You are either a versatile singer or not: Wajid Ali

The Sajid-Wajid duo is all set to create magic on the small screen. Yes, this dynamic duo, who has weaved some fascinating Bollywood musical numbers in recent times (in movies like Rowdy Rathore and Dabangg et al), will be seen as the judges in Zee TV’s upcoming singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Other adjudicators include Shankar Mahadevan and Rahul Ram of the Indian Ocean band.

We cornered Wajid and asked him what viewers should look forward to in the latest season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

This season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa promises to provide something new to viewers. What can we expect in terms of innovation?

I am a viewer myself and since I am bored of the same pattern of the singing reality shows, I am sure viewers are bored too. For me, musical reality shows are simply waste of time if nothing is happening on the musical front. I think just by asking contestants to wear some shiny clothes does not make a show successful; one must sing from his or her heart in a show like this. These days, we are so much into improvisation that we have forgotten the term simplicity. Taking all this into account, we are not just making the show interesting for the viewers by making a few changes in the format but are also keeping the simplicity factor alive. There will also be a few surprise elements this season. As a composer, I feel that if I do not surprise my viewers, they will not like the show. Fortunately enough, we have a channel like Zee TV that is interested in taking up new challenges. It’s a very good beginning.

We hear that the contestants will be permitted to sing in the genre they master unlike other reality shows?

I personally feel one must be true to himself or herself and not take up on something just because it is popular. For, if someone does not belong or is not comfortable with a particular genre, adhering to it just to gain publicity brings about a downfall. If someone is good at rock, he must sing rock music; he need not sing a classical number. Ultimately, when you use your genre, you get a position. So, judging on this show will not be limited to a particular type. Unlike other shows, we can’t ask a contestant to sing a Rafi sahib song just for a day after a four-day practice. If he is good, he will take it off well but then he does not master it. Hence, we have decided to let the contestants perform on what they are best at.

So are you looking at a versatile singer or someone who is a master in one particular genre?

You are either a versatile singer or you are not. Nobody can make you one. One has to be true to oneself and I am not here to teach them. We will guide them to take their talent forward and will just introduce them to themselves.

When you say you’re not there to teach, what would be your responsibilities as a mentor in the series?

Like I said earlier, we are going to introduce them to themselves…I e we will show them the real path. The younger generation today does not know the goal and that is the biggest hitch. We just show them the path for five months. When we go to a school, the teacher just teaches us things, rest is for us to pick up.

A lot of reality shows delve into the financial background of the contestants (for sympathy purpose). Do you think this affects the votes?

I personally feel that it is unfair to show their poverty; instead we must focus on talent. In fact, by reflecting one’s financial background, we are just making a mockery out of them which is not fair. I am completely against this, but at the end of the day it is the channel’s decision whether to show it or not. And as far as the votes are concerned they do get affected, but at the end of the day, the one who is talented wins. Your focus can shift for some time, but not forever.

How has the audition process been so far?

It’s been tedious. We have selected 90 people out of which we will segregate 19. This time, we gave a chance to a lot of people because we felt that they should get an opportunity to come to the second level.

In an earlier interview with us, Shankar Mahadevan said that there would be no fights amongst judges in the show. But won’t there be difference of opinions which could later turn into fights?

We are educated people. When we did our earlier season (2010), we made friends for lifetime in Vishal-Shekhar and Daler Mehndi; we did not get into fights. Even in this season, we will look at resolving issues. We know that we will be known for our work and we wouldn’t want to be mentioned for a fight on a show. Since we are looking at entertaining the audience, we will be emotional and humorous on the show. Self respect is important and ego is different; we can keep it aside till we are on this show.