Debo jeet gaya

...And here are some observations about reality show finales

- Approximately 1 hr and 46 minutes will elapse between the time the host first announces, ab kuch hi der mein aapko hum batayenge ki 'India ki voice' kaun hai... And the actual announcement

- That a 'chhota sa break' will last for 6 minutes and 21 seconds. After all, the channel has to make hay while the TRP shines (and make up for several low years)

- That the final two are completely unrecognisable from their original selves thanks to 'make overs'. (A sign of having well and truly arrived is that you are now no stranger to the world of streaking and hair colour!)

- That every time a personality who is at least 5 years older than the contestant the simple rule is: lunge for their feet. They may claim to hate this but... Why take chances.

- That with all the mutual backsratching going on, every major and minor personality called on stage is going to have no back problems - for some time to come.

- That you can call a show that is telecast with a 2 hour delay 'live'...

In addition, specific to the Zee show
- The announcement of results resembled an annual school Sports Day function with the number of wellwishers, hangers on and actual stakeholders crowding onstage at the very end.Even Brij Mohan Munjal as he announced results of the 'kumptition" reminded me of an avuncular old school principal.

- That in the end I have this teeny weeny doubt about whether Assam and NE really did manage to swamp the voting earlier. In the end Debojit won by a slim margin of 50.42%.

Yes there are supposed to be auditors but... Didn't it make for a much bigger 'story' this way?

As close to 5.5 crore votes were cast yesterday that's a cool Rs 30 crores plus which goes into the pockets of Zee + Cellcos. Controversy sure helped to fuel those numbers!

- Noted in the closing credits two gentlemen under the heading 'Reality Director'. What exactly do these people 'direct'? How to pit one kid against the other - and other such spontaneous events?

- For the first time I heard both Vinit and Debojit - I think they're both competent singers and I have no problem with Debojit winning. He deserved it as much as the other finalist.

But it was Himani who I think was truly outstanding and as Alka Yagnik said, she will go a long way. I never saw any shows with Nihira or the others so I cannot judge how good they were but I have no doubt in the long run (say 5 years from now) the 'winners' of these reality shows may not achieve as much fame and fortune as some of the others who also competed.

Already, it is clear that Qazi - who was a great performer in the context of Fame Gurukul - cannot repeat his magic outside the sets. His first video is a disaster thanks to lack of singing talent, atrocious dress sense and endless narcissism which is now irritating rather than endearing.

I think the Sa re ga ma winner and also-rans will fare better because the show roped in so many big names from the world of music as mentors. And they will promote their personal favourites - which outside of the show format is a good thing.

Unlike the old days when big singers and composers zealously and jealously guarded their own territory, the new lot has (willingly or unwillingly!) accepted the recognition and promotion of young talent as part of their portfolio. It's no longer seen as a personal threat.

More talent, more variety, more voices - we as audience could not ask for more!