Singing on stage

I remember growing up with "" and around "" music. In the boarding school where I studied, teachers encouraged me to give solo performances to represent the school at important events and functions.

And though my parents were happy to notice the growing confidence that music instilled in me, they never believed I could have a career in playback singing.

And though my parents were happy to notice the growing confidence that music instilled in me, they never believed I could have a career in playback singing.

I used to get mad at their lack of concern. But that was then. In my 30s today, I can safely admit that I was never that great a singer to begin with. As much as I enjoyed singing, my heart wasn't steely enough to chart out the tough journey of a career in music.

 

For starters, there was stage fright "" unpardonable in any artiste. It happened to me in the 11th grade when I went up on stage and suddenly felt it shaking violently beneath my feet.

I felt someone beating me with an iron rod to bring out a tiny croak in my voice. It was my worst performance and after that, no matter how hard I tried, stage fright remained my constant companion.

Don't get me wrong. This still remains the television column and not a space for any personal stories. But there is a glut of emotion every time I watch some of these music reality shows on television.

Because of my own lack of confidence, I'm amazed at how some of the young participants on these shows wield the mike and sing so confidently. But I find myself identifying most with those participants who aren't winners.

These are contestants who are urged to "respect the platform given to them" (Pritam on Star Plus' Chhote Ustad), who smile when the jury says that they're "not fit to win" (Kunal Ganjawalla to second runner-up Prakriti on Chhote Ustad) and who are finally packed off because they never garner enough public votes for themselves.

So I felt sad looking at Areeb, a young contestant from Rampur, who after losing badly on Chhote Ustad was seen on Chak De Bachche, another music-dance show on 9X.

In the episode, Areeb Khan Niazi was patiently listening to some negative remarks he got from music directors Salim and Sulaiman about his singing.

Coming from a family with strong musical leanings (his father, a classical singer, had spoken strongly to his son in front of the cameras, urging him to sing well), Areeb appears to be a classic case of a child trying to fulfil parental aspirations "" parents who are desperate to see their child win, even if it is obvious that he is struggling to sing each note.

Music-based shows are great for showcasing genuine talent but they can plummet to dangerous degrees, especially if a young contestant or child is genuinely not the best.

And even if parents want the world to know their child's talent, there are some who are clearly pushing their children too hard "" to perform better, to bring home accolades, a trophy and money worth several lakhs too.

(abhilasha.ojha@bsmail.in)