Salim Merchant, Vishal Dadlani and Shalmali Kholgade are on a mission, yet again, to select talent for the second season of Indian Idol Junior. They share their interesting encounters with children who are well-trained for reality shows. By S Mallik
As Vishal Dadlani walked out of the hall where he was auditioning children for the second season Indian Idol Junior, he looked flushed and astounded. Fellow judges and singers Salim Merchant and Shalmali Kholgade looked surprised, too. Apparently the children that they have been auditioning gave them a very tough time. Dadlani revealed, “They are so good and the quality of the performance is going up a notch higher with each performance. The kind of classical singing that most people take years to polish, these kids are singing effortlessly.”
The kids not only managed to win the heart of the 41-year-old musician and singer, but also put Salim Merchant in a tough spot. Unlike Dadlani, who was a judge in the first season of the show, it is Merchant’s first time with kids. Merchant, who had earlier judged Indian Idol and other music shows on television, said, “There are a lot of differences when it comes to judging Indian Idol and Indian Idol Junior. But now that I am hearing these kids sing, the difference is gradually fading away.
It is difficult to identify whether it is a 14 year-old-boy singing theYaman raag or a more experienced singer aged 22. I feel really proud to be part of the show because it is a privilege to come in touch with the future of Indian music. If they are singing so well at this tender age, imagine where they will reach when they grow up, provided they stick to singing. Kabhi kabhi yeh log aise harkate karte hai jo hum unki umar mein nahi kar pate the. We feel proud of the training that these children have achieved at this age. They are a source of inspiration for us.”
What impressed the judges during the audition was how dedicated the kids were towards music. They leave no stone unturned to learn what they want, Dadlani said. They shared an example of a boy who learns music through Skype because his teacher lives very far from his place. “Since he could not go to his teacher everyday, he took his lessons through Skype.
He was mind-blowing. We come from a time when we could not even imagine this kind of dedication, but at present everything is possible and these kids are making most of the technology,” Merchant added.
While both Dadlani and Merchant have been part of music reality shows in the past, its is Kholgade’s first time on the judge’s seat. Not only did she look excited to be part of the team but she was also amazed at the kind of talent that she faced. What attracted her most to the kids, apart from their singing prowess, was their thoughts, determination and confidence.
“Times have changed now. It is amazing to see how children learn music and how they perform,” she said and shared a story of a contestant who was asked what she would become if not a singer. “She said that she will become a singer again. That is the kind of will power that these kids have. For me it is a huge experience in terms of learning,” added the singer, who will be replaced by actress Sonakshi Sinha once the shooting begins.
Delhi was the second stop for the show auditions. The judges are looking forward to come across more interesting stories in Chandigarh and Mumbai.