India’s Got Latent – Time to question judgment of Sonali Bendre, Sajid Khan and Kirron Kher

This could mark beginning of a new low in TV programming - Paid Talent Hunt

I suspect if they should ever be allowed to “judge” a national-level talent contest.

While human biases have known to inflict us like leech, there are moments and situations when we all rise above narrow personal preferences and give preference to merit over other considerations, driven either by regionalism, religion and even some external influences. Nothing of this sort is happening here, at this popular show on Colour TV India’s Got Talent.

The three judges – Kirron Kher, Sajid Khan and Sonali Bendre – of the popular Colors TV's show India’s Got Talent II have apparently turned hugely myopic and some of their decisions have left viewers like me gasping. Their abilities to “judge” become apparently suspect in the light of some of their latest approvals.

Seen this bunch of enthusiast jokers from Kolkata of the band Underground Authority? If screwing up rhythm, lyrics and beats has become a talent in the new era they would qualify hands down. I suspect so. But look at the reactions of Sonali Bendre and the once non-believer -- His comments on the group when Salman Khan was present on the show was bang on – Sajid Khan’s turnaround leaves one wondering if they are a back-door entrant pulled in by considerations evidently other than talent. The channel, if at all it cares for feedback, has a lot of explanation to do. Or else I shall have a reason to believe we are beginning to see a new trend on TV (read media) of “Paid Talent Hunt” – in times of paid news and paid almost everything (politics, justice, stardom) this won’t be too surprising.  

If one reads into the stars’ reactions with a toothcomb there seems to be a clear conspiracy to bring the Underground Authority in reckoning, defying all norms of propriety.

The case of Vir Khalsa group is similar one. I am aghast at the brazen display of favouritism by Kirron Kher who is supposed be rising above partisan considerations in making her decisions. Sajid, the turnaround man, is again seen surprisingly revising his opinion much to our dismay and in a clear indication that there are apparent connivance of the stars.

These artists have taken the television programming to a new low and we should be wary of this.

Saving grace is that there still are many other talent shows on TV that work on the sole criterion of talent. I wonder if we can soon start to see these being also rigged.