Anti North Indian campaign unfortunate: Gajendra Singh

Bhopal, Mar 11 (UNI) Pioneer of modern face of music reality shows in Indian television industry, Producer and Director Gajendra Singh, described the anti-north Indian campaign sparked by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackrey as 'unfortunate'.

Mr Singh, who arrived in the 'City of Lakes' for shooting two episodes of 'Star Plus' musical show 'Chhote Ustad', told UNI here today that every citizen of India has the right to settle down in any part of the country for its livelihood.

Mr Singh, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district and settled in Mumbai in 1984, popularised music game show like 'Antakshri' and talent shows like 'Sa Re Ga Ma', 'Voice of India' not only in India but outside the country, expressed his concern over such regional campaigns.

While talking on his love for music shows he said that after a meeting with his creative director he would soon venture a non-musical project.

While Shreya Ghoshal, one of the three judges in the programme also arrived in the state capital, told UNI that she was the most crying judge in the programme as she always keep on crying on every touchy moment.

''I cry when a participant evicts or I listen an emotional song from them,'' said the judge, adding that seeking all these acts of hers, her friend termed her as most crying judge.

Shreya Ghoshal, who sang in Hindi, Bengali, Rajasthani, Marathi, Asamese, Nepalese French and most of the south Indian languages, was also the discovery of Mr Singh's talent hunt programme Sa Re Ga Ma aired on ZEE TV. She bagged two national and five filmfare awards for singing.

Walking down the memory lanes she said that Mr Singh introduced me to Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Devdas and that proved to be the turning point of her career.

''Right mood and peace of mind and body are the prime factors which results in a melodious song and if their are repercussions then break shall be taken,'' said Ghoshal, adding that she was willing to launch a classical music album but she was not in the mood of starting an Academy as she thinks that teaching music was the toughest job. .

Shreya was performing on stage from the age of five and she also joined Kalyanji Bhai's workshop.

''Winning a talent show is not the key to success in music industry if you are the real talent then thousands of eyes would spot you for their projects despite your early eviction from the programme,'' asserted Shreya, adding that even mediocre singers gained such popularity that they can earn their bread and butter through stage shows.

The under 18 anchor of Chhote Ustad Abhas Joshi, who was also the discovery of Mr Singh's Voice of India, told UNI that he never had any competition between him and Zee TV's L'il Champ programme host Aditya Narayan as their status and style were different despite their same nature of job.

''Reality shows may provide a platform, a break, but it cannot take you longer the rest route is to be tread by yourself,'' chuckled the host, adding that reality shows provides a short-term recognition and obscurity sinks them soon but to make it a life long one had to again struggle hard.

UNI KV 1316