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Get into the Hungama mood
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Hungama TV launched a talent hunt for its multi-genre channel this past week. S.M. YASIR reports.
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Sanchi Budhiraja, Delhi finalist with her family.
WHEN YOU can have a computer company called Apple, a mobile network company called Orange, then certainly a kids channel can be dished out as Mango. At least Purnendu Bose, Chief Operating Officer of the first made in India 24-hour Hindi entertainment channel for kids, thought so. Might sound logical, but as is normally the case, statistics didn't follow logic. "We conducted a survey to find out the best name. Since the channel is for kids and is to be run by kids, their opinion was most important. And all of them wanted it to be called Hungama TV. Isn't that, what they essentially do," asks Bose who had to abide by their decision.
From there on started the search for the captains, or show hosts of this multi genre channel for kids aged four to 14. Dubbed as a nationwide search for 20 of India's smartest kids, who will not only host the shows but will also be consulted for the programming and marketing of the channel, it got more than 1.5 lakh entries.
Bose believes, that this figure, which is the highest for any talent search is simply because of the fact that one-third of India's population is below 15 and they want to carve a world of their own. But carving their own world, as was seen recently in the Delhi auditions isn't all that easy.
The auditions, which consisted of three rounds self-introduction, talent and mental puzzle round, found many nervous. But few children clearly stood out from the rest in terms of creativity, articulation and out-of- the- box thinking. Fourteen-year-old Shweta Krishnan, who was the most confident of the lot, felt that her ability to pen English poems will get her through. "I think I am a step closer to my dreams."
Mariyam from Salwan Public School on the other hand believed her practice would bear fruit. "I prepared for introducing myself to the judges." Whether or not they make it to the idiot box is something that will be revealed only after the final Mumbai auditions, to be held after short-listing four candidates from each city.
While the kids await the results, the encrypted channel awaits the clearance of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, after which it can roll out Science fiction, adventure and comedy shows it promises, through the Star network. Reasons enough for a Hungama?
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