HIMESH RESHAMMIYA

Jungle mein mor naacha to kisne dekha? Today if you want your show to scale the top charts with better TRPs, you have got to make it entertaining with extra dosage of drama and reality. However, it does not mean that we should resort to be budtameezi and demoralise the participants. If as a judge, I am extra harsh towards a participant, it is not my intention to demoralise him or her or destroy his or her ambitious spirit. It is only to see to it that he or she goes to higher levels and touch world standards. At one time not long ago, only four singers used to rule the film industry, today there are almost 60 singers vying for the spotlight. We have reached the stage where when you listen to a song you may know who the music director is but 90 per cent of the time you would not be able to place who the playback singer is. Yes. Times have become tougher for those who want to be singers.

SAMEERA REDDY

For the first time, I will be a judge along with Mahesh Bhatt and Ganesh Hegde in the reality show ‘Kabhi Kabhii Pyaar Kabhi Kabhii Yaar’ on Sony TV. I do not like to criticise people. In fact, I am such an emotional fool that I am sure when a participant fails to make the grade in the show I may also end up crying with him or her. However, as a judge I believe in telling the participant what their plus points and what their weak points are so that they can improve. 

SHANKAR MAHADEVAN

Though I am one of the four judges in the reality music show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Challenge 2009’ along with Himesh, Adesh and Preetam, I have been associated with the show for the last 12 years in various capacities. It is only now that I have been given an opportunity to be on the panel as a judge. To tell you the truth, I expected a contestant to sing up to a certain level but was pleasantly surprised to see the vast range of talent of the participants in the very first episode itself. Though I do not think that a judge has the right to be too harsh to change the life of a contestant and make him depressed, at the same time, I also am of the opinion that at the end of the day, all the contestants who are taking part in the show should also realise that it is just a competition to test your skill and not the end of the world.

MAHESH BHATT

I do not believe in intimidating the contestants in the show. It is not for the first time that I am a judge in a reality show. I had taken part in the show ‘Jhoom India’ on Sahara earlier as one of the judges.  Drama is an inherent part of any reality show but it should not affect any participant psychologically. I will see to it that I add to the knowledge of the participants since they all look up to me to share with them the experience that I have gained in the film industry over the years. As a judge you should be able to have the guts to call a spade a spade fearlessly and let the contestant improve with his subsequent performance. If you sympathise and avoid telling them the harsh truth subtly, nothing will be gained.

JV