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Indian Fame Academy launches tonight on Sony

The wait is over for the latest Indian adaptation of a British show. Fame Gurukul is the name of the Indian version of BBC’s Fame Academy show, which begins tonight on Sony.

Positioning itself as the next level of reality drama after Indian Idol (the earlier adaptation of reality show Pop Idol), the show is slotted as a strip show across Monday to Friday. Mondays to Thursday the show will air from 20:30-21:00, while Fridays it will showcase an hour and a half special from 20:00-21:30.

The theme is essentially the search of the ‘Fame Jodi’, which will be a total of a 15-week search on-air. Fourteen contestants will be put to test, allowing the viewers a peepshow into the trials and tribulations of the contestants singing careers that will made or marred on the show.

The launch week (4th July-8th July) will essentially revolve around the introduction of Fame Gurukul to the viewers, the jury, the faculty and presenters as well as showcasing the auditions and the ground excitement to the introduction of the final 14 talented singers.

Every Friday will see a performance by all the dwindling finalists’ post which four contestants will be put on probation by the jury and one will rescued by the faculty.

The show will be lead by Head Mistress Ila Arun. The undisputed queen of Indian folk-pop music will be at the centre of the drama in the highly publicised show. Under her tutelage the students will learn the intricacies of music, dance and performance.

Also in the faculty, Mickey Mehta will be in charge of keeping the students fit and healthy with an early morning “keep fit” regime. Padma Wadkar and Prasant A Samadhar will both give vocal and singing assistance. Bosco and Ceasar will be giving dancing techniques to improve the students stage presence. Dr.Anjali Chhabria will boost the students thinking and keep them sane. She is a doctor of the mind and takes care of its health.

As part of the jury who will decide on the students future in the Gurukul, Javed Akhtar, KK and Shankar Mahadevan have been roped in to give their expertise advice.

Auditions for the same took place across four cities ? Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkatta and Indore. The show is spiced with a lot of play of politics, music and emotions, hence allowing scope for drama. Says SET India creative director Anupama Mandloi, “We are hoping that these 14 contestants will find a home in the hearts of our viewers.”

Voting lines will be open in India (only) from every Friday to Wednesday. Additionally, the show also has a wild card round where any contestant could come back in action to bring in the anxiety factor.

The aim for Sony is essentially to consolidate prime time. Mandloi points out, “Fame Gurukul will also help consolidate our Friday early slots, as the latter half are already established bands. Strategically speaking, we are using a counter programming strategy from 10 onwards with shows like CID and Crime Patrol.”

Mandloi avers, “Television in India has come of age. We will now be seeing a lot of seasonal shows on Indian television. It allows for more variety, past paced entertainment and a finite end which leaves you wanting for more.”

Sony Entertainment Television Asia will remain one week behind India for technical reasons. To stay right up to date with the action in the Fame Gurukul compound visit the official site here: http://famegurukul.sify.com.

Fame Gurukul begins on Sony Entertainment Television Asia UK tonight at 20:30.