STRIKING A CHORD: Film actor Indraja and playback singer Vandemataram Srinivas at the audition of Hutch Andhra Superstar contest in Vijayawada on Monday. — PHOTO: RAJU. V.

VIJAYAWADA : For many amateur singers, it was a great opportunity to exhibit their crooning capabilities in front popular playback singer Vandemataram Srinivas.

The audition organised by cellular service provider Hutch at Hotel Ilapuram on Monday for the `Andhra Superstar' show on Gemini TV met with stupendous success, as more than 900 singers descended on the venue to sing their way to glory.

Venues

After selecting 12 best singers at Tirupathi in the regional round held there, the Hutch caravan arrived here to select another dozen before moving over to Visakhapatnam and finally to Hyderabad.

The audition began with the smartly clad Srinivas, with a new hairdo, singing the runaway success title number from the film `Osey Ravulamma'.

Hutch chief operating officer (Andhra Pradesh) Hameer Bakshi said: "A total of 48 singers will be selected for the programme, which will be aired every Sunday at 9.30 a.m. from March 4. The programme will have 20 episodes."

Mr. Srinivas said that the aim of the programme was to judge aspects like confidence, versatility and style among the participants, apart from singing abilities.

Body language

"The image of a singer has undergone a sea change with the advent of various innovative ingredients on the stage shows by western artistes like Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.

Just standing and singing without any body motion is not accepted by modern audience.

Only the singer with all these modern traits will emerge as `Andhra Superstar'," he explained.

Adding a dash of glamour to the programme was film actor Indraja, who donned the new role of an anchor for the programme. Veteran playback dinger S.P. Balasubrahmanyam will judge the finals.

Participation

Hutch subscribers can participate in the contest by dialling 123555 from their mobile phones and record any of their favourite song for a minute, while non-Hutch subscribers can send SMS as HASS {lt}name{gt} {lt}city{gt} to 5858 and send their voices recorded in a CD/cassette/DVD to Hutch Andhra Supertar, Gemini TV, post box no 1562, Somajiguda, Hyderabad - 500082.

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