The latest season of Indian Idol saw 23-year-old contestant Lakshya perform “Tum Kya Mile” and “Pehli Nazar Mein,” hoping to leave a mark on the judges. While in the promo his singing talent was undeniable, he faced criticism for mimicking popular artists instead of showing his unique style. Judge Vishal Dadlani halted his audition midway, pointing out that Lakshya’s performance echoed the vocal nuances of famous singers like Arijit Singh and Atif Aslam.
“Aap original singers ke inflections aapke gaane mein daal rahe hain, first with Arijit (Arijit Singh), then with Atif (Atif Aslam) (You are putting inflections of many singers in your song, from Arijit to Atif). You’re singing well, par aap apna nahi gaa rahe ho (You are not being yourself while singing). Ye ‘Indian Idol’ hai na, yahaan se idol nikaltein hai; yahaan aap nakal kar ke aage nahi badoge (This is ‘Indian Idol’ where Idols are born. You can’t get ahead here by initiating someone).”
He further explained that while audiences in live performances might appreciate such mimicry, it wouldn’t lead to stardom, “You perform in public, right? Often in shows, when you imitate other artists, you win praise from the audience because they want to listen to the songs as they know it. But until you don’t make an identity of your own, you will never become a star. You cannot become an Indian Idol singing in someone else’s style. This is my problem.”
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Though impressed with Lakshya’s vocal abilities, Vishal expressed concern over the contestant’s reliance on imitation. “I really like your voice, but I don’t like the imitating situation. Aap seekho zarur, yeh bahut bade kalakaar hain aur bahut acche kalakaar hai; but jis din aap unki nakal karne lag jaoge, unki style apna loge toh aap hotel, restaurant mein gaate reh jaoge. To be an artist, you have to find your own space. (You learn from them because these are really big artists, but the day you start copying them, you will only find a place to sing in hotels and restaurants).”
As Indian Idol returns for its 15th season on Sony TV, the judging panel includes Vishal Dadlani, Shreya Ghoshal, and Badshah, with Aditya Narayan reprising his role as host.
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