Telugu reality show comes to Sharjah

The fascination for TV reality shows from India has caught on in the UAE, too. Aata-Paata, a Telugu song and dance reality show, is coming to this part of the world for the first time.

Telugu is the language spoken in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

UAE-based cultural organisation, Kalanjali, is organising the event on September 19 at Sharjah Indian Association. The competition has attracted more than 100 contestants with auditions held in Dubai on Friday. Five finalists in two age groups (under 15 and 16 and above) have been selected for both song and dance competitions.

The auditions were judged by dancer Praveena and noted singer and south Indian music director Parthu Nemani for singing competition.

Arza Prasad of Kalanjali said the reality show will be an annual event, which will be shown on ETV. He said Telugu actress Indraja, who is now more popular in Malayalam and Tamil cinema and on TV shows will be the celebrity chief guest.

Nemani, a mechanical engineer-turned music director, says the contestants were really talented and it was quite a task to choose the finalists. Himself a winner of the first singing reality show Padutha Teeyaga on ETV, Parthu says music has always been his passion.

A 13-member ETV crew will cover the event and telecast the show the following day. They said acoustics, sound and lighting experts will be working to make the evening an enjoyable one.

* The filnals of Aata-Paata will be held at the Indian Association Sharjah on September 19 at 6:30pm. Entry is free.