Indian Idol 4 - Day 9 - 17th Oct 2008

Indian Idol 4 - Girls' First Piano Round

This article has been taken from curlio.com since they cover the indian idol in a much better way and I feel like I am sitting in front of television watching the episode as I read their coverage.


After a grueling selection process, Indian Idol 4 has finally reached the piano round, where every week, the Top 30 will perform and face eliminations until we have the Top 12.

The show began with a brief introduction of the two hosts: Hussein Kuwajerwala and Indian Idol 3 finalist Meiyang Chang. This all-male hosting duo is different for India, where there is usually one male and one female. But nevertheless, it’ll be fun to watch these two as they are complete jokesters!

Then came the introduction of this year’s judges: lyricist Javed Akhtar, music director Anu Malik, singer Kailash Kher, and Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre.

The special guest was the stunning Priyanka Chopra, who was there to promote her new film "Fashion", which is releasing on Friday.

The girls were up first and were divided into three teams. Each team was led by the three past Indian Idol winners. Here’s the rundown:

- Indian Idol 1 Abhijeet Sawant’s team: Torsha, Purnima, Akanksha, Sourabhee

- Indian Idol 2 Sandeep Acharya’s team: Priyanka, Tulika, Sunakshi, Raina, and Sreejita

- Indian Idol 3 Prashant Tamang’s team: Shini, Bhavya, Ananya, Pooja and Megha

And to Ajay’s delight, Ananya Mishra kicked off the show!

Ananya Mishra – Suno Sajna

The one thing we keep hearing about Ananya is that she is Pandit Birju Maharaj’s granddaughter. He is a renowned teacher and performer of Kathak, a form of Indian classical dance. He is also a Hindustani classical vocalist. Now in the music and dance world, that’s a daunting lineage, and Ananya seems to know this fact quite well. Through out the theater rounds, the judges kept telling her she needs to bring her ego down a notch. I personally didn’t notice that she had an ego problem, but that’s neither here nor there.

Ananya chose a classical piece and performed it well. It wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty close. She was confident, but not overly so. She didn’t make the song more complicated than it needed to be, which is the criticism that the judges had for her in the theater rounds. All in all, she had a solid opening performance and we all know that the judges are gunning for her to make in to the Top 12. Well, I am too, as is Ajay!

JA: You have nice voice. You sang really well. The way in which you started the antara was masterly. But I will still say that your singing was a little uneven. There were some points were there was unevenness in your voice. I expect a little more from you.
SB: You’ve lived up to the expectations. Since you came on the first day, we’ve all been very impressed by you. I’m really praying that you keep bettering yourself. I really liked what you did today.
KK: I really liked your song. My wish is that you will advance to the next round and that the public will support you.
PC: Sometimes, when we sing, we add in a lot of harkats to impress people. But you’ve kept the tune in tact, even after adding in the harkat.
AM: You’ve sang really well. (some silly couplet). I really liked your song. We’re all lucky that you’re a part of Indian Idol.

Deepa’s Rating: 8.5/10


Bhavya Pandit – Paan Khaaye Saiyyan Hamaro

I really enjoyed Bhavya’s singing today. Her performance was good, but I definitely feel that she is a stronger singer than Ananya in certain aspects. The reason I say this is because during the theater rounds, they made montage of Bhavya and Ananya singing the same song, and Bhavya was much better. This particular song suited her really well. If she doesn’t make it to the Top 12, I’ll be really disappointed because she’s another one who stands a solid chance of winning this competition.

KK: I’d like to tell you that you are my favorite contestant here. I’m a live performer and I don’t know how to dance. But I just move in a way that comes naturally to me. People usually support that naturalness. (it was a weird comment to translate into English!)
SB: Wanted to see KK dance in his “natural” manner. LOL! Bhavya, you sang really well and we had fun because your expressions were good. I like the way you moved around.
AM: I liked your performance but there was only one problem. You went off-key at the end. This usually happens because people think that they’ve reached the finish line sooner than they really have. But you have to see it all the way through to the end. But you sang well.
JA: I really liked your song. The tune is simple, but Asha Bhonsle has made it colorful with her expressions. You’ve done the same thing.
PC: If you don’t mind, how old are you (she’s 16). At 16, you’ve infused a type of emotion into it that only comes after a certain maturity level. You’ve made it naïve and seductive at the same tim, which was a great combination, especially at 16.

Deepa’s Rating: 8.5/10


Pooja Ghosh – Sajanaji Vari Vari

Now this girl is pretty talented, but is definitely overshadowed by the more outgoing of her peers. She was fairly confident on stage, but doesn’t seem like she has much of a personality, which unfortunately will matter in the public voting. So I will say that her song was good, but it wasn’t good enough to get her through to the next round. She’s my first prediction for tomorrow’s elimination.

One thing that did come out from her introduction video they showed on her is that she is self-conscious about her weight and seems to struggle with it quite a bit. This became a matter for discussion with Priyanka and Sonali.

JA: You had the correct about of sharpness necessary for this song. It was good.
KK: You were involved in your song and had the proper emotions, but you need to improve your singing just a little bit.
AM: You brought the house down. You were in tune, but you should now learn to challenge yourself. This was a simple song.
SB: Definitely, you had a good presentation. The song was peppy, and you’re looking lovely.
PC: Indian Idol is a performer. Definitely, the essence of the show is singing, which you have to know and do well. But basically, you have to entertain, and that’s what you did to me today. You entertained.

Then Hussein mentioned that Pooja was nervous about her weight. Priyanka chimed in and said that she hadn’t noticed Pooja’s weight until she mentioned it because she is so talented that her attention was on her singing. The other thing is that if you have confidence, you can get away with even the biggest lie. Perception is reality. But I do also agree that for health reasons, it is important to take care of yourself. I don’t believe I size zero. I work out so that I can eat. And the fuller you are, the more there is to love.

Deepa’s Rating: 6.5/10


Shini Kalvint – Dil Hoom Hoom Kare

First of all, Shini has an awesome taste in music, as is evident by her song selection. This song has so much potential when it is given to the right singer. Composed by the legendary Bhupen Hazarika and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, this haunting melody is one that very few singers would dare to select in a competition such as this. After all, who wants to crash and burn on your first time on national television? So I really, really hoped that Shini would get it right.

Here’s what went down: she was technically good, but it was missing energy. Even though the song is mellow, it has a certain energy, a vibe that Lataji infused into it to make it so unique. Shini didn’t quite meet the expectations that had been laid out. But with that said, I think she definitely did well enough to advance to next week!

JA: You’re from Gwalior, where Tansen’s darga is located. I feel that only a girl from such a town can sing like this. (meant, of course, as a compliment).
SB: I’ve always had a soft spot for you because I really liked when you auditioned and your husband came with you. And today, you’ve sang so well that I’m happy.
AM: There’s no doubt that you words were clear and you had perfect sur. But remember one thing: put emotions and passion into your singing.
KK: There has been a big improvement in all the singers. This competition is going to be difficult for the world and it’s a good thing that we raised the bar.
PC: Shini, you definitely sang well. And this bar that has been raised makes me feel bad for the audience.

Deepa’s Rating: 8.5/10


Megha Sharma – Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon

Megha has a unique voice, but she clearly went off-key in several places. This song has to be sung with a lot of character, and Megha’s singing doesn’t seem advanced enough to where she can pick up on the minor nuances. She’s my second prediction to be eliminated in the first round.

KK: I thought your song had too many imperfections so I didn’t like it too much. But I hope that God will be with you.
PC: I think you have a good voice quality with a lot potential. But I think you sang for us what you practiced. You have to get over your nervousness because confidence is the most important thing.
AM: You have a lovely voice, but it was off-key.
SB: You’re saying you were nervous and I believe you on that. But listen carefully to what the judges are saying because either it was overpracticed or you were concentrating too much on expressions. But there was definitely a problem. If you’ve reached this level, then each small mistake seems like a big one. You have to be much more careful.
JA: This was the weakest performane so far.

Deepa’s Rating: 6/10


Torsha Sarkar – Baiyaan Na Dharo

I was darn excited about Torsha’s performance because she’s my favorite female contestant. I’ve been rooting for her since the auditions. I think she has a powerful voice that makes people just want to keep listening. With this performance, she basically solidified her spot near the top of the hierarchy of this year’s female contestants. Her performance was mindblowing.

PC: You’re so perfect in your tuning that you could take them anywhere and it would be okay. The second thing, you put in a lot of emotion in the song. That’s why I really enjoyed your performance.
AM: You had good harkats (I can’t translate this word!), but you concentrated so much on them, that you went off-key. For me, it was okay singing. It was not great. (Here, Priyanak disagreed.)
KK: I disagree with Anu Malik. I liked your singing very much and hope that the entire country supports you and listens to what I’m saying. (Here, AM and KK got into a little tiff)
SB: The voice is so wonderful that I think the audience should never lose out on this voice.
JA: First, I will say that your voice is beautiful. It’s really exceptional. This voice has a body, a presence. You can see it.

Deepa’s Rating: 10/10


Purnima Vishwanathan – Beedi Jalaile

Purnima was one of the first people selected to enter the Top 30 after the theater rounds, but at that time I wasn’t too impressed by her. This song didn’t change my opinion. She seems like a lovely girl, but definitely chose the wrong song to bring out her talent. Her voice was not suited to it at all. Yes, she was in tune for the most part, but she needed to infuse something a little extra to make this a special performance. I don’t see her being eliminated tomorrow, but she does need to work much harder.

AM: Your performance didn’t touch me.
KK: I didn’t like your performance that much.
PC: You were a little shaky in the beginning but after that, you picked it up really well.
SB: I hope you have the chance and I hope you can make it to the next round. But this time around, I was disappointed.
JA: This wasn’t your best performance, but sometimes, even the best player gets out.

Deepa’s Rating: 7.5/10


Akanksha Palkar – Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi

You DO NOT mess with this song unless you know you can do it perfectly. This was a big mistake on Akanksha’s part. She clearly went off-sur in a few places. It was a good effort, but not good enough to register an impact. Now Puja Chatterjee sang it last season, and she was amazing. Akanksha’s rendition was disappointing, at best. She’s my third prediction for elimination.

JA: I think she dragged the ending notes out too much. It was okay, but it didn’t touch my heart.
SB: This is a sensitive song that requires expression. That was missing in your performance. But I like your voice and I really wish to see you next week.
PC: Your voice has a good texture but the beginning of every line requires a softness. That was missing. Your began each line really harshly. I think the soul in the song was missing.
KK: You must have an idea of what we expected from your performance and how well you have met those expectations.
AM: Your diction was good. You were in key and sometimes you went off-key. But I wouldn’t like to lose you either.

Deepa’a Rating: 6/10


Sourabhee Debbarma – Tere Bin Nahi Jeena Marjaana

I think Sourabhee was the surprise package of the evening. She was amazing! They said something about Hindi not being her native language, but that hardly matters when you have someone as talented as Sourabhee. I really enjoyed her performance. If she plays her cards right, and keeps giving power-packed performances, she may well turn out to be the dark horse of the competition. That is, if the people don’t vote her out first!

AM: I’m surprised that you chose this song because you don’t speak the language fluently. You mixed up the words in the song, but I have to give you credit because you’ve sang well. You sang such a complicated song with so much ease. You surprised me today.
KK: Your song really impressed me. (And then Kailash was inspired to sing the original song in Punjabi!).
PC: You inspired Kailashji to sing like that. I got goosebumps at least three or four times!
SB: You were fantastic. Thank you.
JA: She’s a girl from Agartala who is signing in Hindi in Mumbai with Punjabi words. And all of India is listening. There is no other country where this can happen.

Deepa’s Rating: 9/10


Nirali Fauzdar – Aisa Jadoo Dala Re

Nirali is the girl from Ahmedabad who should have been in the Top 30 from the beginning, but was eliminated in the final moments of the theater round. But as fate would have it, Nirali got a second chance to enter the Top 30 when another contestant had to drop out. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. I love Nirali and think she definitely deserves this chance. And she gave a rocking performance! But of course she would – she has to show the judges that they shouldn’t have eliminated her in the first place! Way to go Nirali!

AM: This is the first time this has happened – that she was on the waiting list and was able to make it (uhhhh….hello?? Did you forget about Anuj from Season 2?) Kailash fought a lot for her. So I’ll say that when Kailash fights for something, it’s usually the right thing to fight for. You sang really well.
KK: Whenever you sing live, don’t worry about being loud. There is a technique for when you have to be loud – you have to hold the mike away from your mouth. Just as you have to balance mind, hand, and legs when driving a car, you have to apply those principles when singing. I’m really happy to see you here in this round.
JA: You had energy, and a new style. (And then something about her name which I couldn’t translate because I don’t know what Nirali or Fauzdar means).
SB: Nirali, we felt really bad in the last round and Kailash was your really strong supporter. At that time, you asked why it always happens that something doesn’t work out in the end stage. Never again say that. This has never happened, but it has happened with you. Take it as God’s gift and take it to the end. We’ll be so happy to see you there.
PC: I love your confidence and I really thought that as a performer, you were fabulous.

Deepa’s Rating: 8/10


Tulika Ganguly – Rangeela Re

Tulika’s song choice is definitely going to work to her advantage because people love this song. So basically, all she needed to do was get up there and sing it with energy, which she did. She was also in sur for the most part. It was a decent performance, but next time, I’d like to see something different from her. And, it helps that she’s cute and spunky, too, I suppose! Kailash definitely has a little crush here…LOL.

KK: I’m really happy with your performance. I give you all my good wishes and ask the voters not to eliminate you. (HAHA…this cracks me up!)
SB: Have you noticed that Kailash hasn’t said anything about your singing? (Here, Anu chimes in and says forget sur, just think about the smile!) You’ve sang and performed well.
JA: Very good performance. I’m sure that you’re going to be in the next round.
PC: I thought you went off-sur in a few places. (Javed Akhtar said that he thought she didn’t go off sur but split her voice on purpose).
AM: Some stupid couplet which basically said she’s going to make it to the next round! You have a great smile, a great face, and a very happening voice because Indian Idol is all about attitude, personality and voice. And you’re carrying it out well.

Deepa’s Rating: 7.5/10


Srijita Kar – Chithhiye

This is another song of Lata Mangeshkar that is practically untouchable. Srijita started off shaky but sort of picked up in the antara. It was a decent effort, but she was too imperfect for me to enjoy it. Her voice was missing a certain level of polish that is required for this song. But I agree with Priyanka and Anu – she should be allowed to give another performance next week.

JA: She was not able to touch the higher notes and in fact, stopped just short of hitting them. It didn’t seem like effortless singing.
KK: You didn’t sing the first verse completely. And then you didn’t perform all the harkats from the second verse. (How do you say harkat in English?). It wasn’t as deep as it should have been.
SB: You have a sweet voice, but your performance today was not up to the mark for me.
AM: You have to challenge yourself and pick a song that shows that you have a method and a capability to sing. You have both, and I will ask the people to please not vote you out because you are good.
PC: You’re from Jaipur, and so am I. So naturally, I will feel some partiality toward you. But overall, I really enjoyed your performance, not because you’re from Jamshedpur, but because of your voice. I really think you have a good voice quality and a lot of potential.

Deepa’s Rating: 6.5/10


Sunakshi Raina – Mast

Okay, this is the girl that carries around that annoying teddy bear, a habit which detracts from her exceptional singing ability and makes people not like her very much. Bad move, Sunakshi. She seems like a naïve little girl but she sang this song with a lot of maturity. It was a great performance. Now, if only she’s get rid of that thing.

JA: Well done! Very good. I can’t find any fault in it.
SB: Fantastic. The whole package is superb.
KK: I’ve learned some words in English and I must use those: she’s a killer, man! HAHAHA.
PC: I didn’t expect it. When we see you, you’re a little kid. But you’re a powerhouse.
AM: (He’s scared of the teddy bear!!). She sang really well.

Deepa’s Rating: 8/10 (I would’ve given her a 9 had it not been for the teddy bear).


Raina Lahiri – Mera Dil Yeh Pukare Aaja

This show has gone on for about 2 hours now, so I’m naturally getting exhausted with all this writing! But, we are down to the final two performers. Raina was another one of those contestants that slipped into the Top 30 undetected. She didn’t appear in any of the previous episodes, so I didn’t have much to go by except her performance on this day, and was I disappointed! It was an awful performance. She is my fourth and final prediction for elimination.

KK: I’m not that happy today. But I’m not India and I hope that the audience will listen to you carefully.
SB: I felt that there was breath being taken where there shouldn’t be, or something was going wrong. In my opinion, a singer should know where to take a breath.
PC: The essence of the song was missing. I can’t really point out exactly what was wrong, but it didn’t make an impact on me. I’m really sorry.
AM: We want a singer that understands every feeling, and today you did not. I’m sorry.
JA: This didn’t seem like professional singing. But it should be mentioned that her voice is a very individual voice, one that has not been heard before.

Deepa’s Rating: 5/10


Priyanka Negi – Khwab Dekhe Jhoote Moote

This was a perfect way to end the show. Priyanka was a little fireball on stage. She sang well, performed well, and basically threw down. I don’t really like this song, but Priyanka made it enjoyable. I hope she makes it to the next round!

SB: I must say that you’ve made a vast improvement after auditions.
KK: Because you’ve shown such improvement, I will ask the audience not to lose you. Indian Idol is for you.
PC: I think like your name, your singing is beautiful! As a complete entertainer, I really liked your performance.
AM: Your singing is full of life.
JA: This was among the top three performances in the whole episode.

Deepa’s Rating: 8.5/10

And with that ended the episode. Stay tuned for the girls’ eliminations and boys performances!



Girls Episode

Ananya Mishra
"Suno Sajna"

Bhavya Pandit
"Paan Khaye Saiya Hamaar"

Pooja Ghosh
"Sajana Ji Wari Wari"

Shini Kalvint
"Dil Ghoom Ghoom Kare"

Megha Sharma

Torsha Sarkar
"Baiyan na dharo"

Purnima Vishwanathan
"Bidi Jalai le"

Akanksha Palkar
"Tujshe Naraj Nahin"

Sourabhee Debbarma
"Tere Bin Nahin Jeena"

Nirali Fauzdar
"Aisa Jadoo Dala Re"

Tulika Ganguly
"Rangeela Re"

Srijita Kar
"Le Ja Le Ja Sandesh"

Sunaikshi Raina
"Mast"

Raina Lahiri
"Mera Dil Ye Pukare"

Priyanka Negi