Indian Idol Junior is back with more glamour and young talent from all over India. The singing reality TV show’s second season was launched in Mumbai, with contestants paying tribute to some of the legends of the music industry such as Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Sonu Nigam, on Thursday.
The children sang hits from the 1950s such as Aaiye meherbaan, Aayega aane wala, Mere sapno ki rani, Ruki ruki thi zindagi and Main tenu samjhawan ki.
For this season, Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha is foraying into small screen as a judge. The Dabangg actress says she will try to induce a ‘fun’ element in the show. “I cannot judge children on their singing capabilities, but will be watching them as a common man who likes music and appreciates music. I will be someone who encourages them and we will have fun together,” Sinha said at the launch.
The event started with host Hussain Kuwajerwala introducing his co-host Asha Negi of Pavitra Rishta fame.
Then on came the other judges, composer Vishal Dadlani got the audience grooving and his performance was followed by Shalmali Kholgade, who sang Mohabbat buri bimari. The show’s fourth judge, singer Salim Merchant, was missing.
Talking about his association with the talent show, Dadlani said: “This is something that is very dear to me. It is amazing to hear these beautiful voices, so pure and untouched by commercialisation.”
Dadlani, who was part of season one of the show, said: “For season two, I’m really excited. The children are phenomenal singers, and that is what the show is about, it’s about spectacular vocal ability.”
Sinha lauded the hard work and dedication shown by the children as she felt “it’s not easy to reach this stage after all those auditions, and obviously the juniors have proved that they are supremely talented”.
Nachiket Pantvaidya, senior executive vice-president and business head, Sony Entertainment Television, said: “A lot of stories happening behind the talent will be seen. A lot of emotional and heart stirring stories are there.”
The show will begin airing in India on May 30.
