Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Hosting Chote Ustaad on Star Plus

The show starts beaming from July 24. The Judges being Sonu Nigaam, a singer and a performer that I have admired from the time I was in school and the legendary Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Sahab. 
Right now you must be thinking that Anandha Vikatan got it right. Or maybe they were an oracle. This show and my going there got discussed in finality and confirmed as of 5 days ago and all that I knew was I had to take the next flight to Mumbai for a day. And thanks to jet flights, I go in the morning and come back in the night once work is over to my own home in Chennai. 
The show has kids from Pakistan and India participating and am amazed at the talent and more importantly the attitudes and the mindset of the children there. An ocean of difference from lots of kids that I have seen so far. Also for the first ever time, or maybe its the way Sri Gajendra Singh functions, I saw everything on paper, on what will happen when, a proper run order and a discussion with the directors thankfully a day before the show and there are no surprises. A lot more methodology, discipline and professionalism in the way of functioning. Work starts on time. Nothing is forced and the kids are just the way they are. The kids definitely have the tameez as they say and I am seeing the genuine respect to music and they are there for the sake of music. Not for anything else. Also did not see contestant badmouthing the judges, as I have seen before. Which was also telecast I guess. Not for cars and houses and money. And more than anything else, I love the concept of the jodi between a Pakistani child and an Indian child as a team making up 10 teams altogether, thereby ingraining the message of brotherhood and love in them through music. As I left Mumbai, I read a quote by Raahat Khan Sahab in the newspaper which said that Pakistan has too much terrorism to encourage budding musical talent and that he is glad that the opportunity to showcase them is given by India. After meeting the kids, I wonder why any country would do, indulge in, or promote practices (I think if something like terrorism is not nipped in its bud by any country then they are indirectly encouraging it) that would actually adversely affect the future of their own children, their own future. And every parent of these kids in the show says that perhaps through this show, through music, the message of unity and brotherhood will come through. What better way can there be when the messengers of peace are children? I, like all others that dream, wish for that peace, hope and love for all the children starting from Kashmir to Pakistan to Afghanistan to anywhere were guns are louder than the laughter of happy children. 
As a singer, as a musician I am getting to hear so much of music that I have not heard before and I see that most of the really popular Hindi songs are all borrowed from the traditional tunes of India. 
My co-host on the show is Omi Vaidhya, better known as Chatur Ramalingam of 3 Idiots and he is a total riot. He brings an element that is absolutely ingenious in a show like this.
Sonu ji gave me several pointers on presentation and how to go about certain things in the process. Loved listening to him in those few minutes I got. 
When the judges go about explaining a lot of things to the contestants, I am learning along with them. In addition to so many musical ideas my vocabulary in Hindi and Urdu is growing. Urdu is one of my favorite languages to listen to. It has a mellow and lovely sound. In addition I am getting to listen to Rahat Sahab and Sonu ji sing a lot which, for me as a rasika, is beautiful to experience. 
The show will go on for only about 12 weeks. By the end of 10 days of total work, I know I ll be a completely different person. Richer in experience. And God willing, richer in Music.

23 comments:

Jayanthi said...

Pardon me if am wrong..but do you mean to say that kids back home sing for money, cars and houses and not out of passion? I think kids are kids always - anywhere and everywhere and they enjoy what they do...

Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee said...

Jayanthi: It definitely becomes different when the goal is money and not about learning music. I have seen that panning out in front of my eyes and depending on the prize, I have seen the attitude and behaviour of the kids here change. I speak from experience.

BriceColdPlayOnwards said...

What an exhilirating opportunity! Music and sport are two of the greatest uniters of our time, and I trust you will be an adroit drvier of this vehicle of cultural carpooling. Now I'll just have to find the time to watch another one of your shows as you slowly become India's Rachael Ray. :)

Oh, and, 2 eProps to Anandha Vikatan. Turns out the smoke wasn't from a fire, but a pilot light. Enjoy the journey!

Anitha D said...

Good luck Chinmayee with the new opportunity & environment! You will rock the northern tv scene too, I am sure!
Your fan & well-wisher always,
~Anitha~

Saravana said...

Congratulations and all the best on this one, Chinmayi. Keep rocking.

Samuel George said...

Congrats mam. Wishes to rock in Hindi too(From Tere Bina itself you are rocking in Hindi...But still). A big congratulations for being nominated for Filmfare awards for Varayo varayo. Hope you win it.....No... Surely you are winning it...You deserve that! God always endow good people with his abundant blessings. And you are one among those lucky people. It's not just you are lucky but you made yourself lucky with your abundant talents...As I said earlier(When you got Vijay TV awards for Varayo varayo)"WISHES TO BAG THE GRAMMY'S SOON". See you in star plus soon....

SARAS said...

ALL THE BEST MA
ROCK INDIA WITH YOUR SWEET VOICE

Vinoth said...

Fire or Dry Ice....smoke has always has a source. Anyways..happy for you and All the very best.
Vinoth

Chinmayi Sripada /Chinmayee said...

Vinoth: Sure. sometimes the source is also a burning stomach :) That way you ll see a lot of smoke around.

Lavs said...

wow..congrats chinmayi..i will definitely tune in this program to watch you

Anonymous said...

this,show when'll be telecast?

Anonymous said...

A request for you as a regular follwer of your blog:

Can you split your post into multiple paragraphs so that it is easier for us to read it?

Thanks!

varsha said...

Chinmayi, am I great fan of urs and I have always wondered how someone can be so multi talented like you,,
All the best forward for ur new venture,,
Will be seeing you on TV more often ,, Today in manathodu mano and tomorrow in Chote Ustad and Sangeetha Mahayudhdham :)

Jayamurugan said...

All the best Chinmayi.

Raja said...

It is good to watch you in Hindi channels. Hope we are going to love your Hindi. Its really a wonderful gift being multi-linguistic. Whatever be the language, music has no barriers to it. Good luck and have a good one...Raja

admin said...

chinmayi super up ....
i really like ur voice ... and also today i come to know your teacher of music is one of the my best musician.. really like the song you sing on the stage of the Chhote ustad...

keep your singing ....

Soumya said...

Hey watched Chhote Ustaad.Wow totally in sync with bollywood style, acccent!!Kudos.

Maheswari said...

Hello Chinmayi,

Saw Chote Ustad yesterday.Sangeetha Mahautham and this pgm come at the same time.edha paarkiradhu....:-))

Have u lost weight?
Ur face has lost some chubbiness in Chote Ustad compared to Sangeetha Maha Utham or was it the makeup in StarPlus?

All the best Chinmayi.
Godspeed good people.

Maheswari

Srinath said...

We started watching Chote Ustaad on Star Plus in the US this weekend (24th/25th) and it has been a great experience. It feels like we are watching the Finals of some competition rather than the first 2 episodes of a show, mind blowing singing.

You and Omi make great hosts and your Hindi was a big suprise ! Apologies but didn't realize that you speak Hindi so well.

I am sorry to say but the singing in Sun TV's Sangeetha Maha Yuddham that you host is not at all at par with any of the other singing shows in Star or Zee. Some of them are ok but overall it is a big disappointment.

Rajesh said...

Hi Chinmayi,

I really liked the show chote ustad...these kids are awsome, so talented.


Also i saw u on Sangeetha Maha Yuddham (aired same time as chote ustad) was amazed with the command u have over language...

I came to know (from your website) that you know more languages.. :)

Good work...

Really liked your singing...and now anchoring...Have a great day ..
Thanks..

Unknown said...

I started watching this program from last week and I feel good about the concept. Your Hindi is damm good. It's an entertaining program !! I wish you do lots of variety program like this.

Unknown said...

I started watching this program from last week and I feel good about the concept. Your Hindi is damm good. It's an entertaining program !! I wish you do lots of variety program like this.

Rajesh said...

Chinmayi di...i havent seen u sing on the show...please do once atleast...it would be pleasure to see you perform..

Thanks