Prashant Tamang is the Indian Idol 3 !!

Oh! Oh my! Oh my God! Prashant Tamang from Darjeeling is the new Indian Idol! How did that happen! I thought Amit Paul will win! :( I also wanted Amit to win, because he was a full Indian Idol package, with good voice as well as good looks! All the judges also used to say the same! :(

Well, anyways, never mind, Prashant is also a good singer, i agree, though Amit was better than him. Congrats to Prashant, he made Kolkata police force very proud. :) Oh yes he is one among the Kolkata police force! Yesterday, the 23rd of september, the grand finale was held at Delhi, with the contestants giving live performance. Also, other singers like Sukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan, Mika, along with the other 11 finalist of Indian Idol, also performed!
By the way, Prashant & Amit are best of friends, and told that they both would be happy, whoever wins! Amit told, long back he told jokingly that they both should reach the top-2, and there they were, in reality! ;)
Also, only the winner was going to get the Maruti Suzuki SX4 car, but it turned out that even Amit Paul got it! Now doesn't that sound cool? ;) It sure does!

Abhijeet Sawant, the first Indian Idol, & Sandeep Acharya, the second Indian Idol, were also among the performers for the evening!

There were of the grand finale, in many parts it was around 3 hrs long programme, but sadly, very sadly, the videos have been removed from youtube, no idea 4 what reason, some reason maybe ! :-/

But nevermind, there are always the official websites which come 2 the rescue at these times, right? ;)
So you can check this out - http://indianidol.sify.com/bestofseason3/

Cheers ! :)

Return of Nach Baliye!

One reality show has not yet got over, another reality show is back! One of the most popular dance reality shows on television, Nach Baliye, season 3, will soon hit the screens on Star Plus today! Nach Baliye season-3, the dance competition between the star couples, is back on Star plus! It is starting from today, that's 21st of September, at 8pm. They have these different themes, types etc. for the dance, which are judged by well-known choreographers, directors, actors etc. Last 2 seasons saw Saroj Khan, well-known choreographer, as one of the judges. The other 2 were the gorgeous Malaika Arora Khan & director Kunal Kohli.

This time, in the 3rd season, everything seems to be different, as they are saying in advertisements! ;) This time the judges are also different, they are Isha Kopikar (actress), Vaibhavi Merchant (choreographer) & David Dhawan (director). (Well i have no idea as to why David Dhawan is being called! :P )
This time the couples are also new, young, & not to forget, one of the couples being the very-famous-for-all-wrong-things Rakhi Sawant & her partner! :P

In the 1st season, the winners were Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar, both are well known for acting in comedy serials, & also Marathi films, Sachin is also a director! They were the oldest among all the contestant, but took it as a challenge, danced really well, & there, they won! ;)
Check out their pic - http://starone.indya.com/images/specials/nachbaliye/pg/pg08.jpg

Who told older people cannot win anything? Think again! :)

In the 2nd season, the winners were the very-famous Hussain Kuwajerwala & his wife Tina! I have to say this they danced really really well, & whenever i saw Hussain dancing i was reminded only of Hrithik dancing! ;)
Check out their pic - http://www.dnaindia.com/imageshow.asp?objid=1066287

Unfortunately this time older-people-can-also-win funda did not work, where Ketki & Rasik Dave were the oldest among all. Ketki Dave is well known for her character of Daksha in Kyunki..... :P ararararaaaaa.......
Nach Baliye 2nd season also had very good dancers like Shweta Tiwari a.k.a Prerna of Kasautii Zindagi Kay & her hubby Raja Chaudhary, Gaurav Chopra & Narayani Shastri, & Tanaz Lal (Tanaz Currim) & Bhaktyaar Iraani! They danced realyl well! ;)

Check out their pics:
Shweta & Raja - http://www.mid-day.com/ArticleImages/images80/raja311200633040.jpg
& http://www.dnaindia.com/imageshow.asp?objid=1103614

Narayani & Gaurav - http://www.mid-day.com/ArticleImages/images78/Narayani259200614531.jpg

Tanaz & Bhaktyaar - http://starone.indya.com/images/specials/nb2_new/thumbnails/tanaaz_bhaktyar.gif

In the 3rd season, we have all new couples, who will be setting the dance floors on fire with their talents to bag the very much coveted trophy of Nach Baliye! ;)
Now, let me introduce you to them! :)

1st couple: The very well known Rakhi Sawant & her partner Abhishek Awasthi! Oh well yeah she's famous for all wrong things, but here she's come to showcase her dancing skills!
Rakhi and Abhishek first met on the sets of a shoot and later, during gym sessions and stunt classes. Abhishek proposed to Rakhi in South Africa but she didn't take him seriously. She finally said 'yes' during the celebrity reality show, Bigg Boss! Oh yes not to forget, she was in another reality show before this, Big Boss, which was similar to Big Brother. :)
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8444/

2nd couple: Another well known actress Shweta Keswani & her partner Alexx O'Neil! Shweta is well known for her vampish characters in TV soaps. ;) Her boyfriend Alexx is half Irish & half Dutch! Sounds cool, doesn't it? ;) Shweta and Alexx first met at Mumbai's J W Marriott hotel.
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8446/

3rd couple: Well known stars from the serial Kasturi on Star Plus, Karan Patel and Amita Chandekar! Amita did not know Karan until she showed up at his place with one of his friends. They met often after that, and one day at a party, he asked her if she fancied the rest of her life with him. Karan portrays a well known rockstar Roby Sabarwal in the serial Kasturi.
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8445/

4th couple: Now now now..... beware of this very-famous villian from bollywood! Here comes Shakti Kapoor, & Shivangi Kapoor! Who does not know Shakti Kapoor? I don't think anyone! ;) Everyone, right from small children to oldies, know him very well! Well, but now he is here to dance, not to show his villianous character! :P They first meeting was a disaster because Shivangi saw Shakti in a wig with grey hair. Later, when he removed it, she found him very charming and fell in love with him! hehehe.....
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8443/

5th couple: Prem from Kasautii Zindagi Kay! Please welcome Vikas Sethi & Amita Sethi! Well, They met each other for the first time in a club, and tied the knot soon after.
Amita, a trained kathak dancer, serves as an airhostess with Air India. Vikas, meanwhile, is popular as Swayam, in Kahi To Hoga & Prem in Kasautii.....
Hmm...that does sound interesting, having a trained dancer as a partner, i do not think things should be really difficult for them! ;)
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8442/

6th couple: Here comes a guy with chocolate boy image! :D Please welcome Karan Grover & Kavita Kaushik! Well, Karan is right now famous for his character Raj in the musical serial Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni, & Kavita is also famous for her vampish characters, not that she doesn't portray goody characters! ;) Karan also stars in another serial Saarathi, & Kavita has acted in a lot of serials like Tumhari Disha, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kumkum - Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan and Dil Kya Chahta Hai. They first met at a hotel and later at a party. Karan offered her a drink and she asked him 'Are you the bartender?' They are still high on life! hehe.....
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8441/

7th couple: Well, Kya hoga Nimmo ka! Sigh! Yes, here she is! Welcome Aamir Ali & Sanjeeda Sheikh! I hope the judges do not say something similar, Kya hoga Sanjeeda ka! hehehe.....! Aamir and Sanjeeda met at a friend's party and soon, became good friends. She became popular thanks to the serial, Kya Hoga Nimmo Kaa, and is currently seen in Kayamath, while Aamir Ali has been seen in serials like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and Woh Rehne Wali Mehelo Ki.
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8440/

8th couple: Here comes one of the sexy siren's of bollywood, a well known actress, along with her partner! Please welcome Kashmera Shah & Krushna Abhishek! Oh yeah who doesn't know Kashmera Shah! Well, They first met on the sets of a film, and very soon, fell in love. Krushna is Govinda's nephew. Kashmera, who was last seen in Bigg Boss, is all set to sizzle on Nach Baliye!
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8439/

9th couple: Please welcome Kiran Janjani and Ritu Janjani! The first time they met was when Kiran gave her a ride to a common friend's birthday party. From there, they steered them into a journey of love. Kiran earlier worked for the Jet Airways, and has done quite a few ads. He starred in Deepak Tijori's Oops! as well!
Check out their pics - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8438/

Last but not the least, 10th couple: She's a very famous actress, daughter of the very famous Kabir Bedi; & he's a very famous choreographer, became more famous after Jhalak Dikhla ja, another famous reality dance show, on Sony channel! Please welcome Pooja Bedi & Hanif Hilal! She met Hanif at the dance reality show, Jhalak Dhikla Jaa, where he was her choreographer, and they clicked instantly. Hanif has his own dance troop called Flame and used to have shows in Mumbai and Pune. Sound interesting, doesn't it? ;)
Check out their pics in the below links -
Jhalak Dikhla ja - http://www.mid-day.com/ArticleImages/images78/pooja149200621041.jpg
Nach Baliye - http://www.bollywoodblog.com/showimages.aspx/show/9446/8437/

Well, that's all for now! The programme is starting from today! So guys & girls, do not forget to tune in to Star plus every Friday & Saturday at 8pm, get ready to cheer for all these contestants! ;)

Journey of Indian Idol 3 Finalists

Just 4 days more, & there we'll see the winner of Indian Idol 3 contest! Right from 17th, till 23rd, the Sony channel is showing some excerpts of the finalists' Prashant Tamang's, from Darjeeling, & Amit Paul's, from Shillong, musical jouney. These will be just half n hour programs. The winner will be announced on 23rd of september, that is, this Sunday! ;)

For more information about this, check out this link below:

http://us.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k7/sep/sep262.php

Voting systems in Reality Shows

Just after any reality show start on the "idiot box", much before the voting lines are open, people are all ready with their landline phones & mobiles etc., to vote for their favourite contestants! Now these are what we call "avid viewers". Its not just 5-10 SMS' or calls that these people send or do, but they send innumerable SMS', most which are not even counted! Yes, only 20 SMS'/calls are registered per number, this thing people should know! So that means, for people who send many many many SMS' & keep making calls to vote for their favourite contestants, its a total waste of lot of money!! Only 20 SMS'/calls has gone through!

For people who do not believe this, its high time they contact some media people to confirm this, or may be the contestants directly, that is if they know them through someone!

From one contestant herself, its confirmed: (Only orkut users can check this out!) http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=33909921&tid=2555205539816459346&start=1

For those who do not use orkut, for them the message is below:
Sumitra Iyer 01 Hi, Sumitra here. IMPORTANT!!!!Thanks for all your lovely words and support as always . i can say thats my two minutes of refreshment from my busy and stressful schedule,Important thing is now on only 20 SMS / CALLS from each phone will be registered. I have fans writing that they vote in several HUNDERDS, soplease take care to vote from different numbers.AND NOW ON EVERY WEEK WOULD BE CRUCIAL!! So, thanks again to each one of you!Lots a love, GOD BLESS!

Voice of India

Just before i could shoot out some question like ' why there are very few good programs on star plus' , there came another talent hunt show Amul Star Voice of India, which can be seen on every friday & saturday night at 10. This is one show which i have never missed, can never miss & will never miss.

Judged by the most talented people like singers Alka Yagnik, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, music directors Jatin & Lalit Pandit, Aadesh Shrivastava & hosted by another gr8 singer Shantanu a.k.a Shaan, this program started in June '07, with rounds of eliminations zone-wise, short-listing to just 3-4 from each zone, which then lead to the ' bemisaal barah '.
oh yeah before the bemisaal barah it was bemisaal pandhraa, ie., 15 contestants before short-listing to the 12 gr8 singers! ;) It was very difficult for the judges to eliminate some good singers & so 3 more singers were selected along with the 12 others.

So, back to bemisaal barah, 2 groups were formed, Agni team & Prithvi team
Agni Team consisted of - Sumitra, Mirande, Arshpreet, Harshit, Abhas, Toshi, & Judges Aadesh Shrivastava & Lalit Pandit.
Prithvi Team consisted of - Abhilasha, Prantika, Priyani, Ishmeet, Prantik, Irfan, & Judges Alka Yagnik & Abhijeet.
Jatin Pandit was common for both.

Then started the voting system (I'm against this system though, seeing the rounds of episodes since the past few weeks!) , audience had to vote for their favourite contestants, & with the help of number of votes, the contestant who got the least number of votes got eliminated. All of them excellent singers, it was, & is still very difficult for the judges as well as the audience to judge who was, & is the best!

Fridays are the days when there's eliminations as well as the contestants' performances, & saturdays the contestants just performs & gets points from the judges! ;)
Ya, the voting period is from saturday 10 pm to sunday 12 midnight.
4 contestants who get the least number of votes are in 'chakravaat' or danger zone, which is a very crucial moment for whoever fall in that, & the others fall in 'suraksha chakra' or are safe.
The 1st contestant to get eliminated was Prantika, then the next week, 2nd one, Prantik got eliminated.
The 3rd person to get eliminated was Ashpreet, which was a very sad moment for her because for the 1st time her dad had come on the sets to see her sing live! :(
The 4th elimination was a huge shock for all of us, including the judges, host, the creative director of the program, audience.....! It was none other than the very talented singer Toshi! I do not know about the others, but i never expected him to get eliminated ! Every1 among the audience cried, even the judges cried!
The 5th elimination was again a big shock, it was Priyani. She's another very talented singer, was known as a 'fighter'! (see this is the reason i dislike voting system! )
The next day after Priyani got eliminated, Alka ji announced about the wild card entry between Ashpreet, Toshi & Priyani. Now lets hope for the best & lets see who comes back!
The 6th person to get eliminated was Mirande, a national level swimmer! Being a sports person, she took the elimination very sportingly, but still was sad as she would have to part with her friends!
Now that's the saddest part, 12 youngsters staying together for almost 4-5 months, they ought to have becomes the closest of buddies! So 1 contestant's elimination was like other contestants' loss, they all hugged & cried & encouraged each other.....!

There are different themes for the contestants, like, yesterday (15th sept), it was marriage theme & the contestants had to sing some marriage related songs, on 14th sept it was parent's special, all the contestants' parents had come, & the contestants sang parents' choice! ;)
Parents' special episode was 1 episode which no one can ever forget! 1st thing, Harshit lifted his dear granny, who's blind, & got her on stage, & made her sit throughout the time he sang! There were some emotional moments. Also, that day Shabana Azmi was 1 of the celeb guests, who made the long-time-apart brothers jatin & lalit pandit hug each other & made them forgive each other for everything! Their's was 1 issue which was in everyone's minds for long time now.
Now isn't that too sweet of her? :)

Also, Celeb guests, like, the Chak De girls, Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Govinda etc. are also called to see the program, encourage the contestants!
Not to forget to mention that there are also performances in which when a contestant sings, if there's a chorus, other contestants do that job, or like in yesterday's episode, when Harshit sang a song in which a female voice too, Alka Yagnik did that job! Yeah there have been instances wherein the co-contestants also gave in for such things! :)

Now, this is a gr8 example of a perfect team work, what say?? ;)

I would have loved to show you all some of the videos of the contestants performing, but most of them have been removed from youtube..... sad !! :(

You can still check this out - http://starvoiceofindia.indya.com

About Salsa Dance in India

Hey ! What's the 1st thing that comes into your mind when you see a Salsa performance?
Cool, Fabulous, Mindblowing, Sensual, Sexy, Exciting, Spicy..... & many more ! ;)
It's 1 of the most sought after dance forms all over the world, along with Tango, Rumba, Cha-Cha-Cha , & many more.....


Well, to know about salsa dance in India, do check out this site :
http://www.salsa-india.com/cms/

World of Arts!

'Arts' is all about Singing, Dancing & , Drawing & Painting, & many other creative things. So all those who like to do creative things, welcome to my blog! :)
What does first come into your mind when you see the word "art"? Something like drawing & painting, some kind of dance, music, or some recipe, some rangoli, anything that needs creativity, & the one who has the creativity is an artist in true sense. There are people who dance well, who sing well, who draw & paint well, who stitch well, who play some instruments well, who act well & in many such creative things.