“The contestants have come into the zone of sur”- Anand Sharma

Being on Indian Idol is not really a cake walk. The contestants are taken through regular practice and hectic rehearsals so that they come out of their comfort zone and prepare themselves for the battle of playback singing.

Anand Sharma shared with us about the training sessions of the contestants. He shared, “Initially, when we had started training, we had made the habit of morning riyaaz. Everyone used to get up early and by 7, we are ready for practice with the tanpura. After regular practice, the contestants have come into the zone of sur and they have got streamlined. Later they started picking up songs; the fine points of the songs and its expressions, and the language of the composition. Just like we have a full stop or a comma in our language, tunes also have its features which the music directors use when they compose their songs. It is very important to pick up those fine aspects of the songs. Along the line, they are taught all these points. Apart from this, they are also taught to work on their strong and weak points so that they can overcome the situations and pick up songs in less amount of time. These are some of the aspects we try to guide them through.”

Vocal trainers, Anand sir and Raju sir, work day and night with the contestants to create them for flawless performances on stage.

Watch the Top 5 contestants on Indian Idol 6 this week on Sony Entertainment Television.

Slam Book of Mini Mathur

                            

What annoys me the most: Incompetence.

I get complimented most about: My ability to connect with people.

I get turned on by: Good music, good food, good lighting, great intelligence and fantastic humour.

A word or phrase I often use: ‘No Way’!

A bad habit: I am really very impatient and I get angry very fast and I don’t think about what I say.

A secret of mine: Are you crazy. I am not going to tell that. I am a great secret keeper and that’s why I have friends.

The year I faced the camera: My very first ad for a Ray Ban in 1995.

Interests: I am interested in Politics, Science Fiction.

If not an entertainer, I would be: Many years back, I would have been a doctor because I had got into a medical college actually. But then I decided to study literature. But otherwise, I would have been in advertising.

A scar I have from childhood: I do have a scar on my forehead which happened because of my brother. We were playing catch-catch with stones and it hit my head. I have two scars which have become a part of my life now.

My most prized possession: My kids.

Brand conscious or pick the one I see first: It is a mix of both. I like brands for what they do for me, but I do not like brands because they are brands.

Slam Book of Hussain Kuwajerwala…

My first job and first pay: In a departmental store where I was paid Rs 900 a month.

What annoys me the most: When you deserve something and when you need it badly, pyaar mohabbat se koi sunta hi nahi hain. It is then, when you feel ‘why’???  Why do you have to repeatedly ask and that too in a manner which you do not like?

I get complimented most about: Currently, I get complimented most about my show, Zangoora, and also about my abs.

I get turned on by: Simplicity

A word or phrase I often use: I wish I could say you that…

A secret of mine: After being in the industry for so long, I do not think there are any secrets left in my life. Years back there was a hush-hush about who my girl friend was, but that is also cleared.  I am an open book now.

The year I faced the camera: I am not sure, I think it was 1998.

Interests: Most of my interests and hobbies have become a part and parcel of my profession. In fact, I can give you a list of what does not interest me, like Real Estate and Politics. I am very bad in social networking and I do not even have a Facebook account.

If not an actor/host I would be: Thank God I am one, because, I really do not know what I would have been if not an actor. In fact, even today I tell my mother, aapka beta actor nahin banta toh pata nahi kya karta.

A scar I have from childhood: No yaar! I was never mischievous. I was a very seedha saadha guy, who used to go to school with his school bag with no complaints. I was very boring as a child and not notorious at all.

My most prized possession: The state of happiness and stability that I am in today.

Brand conscious or pick the one you see first: I am not at all brand conscious. I do not wear brands at all and I do not believe in brands. Even when I wear a watch, ultimately woh time hi dikhata hain. But if I can afford a brand and if it’s not easily available anywhere else, I would like to buy it. If you have maintained yourself, then trust me, anything will look good on you.

“Pritam supported me a lot”- Monali Thakur

Monali Thakur is one such example who proved that getting eliminated from Indian Idol cannot stop you from becoming a playback singer. After Indian Idol, Monali’s voice became a sensation after the success of the popular song Zara Zara Touch Me composed by Pritam Chakraborty.

In a small chat, Monali spoke about her experience working with the popular music composer of Bollywood.

“Pritam was the first person whom I met after I came to Mumbai after Indian Idol. He supported me so nicely and I got to experience Bollywood recording for the first time. I remember, Sunidhi was recording for Pritam when I had gone to his studio. That’s when I saw a Bollywood song being recorded inside a studio because I had no idea how recording happened in Mumbai. Pritam has been really an amazing person to me and it has been amazing working with him“, Monali shared.
Whose fortune is going to change next?

Do not forget to watch all the upcoming episodes of Indian Idol 6 only on Sony Entertainment Television.

Anu Malik on his two popular shows on Sony Entertainment Television…

  

Composer-judge Anu Malik has been part of two popular shows of Sony Entertainment Television, since its start; Indian Idol and Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega.  

When asked about his role in both of the shows, Anu Malik shared, “Indian Idol is a search for singing talents and I am a completely different person on the show who looks into sur and taal. But on Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Farah and I lose our minds completely wherein we are total entertainers.  I think the public wait for both the shows because; they have Anu Malik in them.”
 
Catch Anu Malik along with Salim and Sunidhi on Indian Idol 6 this week.

Raju Singh shares his views about Amit Kumar

Amit Kumar has always surprised the judges and the viewers with his loud and dhamaakedar performances. His voice has always stood out for its power packed quality. Vocal trainer Raju Singh shared his views about training Amit.

“Amit comes from Punjab and he has trained himself in that kind of a singing. He has that chak de fatte waali baat. But at the same time, he has to understand that every song cannot be sung that way. So the moment we give him a different song, he is under a test”, shared Raju Ji.

With competition getting more fierce contestants are in the run to show their versatility.

Do not forget to watch Amit on Indian Idol 6 every week only on Sony Entertainment Television.

Slam Book of Hussain Kuwajerwala…

My Birthday : 12 October 1977
My Sun Sign: Libra
My Nickname: My friends call me Hassi, which was actually kept by my father-in-law.
My hobbies: Working out was, once upon a time, a hobby for me, but today it has become a part of my profession. Apart from that, I have the very cliched hobbies like playing badminton, listening to music and watching films. All my hobbies are related to my profession now; including dance.
Favourite movies: Life is Beautiful and all the other classics like Sholay.
Favourite outfit: Anything which is comfortable, like denim and T-shirts.
Favourite holiday destination: New Zealand, because my wife and I had the best of our days there and especially because it was our honeymoon.
Favourite actors: I think every actor will refer to Mr Bachchan, and I am nothing different.
My heart dances with joy at the thought of: Whenever I am happy, I feel like dancing. Be it a new project or a good film, or anything that makes me happy.
I look back to the day when: I started my career, and it gets me the feeling ‘Oh God! 12 years. Too long.’
A song I can’t resist to groove on: I cannot name just one. I like all the old numbers of Mr Bachchan like apni toh jaise taise.
Menu I would binge on if I give diet a miss: Ice Creams of Butter Pecan flavor.
One thing I would like to change about myself: Mr Bachchan had once said that ‘zindagi mein aage badhne ke liye aapko ‘na’ bolna padtha hain’, and that’s exactly what I cannot do. It is very difficult for me to say ‘no’ to anyone for anything. Also, I would like to start reading a lot and play more sports.
Any Phobia: I just want to see my family happy, and the very thought of losing them, scares me a lot.
I miss: My dad.