about the Judges-

Sarath : A disciple of padma vibushan, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, sharath has been constantly researching music possibilities, especially in the permutations and combinations of saptaswaras in classical and fusion... he has got best music director award for the film Pavithram.

M G Sreekumar : Is a renowned Malayalam singer who got the National Award for the best singer twice, once for the song "Nadaroopini" from "His Higness Abdulla (1990)" and "Chante Pottum" in Vasnthiyum Lekshmiyum Pinne Njanum (2000). He has also bagged the Kerala State Award for the best male singer for the song "Kanneer poovinte" in the film Kireedom (1991). He has also sung more than 3,000 songs in Malayalam.

Usha Uthup : Or Didi as she is fondly referred to, started to pursue a professional singing career in 1969. With her gifted, velvet, smooth voice she was the only artist to have recorded six albums in English with HMV/EMI. Today she sings in more than thirteen Indian and eight foreign languages. This is an achievement by itself. Her endearing charm and powerful vocal chords have given Usha fans of all ages, from all over the country.