The Indian Premier League has more in store for fans across the country this season three. Scheduled to take place between March 12 and April 25 this year, lakhs of spectators will witness a live musical reality show, called the `IPL Rockstar -- Musical Tadka', before some of the matches begin, which will be judged live by cele- brated singers, Sukhwinder Singh and Kailash Kher.
The idea behind the show is to liken the IPL matches to America's Super Bowl, the championship game of the National Football League, which has some of the top US musicians performing live.
The reality show will air on Colors along with the other three shows -- IPL Fear Factor, IPL Nights and IPL Awards (see boxes), under the property called `IPL Tadka Maar Ke'.
IPL Rockstar will feature 14 former music reality show contestants, including Amit Paul, Meiyang Chang, Sandeep Acharya, Antara Mitra and Harshdeep Kaur. Apart from the two regular judges, one of the eight IPL franchisee owners will be a guest judge during different match days, while rapper Hard Kaur will anchor the show.
"It's an exciting concept and I immediately agreed to take up the show. It would give a kick to the contestants, as well as to us judges, to see the audiences react to the singers. It is an opportunity of a life- time for these singers," says Kailash Kher.
While Sukhwinder Singh adds, "I'm sure I was taken on as a jury because the show producers knew about my passion towards sports. In fact, I had two career options as a teenager -- one, a runner, and another, a singer, since I was quite good at both. I'm excited about getting to be part of a singing show, happening on a sports ground."
Both judges admit that their judging criteria will include audience reactions to the singers as well. "We are part of a democracy, after all," smiles Kher. "We will definitely consider the unsaid verdict of the audience. If the singers manage to get the crowds on their feet and get them to sing along, that will be a sign of success."
"It's a live show in the true sense," agrees Singh. "The reactions of the crowd will be instant. And since the contestants are all winners from various other reality shows, the level of performances will also be much better." Only the first few episodes of the show will be aired live on Colors, while the others will be aired at different time slots, which are yet to be decided.
