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Filmy out to hunt for ‘Bathroom Singer’

From the confines of the bathroom to the arc lights, Filmy steps into the unfamiliar territory of reality shows with a singing talent hunt. Fame, glory and a fortune of Rs 25 lakh await the winner

Same old wine, but in a new bottle? Filmy becomes the first movie channel to test the waters of reality television with the launch of a singing talent hunt show, ‘Bathroom Singer’. The show is going to look for an untrained singer who can capture the hearts of millions with the unique combination of singing and entertainment quotient or ‘jhaag’.

“Unlike other reality shows for singing talents, we aren’t here to look for a youth icon – a smart, well-dressed, singing sensation, we are looking for an entertainer, who could be a 21-year-old village lad or a 50-year-old high society lady,” explains Shailesh Kapoor, head, content and marketing, Filmy.

The reality show will start with ground auditions in four cities, Ahmedabad (July 24), Delhi (July 28), Kolkata (August 1) and Mumbai (August 5). The winner, who will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, will be selected by the combined votes of the jury and the viewers. The programme will go on air in the last week of August.

Indian television is already flooded with reality shows, especially music based shows, with the top three GECs (general entertainment channels) already fighting a three way battle in the singing talent hunt space. Do we require another one?

“Unlike other music talent hunt shows, where contestants above 35 years are not allowed, ‘Bathroom Singer’ is open to everyone with a voice and an attitude that can turn the bathroom into a stage, every morning, irrespective of the contestant’s age. So, it will be unfair to put this show in the same league as the others,” defends Kapoor.

Filmy, a part of SaharaOne Media and Entertainment, is banking on the reality singers to take on the likes of Zee Cinema, SET Max and STAR Gold. “We are the youngest in the Hindi movie genre and different from the other three channels. Our programming doesn’t include just movies. We do a lot of spoofs on Bollywood actors as well as a countdown show on Bollywood songs, and now this reality show. We are too young to aim for number one position, but surely this show will help the channel move up the ladder,” asserts Kapoor.

The show will be judged by the Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kissen, singer-cum-composer Shibani Kashyap and a guest judge of the week. Gaurav Gera, aka ‘Nandu’ of ‘Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin’, fame will host the show.

So, if you love singing under the shower, here’s a show for you.

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