The Battle of the Famous FOUR on Indian Idol this Gala

The anxiety of who will be the next Indian Idol is rising week after week as the show has just four contestants left. The battle has already begun and to get more votes and good remarks from the judges, Amit Paul, Prashant, Ankita and Emon boast of superlative performances in the tenth Gala.

It turned out to be a treat to watch each of the contestants performing two compositions from choices made by the judges. Javed Akhtar remarked that Amit’s train on Indian Idol was on the right track and has gained the momentum, as he set the exciting tone for the evening with his song “Dil Kya Kare” from Julie. And while Amit was basking in all the praise, there sneaked a surprise guest to test his singing skills. It was none other than Tushar Kapoor and to add some fun in this exciting moment, he had a novel idea where he would enact a song and Amit would recognize and sing it for him and this turned out to be a fun session.

Prashant proved himself to be the dark horse of Indian Idol with his performance as he sang “Kuch Naa Kaho" from 1947 A Love Story and followed it up with “O mere dil ke chain”. This was a proof for his tremendous improvement week after week. Ankita was not far behind and stole the show with her two thunderous performances in Anky Baby style! Emon who has always been considered “Chota Sonu” rendered the title song of “Kal Ho Naa Ho” and his soulful singing left a deep impact on all the judges except for Javed Akhtar as he remarked that he was sounding more like Sonu. But he proved him completely wrong with his next song “Dilbar mere”, a Kishore Kumar number indicating Annu Malik's stand that Emon is a singer par excellence is indeed true.

Sharman Joshi and Kunal Kemu made their presence to add more excitement and fun with the Indian Idol participants.

Now its the time to vote for your favorite contestant. Vote ...vote n vote to your favorite contestant so that you don't lose him/her.

"I think voting system should be 50% public votes and 50% judges' choice." -- Meiyang Chang

Meiyang Chang has been every girl's favorite contestant, whether it is Mini or Alisha or the screaming teenagers sitting among the audiences. His good looks, coupled with a great voice and distinct style of presentation makes him irresistible as a contestant. His elimination was a rude shock for everyone, including himself.

Q. Are you angry that the public has voted you out despite your good performance?

Ans: I am not angry. I can't be angry with public, as there was a time when I was not singing well. At that time even I got ahead due to public votes. That's why I never said anything against public voting.
I can't blame anybody as the public has the right to choose whom they want to. At the same time, I feel it could have been a 50/50 voting system. 50% public voting and 50% judges' choice. But if that that was the rule then I wouldn't have been here today. Probably from the next time, they can consider this. It will help those who have worked hard to be better singers through the show.

Q. Your last performance was better than Emon's; do you think he should have gone instead of you?

Ans: If Emon had gone, then it would have been a total flop show. Emon is superb and he has to be in the finals. Honestly, Ankita should have gone. She was pitted against Puja, and she is till there. She was pitted against Deepali, and she is still here. Puja and Deepali are definitely better singers than her.

Q. So do you think Ankita should have gone, not you?

Ans: Maybe, maybe. Nobody is bad, somebody is good and somebody is a little weaker then that…. if you consider a person's voice, how good he is with music etc. I don't think I am that good. I am confident but I never put myself against some of the trained singers. At this stage, I am not that great. If I have to rate then I'll rate Prashant, Ankita and me at the same level. Each one of us has our strong points and our weak points. Maybe I should've gone ahead, but never mind.
I guess Ankita has something that others don't…. and public has voted her for her strong points. I wish her all the best!

Q. Do you think performance is more important or singing?

Ans: I'll give it an 80:20 ratio. 80 for singing and 20 for performance. In the audio-visual medium performance enhances the entire experience but it can never be at the cost of singing. You can't go off tune and perform well after that.

Q. Has Indian Idol changed your focus in life?

You are a dentist, now you seem to have transformed into a full-time singer. Ans: Yes, I've found my true calling, and at present I want to really work hard with my singing. I want to get good training and emerge. It's not that now that I got voted out, so I want to prove something to someone. It`s just that now people have noticed me now. They like my voice so I want to make the most of this opportunity and grab the best of offers that I get.

Q. What is your future plan? Do you want to do playback?

Ans: I want to learn music from a good trainer. At the same time, i want to go and meet the music directors & struggle to make my place in the industry. Playback singing is very competitive. Before plunging into it, I want to improvise myself. Perhaps cut an album of mine and then I'll definitely be ready. But if someone calls me in the meantime with some offers then I'll definitely grab the opportunity. I just want to become better and better and better.

Q. Do you want to continue with your dentist practice?

Ans: At this point of time, it will take a backseat. My focus right now is to be related to the industry. I don't know how but I've to figure it out. I want to come back with a bang! I want to see what opportunities I will get out here. For instance, Suhit has done an ad for Kit Kat. People are getting breaks because of Indian Idol. I want to see if something good is waiting for me too.

Q. Alisha looks heartbroken that you're out. Will you miss her too?

Ans: Alisha madam has always praised me a lot. She is an amazingly sweet person. She even walked out of the stage when they declared I was out but I didn't want her to take such a drastic step. I was glad when she came back and gave me this cap as a memento. I will keep it as a precious gift for the rest of my life.

Q. Do you think they're being honest with their judgement?

Ans: With me, I've always felt that they have been honest. In fact, I can make out from their reactions only, if they like my song or not. If they like it, they praise openly, if they don't, then they don't want to break their heart. So they'll just say they're happy. By that only you can gage, what they're feeling. I am pretty happy with their response.

Q. Any message to the public?

Ans: Thank you very much for bringing me till here. There are just 4 people left now, so please vote sensibly and do not forget me. Please remember me till I come back as an even better singer.

Leslie Lewis in Roobaroo this Week!

Roobaroo on Indian Idol is the day for just fun and masti. Here, the contestants get to show the viewers their hidden talents. The contestants have fun, while Mini Mathur makes sure to have fun at their expense. And in this week’s Roobaroo, it is Leslie Lewis who is the guest and he too makes sure to keep the top four contestants' in good stead.

Viewers would get to see Prashant for the first time playing a guitar and singing a Nepali song. Amit sings “Chand Mera Dil”, while strumming the guitar as a pro and wooing the audience. Emon would be on the piano and with so much going on, can anyone stop Ankita from dancing? It would be really funny to watch her traipsing with Prashant, while singing the song “Pyaar Hua Ikraar hua”. What's more, after watching this diverse talent of these contestants,Leslie Lewis is really in awe with all the four. As a mark of advise, Lewis gave them tips for the future; this was followed by a round of musical session. With Mini too joining in, it turned into a rocking jam session. After watching all this, Leslie was now convinced that this Indian Idol Team, with some good singers, musicians and dancers, can actually form a band of their own, like Boney.M.

'Friends, parents and orchestra troupe, my inspiration' - Prashant

The Sepoy, Prashant Tamang is the new singing sensation, he has been tagged as the 'Uncut Diamond' by Alisha Chinoi, the judge of Indian Idol. Though he has no formal training in music, he has always maintained that professional touch in his songs and is now into the Top 4 of Indian Idol. Being associated with Kolkata police since 2002, he sings in the police orchestra and has grooved many to perform to his tunes. He has a big fan base following and the girls love this Sepoy.

You have never been in bottom 3, so do you think you have the highest chances of winning this contest?

Prashant: No, it’s not that; we cannot say anything. All are good and the competition is tough now. Anyone can go out. Do you want to go back and join the police profession or you want to stay back here and be a singer?Prashant: As of now, I am focusing on my singing. I just hope that things fall in place; I am not thinking about future as of now. Did you ever think you will come this far in Indian Idol?Prashant: Of course not! I never thought I will get selected for the Galas, this is definitely a Dream come true.

Who has been your inspiration to pursue music and singing?

Prashant: Inspiration to do well in singing has come from friends, parents and my orchestra troupe..

Who is the best judge according to you?

Prashant: It definitely has to be Annuji. He is frank, man main jo hai woh bol dete hai.. Annnuji..

If you were to bring back one eliminated contestant, who would that be?

Prashant: Abhishek!

How was it to sing before Sonu Nigam?

Prashant: It was very nice, was a dream come true.. I was very excited to sing before him, but I felt sad that I could not impress him that much.

If you had to choose your Indian Idol today, who would it be?

Prashant: It has to be Amit!

And now one song you want to dedicate to all your fans and well wishers out there….

Prashant: Yaar Ko Maine Sone Na Diya.

The judges have named him as the 'Dark Horse' of Indian Idol. Prashant is the only contestant who has still not made it to the Danger Zone even once, in the Gala Round. If this statistics remains intact for few more weeks, then Prashant Tamang will surely be the 'Bharat Ki Shaan.'

'As the race slims down, there will be more heart breaks' - Annu Malek

As the race for Indian Idol 3 gets bitter, Annu Malek speaks about who he thinks is the best horse :

Your first view on Chang's exit?

Its very sad that such a great singer like Chang had to go. I really liked him. But then, that's the format of the show. Somebody had to go, Remember, as the race slims down, there will be more heart breaks not less. But rest assured, this good looking dentist from Dhanbad has firmly arrrived on the Indian music scene.

Now with just 4 contestants left, how do you assess them indiviually?

Amit Paul has the ideal combination, of both a great voice and a superb personality.Emon is a very versatile singer, but needs to work on the over all package.Ankita's stage presence is mind blowing. Prashant is the dark horse of this contest and may yet end up surprising many of us.

Playing a devil's advocate, who would you want to win?

Amit or Ankita. Amit is the find of Indian Idol 3. Ankita, for she will be the first female to wear this prestigious crown.

Why do you keep fighting with the other judges?

The problem is that I call a spade a spade. When Emon was faltering, I told him off. And the results were there for all to see. Yes, I do argue with the other judges, for they act unfair with some of the contestants.

Don't you think that too much emphasis is being placed on presentation?

See, Indian Idol is an audio visual experience. Having said that, a perfect voice still remains the no 1 requirement. For if tomorrow, I bring in a very besuri, but sexy looking chic, will it work?

Even the judges seem to be giving extra emphasis to looks?

Now that's where you are making a mistake. What we say is, look after your health. Is it wrong to look good and fit?

You have been a part of Indian Idol, since the very beginning...

Its great. Infact I have been called the face of Indian idol by the higher ups at SET. The fact that I alone survive season after season, clearly shows that the public loves me.

The format is criticized on the front that what does audience know of sur tal. Your take on it..

Don't ever underestimate the smartness of the voting public! They can choose the right voice. After all, could Annu Malik have become what he is today, without the janta's support? They are the ones who buy my cd's.

Will the contestant get work, after they finish from here?

See, we have given these talented set of youngsters a platform, the rest depends on their hard work and determination. When we came up, there were no such opportunities. Now atleast when they go looking for work , people know who they are. So folks, here were the free flowing words of the most controversial judge of Indian Idol. You love him or hate him, but you just cannot ignore the man.

Alisha's Chingo-Mingo Chang Is Out Of Indian Idol

Meiyang Chang, the third generation Chinese who is settled in India is a dentist by profession and is one of the most popular contestants in Indian Idol, both for his looks and his singing capability. Meiyang Chang, who was heartthrob of the girls is eliminated today. Chang sizzled with Om shanti om in the last gala and was praised by all the judges. But still janta didn't find him the right contestant to be in the final four of the Indian Idol 3.

Today there was a poll among the contestants about whom they should feel be eliminated from the Indian Idol. All the guys felt that it should be Ankita while Ankita felt it should be Emon. Even the janta in the Indian Idol studios faced a similar type of secret votes in which 50% felt that Ankita should leave this competition. But Anky baby Ankita was safe this time along with Prashant. This time Amit, Emon and Chang was in danger zone. Amit was in danger zone for the first time in the gala while Chang was in danger zone for the last two consecutive galas. Finally that time ultimately came when Mini declared that it was the time for Chang to leave this competition. Alisha was shocked to hear this as Chang was his Indian Idol. But we have to face the reality and it is obvious that we will lose one after one contestant to get the Indain Idol 3.

Cool Pictures Of Yesterday's Gala

Indian Idol Top 5 Performance

The next Indian Idol is just few steps away as the viewers have selected Amit Paul, Emon Chatterjee, Meiyang Chang, Prashant Tamang and Ankita Mishra as their top 5 contestants who will be fighting to bag the third Indian Idol title. Chang brings back the memories of Rishi Kapoor and the revolving stage of the film Karz with his awesome performance on the song Meri Umar Ke Naujawano. Always being called as the girl’s favorite contestant, this song surely left a great effect on the audience as well as Alisha, who always called Chang as her Indian Idol. To keep on track, Prashant follows with another Karz number Ek Hasina Thi which impresses Udit Narayan to respond to his performance singing Indian Idol ki gali mein tumko aana thaa!! Amit is again applauded and appreciated by all the judges that he is really heading towards the right direction to bag the title for his performance on the song Yaad Aa Raha Hai!! Emon makes an entry in bulb laden outfit singing the Big B number Saara Zamana. He makes sure to lighten up stage not just with his outfit but also with his performance. After all these performances how could the Queen of Dance Ankita stay back. She too comes with a brilliant performance with the song Aap Jaisa Koi and force Anu Malik to comment that She has raised the bar of Indian Idol performers

It's The Time To Disco

The five contestants were at their disco best. Chang drove the women crazy with Meri umar ke naujawano. Prashant followed suit with yet another Karz number Ek haseena thi. As the competition is going tougher and tougher these days, judges are not considering any mistakes of the contestants. Prashant this time also after starting brilliantly got off-key in the middle of the song. Amit once again walked away with kudos for his Yaad aa rahi hai.Emon lit up the stage literally! Dressed in a bulb-laden outfit a la Big B he sang Saara zamana like a true professional.Queen of Dance Ankita rocked with Aap jaisa koi. The master of rhythm Taufique Qureshi and his band performed with the Indian Idol contestants.
Let's wait and see to get the top 4 contestants today.

Happy Birthday Mini!

Today`s Roobaroo is full of surprises. First, Mini kicked off a musical game, where she gave the Top 5 a situation on which they had to compose songs. But the best surprise was reserved for Mini. It`s her birthday and everyone gave her a surprise party. Her husband Kabir Khan made song requests for his wife and the contestants happily obliged.

The countdown to choosing the Bharat Ki Shaan has begun, make sure you

The countdown to choose the next Indian Idol has begun finally. Viewers are all voting for their favorites. And the number of votes that the contestants are getting every week proves is a clear indication of the popularity of the show.Now, the show has come to its race for finish. Radio Mirchi too has decided to jump into the run and help the viewers to choose their favourite as Indian Idol. For this, you just need to tune in to Radio Mirchi and follow the procedure for voting. But wait, it does not end here.

Radio Mirchi has decided to add more excitement to this voting. They will be selecting two lucky winners whose choice of finalists actually makes to the finals. These two winners will have the chance to select a song of their choice which the finalists are going to sing. Not only that, the two lucky winners would also get the opportunity to be the special guests and attend the Grand Finale to be held in Mumbai on 14th September, 2007. These would get the rare opportunity to meet their favourite singer and also be a part of the excitement and celebrations of this Grand Finale. This exciting contest by Radio Mirchi closes on 1st September. Time is short, so tune in to Radio Mirchi soon and start voting for your favourite, one who you feel is worthy of becoming the next Indian Idol. And yes, do keep the song ready with you, that you would like to hear your favourite perform.
Who knows you may be the winner!!

Bye Hawa Hawaii

Nobody really cried for Puja, or at least not on camera. The camera tried real hard to capture Emon's look, but he wasn't crying just smiling and being supportive. I guess he dried all his tears after Deepali's departure. So, we have a short look at Puja's journey. Her best moments on Idol, "Ek pyaar ka nagma"--her best song, in her opinion. Finally, she is in tears and wishes the contestants all the best and apologizes to her dad for not being able to live up to the challenge. Awww Puja, it's not your fault. You did your best. Alisha noted how contestants that sing well get eliminated. Good point, Alisha, though I have the theory behind it: If you sing well, then your fans get complacent. They feel she/he is somehow going to make it. So, they don't vote as obsessively and the fans of those who are predicted to be in danger, double up their votes---voila, the "good singer" loses out and is evicted. Puja leaves with her signature song from Mr. India--Hawa Hawaii.
Next week, Disco Fever round in the Galas!

‘Singing before Sonu Nigam was a Dream Come True for me’ – Emon

Emon Chatterjee is a multi-talented contestant of Indian Idol. He touches one's heart with his songs, his mimics make everyone laugh and when he takes his guitar to play, the listeners never fail to get involved into his tunes. This seventeen year old believes that he can make people happy with his songs. At this young age, he has a Bengali album to his credit and also has sung in local TV Channels. He brings a magical atmosphere on the sets with his performance and is considered to be the fore- runner in this contest.

How has Indian Idol platform been beneficial in your career?

Emon: Yes, without this platform, my journey to Mumbai might have taken another 2-3 years. It’s a honor to be standing right before Sonu Nigam and singing in front of Greats like Javedji, Uditji and AnnuJi. This experience has taught me so many things, which I will remember forever.

Who is the best judge according to you?

Emon: Sonu Nigam!! My God! It was a dream come true for me as I sang before him. It was my happiest day, but I feel sad that he was not a permanent judge this year. Even then, those moments were great for me.

Have you had any professional training in classical music?

Emon: Yes, I have been learning it for the past 1 year now.

Do you think it is beneficial to be a trained singer?

Emon: Definitely, you always get an edge when you learn music. With this background, you are ready to sing any type of song, and that is one reason why Sonu Nigam is my Idol. He is a living example for aspiring singers; he has sung every sort of song. Extraordinary!!Everyone including the Great Kishore Kumar had a basic training. Singing for such a long time needs training of course.

If you get an opportunity to bring back one contestant eliminated - who would it be?

Emon: Deepali … I don’t want to recall that evening, it was so sad… It was just shocking and depressing to me. She was my best friend ever. I have started missing her a lot now.

You are in Bottom 3 for the past two weeks, what do you think is your chance of becoming Indian Idol?

Emon: I am motivating myself to do better. All that matters is good singing. I want to be a good playback singer, so my focus is on singing. I don’t worry about performance on stage as I know that a playback singer just needs to sing in the studio and he need not have a basic training in dancing. Whatever happens here, I will surely concentrate on my singing and will carry on like this forever.

Indian Idol Rocks Delhi on Independence Day !

Indian Idol contestants are a rage wherever they go. That they are celebrities in their own right is an understatement. The mania they generated on their trip to Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations only proved their star power. The final six contestants had the crowds dancing to their tune literally. The top six contestants of Indian Idol met the press at the Claridge before the performance. Their newfound confidence and their single minded focus on achieving their goal has not taken away from their down to earth ways. In fact, the "seniors" in this young group take charge of the ones who get carried away with the attention in public. Their bonding was there for all to see. The performance they put up at Rohini was simply mind-blowing. The thousands strong crowd simply went crazy. They just didn't seem to have enough of Ankita, Chang and Emon. While Puja, Prashant and Amit had the crowds applauding every song of theirs. If all that adulation translates into votes, it is going to be a very tough task to select the Indian Idol! A true memorable evening for the contestants whose singing and popularity drove the crowds crazy. A proud moment for all the Indians as the patriotic fever touched every Indian's heart. The evening began with yet another surprise. Alisha Chinai took the stage to perform not one but two of her hit songs Made in India and Main sadke jaawaan . For a change it was a unanimous decision that Alisha Chinai is a true Indian Idol!

Ohh!! What A Shock --- Puja is eliminated.

Dhanbad ke dynamite Puja is out of the Indian Idol. Just cannot imagine what happen to Indian janta!! On what basis they are voting for the contestants!! Puja who sang so superbly in the last gala is out in this gala getting the least amount of votes. This time Puja is in bottom 3 with Ankita and Chang. Its very strange to see that Prashant who is giving ordinary performance in galas has not yet came to danger zone while the best performers are eliminating one by one. When Mini declared that Puja have to leave this time Puja proved that she was a brave girl and took the decision quite sportingly. Her disheartened fans must have a thousand questions. But it's a reality that Puja is not in the top 5 of the Indian Idol.

Gala Performance Of The Top 6 Contestants

The contestants had no clue what was in store for them, when the hooded figure walked into the sets. Thundering applause greeted Sonu Nigam when he came on stage. Sonu was back on Indian Idol as the celebrity judge.Sonu and Emon came face to face on stage after Emon's spirited performance of Sonu`s Tu. Sonu thought Puja`s Ruth saawan ki was very good. Ankita performed like never before. But as she was off-key as usual. All the judges except Alisha agree that at this point of Indian Idol she can't make a single mistake while Alisha was of opinion that Ankita gave her best shot in the gala. Prshant sang a very simple song and he was off-key in that song also.Udit declared that the fight for the title just got tougher. Amit once again walked away with all the praise. While Sonu declared Amit as the best package of the Indian Idol 3 and Anu Malik as the next Indian Idol ---- but Alisha told Chang was the best performer for this gala and he is Alisha's Indian Idol.

Alisha vs Anu

It seems that the battle of the Titans will go on until we find our Indian Idol. Anu and Alisha fought over a trivial issue again. The argument
was about what was more important—100% singing or 50% stage performance. Anu backed Ankita by saying that she was 50% a singer and 50% a performer and that it made her more competitive as a contestant. Alisha argued that as a contestant on Indian Idol, one had to be a 100% singer. Like Deepali, who was the most talented among the girls. Javed, too, pointed out that singing was the single most important criterion.

Chang ka rose day

It seems when Deepali is around, every day is a rose day for Chang. As Deepali started singing her last song, we noticed a sad and depressed Chang. He soon came onstage and gifted her a red rose, which Deepali gladly accepted. So is this the end of the love story or a fresh new beginning? Only time will tell. It was a happy ending for Deepali when Anu declared that he would give her a chance to sing for him very soon. Deepali jumped for joy to hear it!
Meanwhile, Emon cried uncontrollably as did Puja, who was Deepali’s roommate. Take it easy guys, a lot more shocking eliminations are on the way now! Save some for the next week.

‘Idol’ worship

Lucknow turned out in full force to cheer the seven Indian Idol finalists at the Saharaganj Mall

If people were wondering why the Indian Idol concert looked a tad off-skew then here’s why— anchor person Mini Mathur came down with a bad bout of viral fever in Mumbai turning plans turtle at the last minute for the Idol team which was banking on her to string the show together. So while her hair stylist and make-up person arrived as per schedule, Mini had to beg out of Monday’s show at the last minute. A desperate hunt was then launched for a last minute anchor for the show which threw the young participants, still novices at public performances, totally out of gear. However, they took heart from the massive public support— people began flocking the mall three hours before the show was scheduled to begin— and went on to regale the crowd as best they could. Kanpur’s Ankita Mishra, thrilled at being voted the Judges’ wild card entry, grooved to the peppy Urmila number Rangeela.
“It’s now or never,” confided Amit at the press conference held earlier. “The show has reached its final stage. I am just concentrating on having fun and giving my best. It’s now in the public’s hands.”

On the sets : “It was the most shocking moment of my life” -- says Deepali

A few minutes after her elimination, Deepali woke up to the fact that this was a final farewell. Her fans were heartbroken, so were the judges who had always favoured this multi-talented girl. But the aspiring RJ stood tall, trusting in her abilities. Ready to make a mark in media, Deepali vowed to come back with a bang!

How did you feel when you heard you were eliminated?

I couldn’t believe it. I simply couldn’t because my performance was very good, much better than the other contestants. When they announced my name I was dumbfounded. The voting system is so unpredictable that it is important for us to be prepared for any kind of verdict. In fact, I thought it would either be Puja or Ankita, whose performances were not good in the last Gala. But then you can’t do anything about destiny.

Who do you think will be among the top three?

Amit will definitely be there till the end. He will most probably become the Indian Idol. The other two people who will be in the Top 3 will be Emon and Chang.

Will you miss Meiyang Chang?

Chang is a dear friend. There was nothing between us. The media created it all. It’s always interesting to have some kind of romantic story in a competition like this. People like talking about those who are in the limelight. I request you to please let the rest of the contestants perform in peace. Don’t bother them with such rumours.

Who is responsible for you going out—the janta or the judges?

I have no grudges against anyone. No one is responsible for this. This was my destiny. My fans have been with me throughout. They’ve been voting for me right from the beginning. I guess in the end they didn’t know how many votes were needed. I thank them wholeheartedly.

What are your plans for the future? Do you still want to be an RJ?

Definitely. I am planning to shift to Mumbai soon and study Mass Communication. I want to the join media. I want to pursue a career in music, too, and want to work real hard for it. This is not the end for me, this is just a beginning.

You are a celebrity today. Who would you thank for this achievement?

I would just like to thank my mother and father for everything that I’ve achieved today. They pushed me for the Indian Idol auditions. And then there was no looking back.

What is the reaction of your parents?

I haven’t met my parents yet. I know they’re heartbroken because they wanted to see me as the Indian Idol.

Any regrets? Do you think you should have worked harder?

No matter how much we work, it is never enough. I definitely think that I could have done better. And, from now on, I will make sure that I give my best in everything I do.

Any message for your fans?

I just want to thank everybody who voted for me. I am overwhelmed by their love and support. I am grateful to them that they gave me this platform to sing. I have made my mark in the hearts of the people, now I have to take it forward.

Oops!! What A Shock !! Deepali Is Eliminated

Deepali who started the show yesterday with such a superb performance was out of the Indian Idol this time. Just can't believe it. She is only contestant who was praised by all the judges in the last gala. I'm shocked to see the behaviour of the people. I think they doesn't have eyes for picking out great talent. They are just voting for the contestant they like. People are giving more priority to their region than talent. Though we all know we have to get rid of at least one of the contestants every week, it was still very sad to loose one of these precious diamond who really deserves to get her dreams come true. Success is not only being an Indian Idol but it is to win the heart of so many admirers around the world whose hearts were flooding with tears again while watching the show and I am also one of them.

Gala Performance

Today was the Independence special episode. All the contestants sang deshbhakti song. All of them said they will give their best for the improvement of street kids,poverty and abolition of child labour. As far as their performance is concerned they were mediocre. Deepali started the gala with Dhol Bajne Laga from Virasat and it was awsome. Emon was also faboulous. Only these two participants was praised by all the judges. Others were also good but they were not at their very best. Judges also praised them but there were as usual contradiction. Ankita who is Javed Akhtar'r all time favorite ... disappointed Javedji this time. Anuji told Prashant that he has given the best performance of this gala while Javedji disagreed with him. Even Chang could not impress the judges this time. He was a bit off-key according to the judges. Javedji said he has got the potential to sing better than this...Javed Akhtar said probably Chang's song selection was not that perfect.
These gala featured Anil Kapoor as the celebrity judge. Ajay Jadeja,the famous cricketer also came in this gala to motivate the spirit of the participants.
Tomorrow is the result episode..one of the contestant will again leave the stage ---again a very sad moment on the Indian Idol. So start voting your favorite contestant if you haven't start yet. Letz see who is eliminated this time... a guy or a girl.

Watch Indian Idol Contestants In ABhishek's Elimination Round

The king of Drama Abhishek Kumar is out of Indian Idol

Anu lends Abhishek a shoulder to cry on

Prashant has no words to console Abhishek

Emon consoles Puja as Abhishek says goodbye to Deepali

Emon cannot bear the pain of losing two friends so quickly

Don performing for the last time in stage

Ganesh Hegde charms the gang

Roobaroo is becoming the talk of the town. What started off as a candid chat
between Mini and the contestants is fast turning into a fun episode with
celebrity guests. Today, Ganesh Hegde—singer, dancer &
choreographer—will help them cope with the pressures of singing and
performing. He not only has useful tips, but also demonstrates how they can
perform better. Even an ace performer like Ankita has issues with performing
and singing at the same time.

Fans said they watched the show because of me! - Charu Semwal

It was a shock for Charu Semwal`s fans when she was voted out of Indian Idol. The girl herself couldn't believe it and begged the judges to give her another chance. Here is an exclusive interview with the singer:

Was the elimination totally unexpected?

I never thought that I would be out. There was no time for us to even think about what was happening. Before I could grasp the situation, they declared I was out. I was shocked. I still am.

Do you hold any grudge against the janta?

It is their love and blessings that has helped me reach this far. I was among the Top 10 in Indian Idol. People know me today. I don't think it was because of lack of votes that I got eliminated; I think my luck was not favourable.

When I returned to Dehradun, people received me with garlands and there was a huge crowd before my house. With the kind of love they've showered on me, how can I blame them for not voting for me?

What do you think went wrong? Do you feel you focused more on your appearance than your singing?

Not at all. I worked very hard on my singing. But as they say, 80 per cent is hard work and the rest is destiny. I think my luck was not in my favour. I never believed in this earlier. But now I do because I know I lost because of bad luck.

You mean you are satisfied with your performance?

No, I am not satisfied. If a singer is ever satisfied, he or she can never improve. I participated in Indian Idol so I could improve myself. I am satisfied that I did all that I could.

Moreover, I was ill most of the time. I never showed that on camera. I lost 6 kg while I was on the show. I visited the doctor many times and did my best to perform well. So I don?t have any regrets. I did my best till the end.

The judges criticised you in the last round. They were not satisfied with your performance.

The judges didn't compare me with other contestants. My performance in the Piano Round was excellent. They were telling me that in the Galas I was not performing as well.

So what are your future plans?

I want to make singing my career. I have confidence thanks to my fans. When I was voted out, I met so many fans who told me they were watching the show because of me. They said they didn't like Deepali, Puja or Ankita and that after my elimination they didn't think any girl could become the next Indian Idol.

Many girls told me they voted for me regularly and it was because they loved my voice. I am determined to make a career in Mumbai now.

Emon ne kiya kamal!

He sang with all his heart. The song was Teri deewani. Alisha crooned by saying that it was out of this world. Ila looked at him minutely and said that he looked like Sonu Nigam & he should have sung with even more feelings. Emon took the criticism on his stride. But Anu Maliik was in a different mood, he defended Emon. He declared that all the criticism is baseless. He aggressively contradicted Ila and Javed with his comments. Cool it Anu!

Watch Emon's performance on the last gala.

Ila Arun - The ghaagra queen is here

She looked stunning in a maroon colored ghaagra-choli. A designer bindi on her forehead that shone like a star. In the end, when she arrived on the stage to perform her ghaagra number, she floored everyone with her dazzling moves. Ila Arun’s damdaar voice set the mood for the evening. Javed matched steps with her, so did the contestants. But her energy was more than all of them put together. She was a shining example of what a star should be like for the contestants!

Adieu Abhishek

Ahishek's journey towards the Indian Idol came to an end. Based on yesterdays performance Abhishek was one of the weakest performer. Abhishek was a little dull with Daler praji's Rang de basanti yesterday. Abhishek was at in the danger zone along with Emon, Puja and Ankita. Judges also felt Abhishek should be voted out based on the last gala's performance and Bhartiya Janta agreed with the judges. Abhishek was out of the competition receiving the least amount of votes. When Mini declared he was out! All the contestants, especially Puja and Emon, couldn’t stop crying. But as a part of the game it was obvious that one of the contestants has to leave.

Girls Are Back With A Bang

Today's gala was absolutely fantastic. Todays theme was folk and the show started with Emon. Emon gave a rocking start to the gala. He is improving day by day and as Anuji said Emon is his playback singer. Prashant was next to Emon. Even Prashant who was not performing well for the last two to three galas fight back and perform superbly. The girls is now reduced to 3 from 7 . The girls were quitting one by one except for the last gala. But this time all the three was outstanding. But Abishek fail to impress the judges and Amit once again forgot the lyrics. Although Javed Akhtar and Anuji praised him, Amit knew that it was not a flawless singing.
Chang, today was looking as cute as his song. He was fantastic in this gala. Now itz the time to vote. VOTE....VOTE 'N VOTE to save your favorite contestants.

As an Army officer's son, I am a fighter` says Parleen

Parleen has been a favourite among the girls and his performances were almost always superb. So, naturally, his elimination came as a shock to his fans. We spoke to Parleen soon after the show. Quite surprisingly, he came across as balanced and in full control of his emotions.

We are very sorry. Did you expect this?

I didn't expect this at all. My performance was good, the judges had liked it, my manager and even the people on the sets had said it was good. This was totally unexpectedly, a total shock to me.

What went wrong?

At this moment, I am completely blank. I cannot think much. See, public voting has always been unpredictable, but the people around me said that in the last episode a lot of stress was laid on the public to vote for the girls. Maybe because of that a lot of votes went to the girls this time. As a result, one of the guys had to go and so I am the victim.

If not you, who could have been out today?

It is difficult to say anything. We thought it would surely be a girl even today. There were two girls in the bottom 3, but see what happened!

Did you expect to be among the Top 9?

Well, that is not something you can predict. I am a big fan of Abhijeet Sawant. I made up my mind to participate in Indian Idol 2 after I saw him win. In Indian Idol 2, I was among the top 50. After I was eliminated, I was even more determined to make it. I went for music training for a year in Ambala and this year, I made it to the Top 9. It is unbelievable; I think it is a great achievement for me.

Do you have any grudges against the janta?

From Top 28, the janta voted for me and got me into the Top 9. So how can I hold any grudges against them? Even if I was in the danger zone four times, it was because some people didn?t vote for me. But when I think of the loyal fans who voted and saved me until now, all I want to do is thank them from the bottom of my heart.

What are your future plans?

I would like to make a career in singing. But I would also like to keep my options open and take up whatever opportunity I get, whether it is in acting or modelling. Basically, I will struggle to make it big. My life starts now. It's not the end; it's just the beginning. I am from Ambala. I'll go home now and meet my parents. But I will definitely come back to Mumbai with a bang!

People say your looks helped you come this far. Do you agree?

I know what people are saying, but I have sung tough songs like Ramta jogi. These are not easy to sing because they need a classical base to sing them. Also, when the Galas started, I had got hurt while shooting for Roobaroo. A camera fell on my head and I had to get stitches. For 10 days I couldn't wash my hair and I looked awful with hair flowing like Jaadu! But I still sang and people voted for me.

Do you hold any grudges against the judges?

No, I want to thank each of the judges personally. Their comments were very encouraging. They've always inspired us to perform better`Anu Maliik and Javedji with their straightforward comments, Alisha with her smiling face, and Uditji with his sweet comments. I'll miss everything related to Indian Idol.