Fireworks!

What happens when singers Alka Yagnik & Abhijeet Bhattacharya step in? Spontaneous combustion

Give her a matchstick and she’ll start a fire right now,” singer Abhijeet is at it again. “If she’s here,I just can’t help it,guess it’s this chemistry that’s got us back for the third season of Zee’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs,” his sharp wit takes him over at Hotel Sunbeam. “Nothing’s choreographed; our verbal wars are not scripted,it’s all spontaneous. See,the fact is that we are not dumb like other people on other shows. We are two very intelligent individuals who make the show interesting with our insight and comments and not just plain wah-wahs.” Here to audition children for the show,the two feel it’s a huge task and responsibility to pick them,mentor them and choose a winner. “It’s no longer just a competition. It’s a competition among the best,and to tell you the truth,selection and rejection is a painful process,” says Abhijeet,back on the channel’s request. “Guess our absence in the second season made the show dull…they seem to like our nok-jhok,so we are back,” Abhijeet’s already wearing long socks because Alka’s all set to pull his leg!’ Jokes apart,this time the show’s making optimum use of the two singers,for in the new format,‘girls versus boys’,the boys will be groomed by Abhijeet and girls by Alka. “The best part about children is that you can mould them,train them and guide them on the right path,” feels Alka,while Abhijeet differs a little. “It’s good that children learn,but sometimes too much learning and classical base turns them into perfectionists and this is a negative for they can’t render a simple song then. Their gurus expect too much,and their learning by rote at an early stage hampers the natural progression.” In the spirit of singing,Abhijeet chooses to pick a raw voice,one that has potential and then train it. “Competition is important,but it’s not the end of life. I’ve seen children take all the stress because of pushy parents who scold them….emotions run high on the show and we have to keep a balance which becomes difficult,” adds Alka. Talk about voting,and the two feel it should not be the only deciding factor. “That’s why I transform from a judge to an advocate when a talented child loses out just because he hasn’t got the votes!” chips in Abhijeet who has shifted his focus from Bollywood singing and is experimenting with other avenues. One such is his NGO,Papa – Parents are Precious to All.

Meanwhile,children line up outside the hotel hoping for selection. Patiala,Kalka,Rajpura….they’ve tugged their parents all the way. “I tried,but couldn’t get in last year,and this year I’m not in the age group,” tells NeelKanth Vashshit,who’s here to cheer for younger brother,Shiv. Both self-taught,Shiv couldn’t make it,but there’s always next year. Till then.