Following the success of the previous two seasons, Zee Kannada, Zee Network’s Kannada language channel, has announced the launch of the third season of Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa. This new season, compiled into 26 episodes and featuring young children (7-12 years) is scheduled to hit the channel on Saturday, December 29 at 9 p.m. Hosted by singer M D Pallavi, the show will be telecast for an hour from 9 pm. on weekends.
A forum
Aptly named Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs, this talent hunt provides a platform exclusively for children as it is unfair to judge them along with adults who have age and experience working for them. Rajesh Krishnan, the permanent judge, talking about the show said, “Finally the children in Karnataka have been provided with a beautiful platform to showcase their talent and achieve their dreams.”
Over a thousand participants registered at the 3 day long auditions held at R.V. Dental College. Out of these, 60 children were selected by the judges, singer and music composer Raju Ananthaswamy and singer Suma Shastry. The semi finals, called the theatre round, will have these participants competing with each other under the scrutiny of theatre personality and singer B. Jayashree and singer Hemant Kumar, who in turn will shortlist a total of 9 boys and 9 girls.
Will intensify
he search for Karnataka’s two best junior singers — one boy and one girl will get further intense and exciting with the Gala round, the finals, where the 18 little contestants will be judged by Rajesh Krishnan and other guest celebrities who will appear in individual episodes. S. Balaraj, creative director of Miditech, who is directing the show, said that each weekend two participants will be eliminated-a girl on Saturday and a boy on Sunday. The winner will receive an educational scholarship for a yet to be specified amount.
S Balaraj promised that Li’l champs would blend entertainment with education with the 18 finalists being taken to the planetarium, Bannarghatta national park and the like. Apart from the talent exhibited on stage, the show will capture the gurukul type training the children receive, their personal stories and their experiences.
The winner of the first season (for youngsters within the 18-25 age group), ChinmayAthreya, has sung over 40 tracks in Kannada alone. Supriya Ramakrishna, winner of the second season (for housewives), won a Santro car.
