Fame Gurukul

fame jury Ila Arun

2005-06-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

Ila Arun

Ila Arun is the undisputed queen of Indian folk-pop music. All her non-film albums have become GOLD or PLATINUM discs. Her music is high on energy, trend setting and most of all original. She was the first to give Rajasthani folk music a trendy image. Who can forget “Mere choli ke peechhe kya hai” from “Khalnayak” and “Moranee bagaa mein bole aadhi raat maa” from “Lamhe”. ‘Fame Gurukul’ is run by this highly acclaimed and celebrated singer. Under her tutelage the students will learn the intricacies of music, dance and performance

The Road to Fame

2005-06-30T04:59:00.000-07:00

Fame Gurukul
This is a Daily Reality Drama, which tells the story of 12 talented singers who have given everything they have to enter the coveted music academy – FAME GURUKUL and their journey to becoming the nation’s biggest singing sensations.

Based on a successful Spanish reality show called ‘Operacion Triunfo’, Sony Entertainment Television’s ‘Fame Gurukul’ will take millions of Indians on a roller coaster ride of fierce competition, spectacular performances and stardom success laced with gripping drama and high emotions. ‘Operacion Triunfo’ has been adapted across 11 countries gripping millions of viewers across three continents, and seeing fourth and fifth series in some countries.

After being tested on various parameters through auditions held across Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Indore, only fourteen will be given the dream chance of training at the academy under a team of top notch no-nonsense experts from the industry in music and dance. Only twelve out of fourteen singers will enter the academy through Jury selection and public voting.

Every week a real life drama will unfold giving viewers a look at the life, struggle, hopes & aspirations of these young singers. Every week mercilessly one aspirant will be asked to leave the academy till we zero in on the two who will become the FAME JODI.

Judging them will be an eminent panel of judges and the ULTIMATE JUDGE – the NATION.

Ila Arun will turn a new leaf in her career as `headmistress' in Sony TV's reality show Fame Gurukul

2005-06-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

NEW AVATAR Ila Arun will host the Fame Gurukul show for Sony TV Photo: V. Sudershan

On a rather dramatic note, singer Ila Arun takes the stage. "I order all of you to switch off your mobile phones, stop talking and listen to me. I am the headmistress of Fame Gurukul. Rules start and end here with me," Ila booms in that familiar rasping tone of hers, even as the assembled mediapersons try to figure out what the gimmick's all about. With her long, curly tresses left unlocked, donning a flowing colourful salwar kameez, some chunky ethnic neckwear and a rather slim and long bindi pasted on the forehead to complete a domineering profile, for a moment, she indeed takes you back to school. Talented Ila no doubt is, so trust her to maintain the tempo to the finish.

Giving singing a break, the lady from Jaipur exhibits this theatrical bit of hers to validate her role of `headmistress' on Sony TV's latest reality roll-out, Fame Gurukul made on the lines of a music academy. All set to hit the TV screens this June, Fame Gurukul will have 14 contestants vying for a coveted contract from Sony TV worth Rs.1 crore plus a music album from Sony BMG.

It is lifted from a Spanish reality show, Operation Triunfo, produced by the company Endemol, a show that travelled to many countries claiming healthy ratings. In India, it takes the name of Fame Gurukul. The 14-week serial will be a daily hosted by svelte Mandira and TV actor Manav Gohil. Each week will see the ouster of one contestant. The final say would rest on the heavy-duty jury comprising Javed Akhtar, KK and Shankar Mahadevan.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/05/18/stories/2005051800950400.htm

Reality television, the new wave

2005-06-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

Get real, couch potatoes. A new wave of reality shows is all set to hit the boob tube. Impressive line-up The line-up is a long one. While new seasons of Kaun Banega Crorepati, MTV Hero Honda Roadies, Channel [V] Get Gorgeous and Indian Idol are ready to enthral, there are brand new shows in the offing too. Channel [V] launches TV Champion while Sony has Fame Gurukul (based on the Spanish reality show Operation Triunfo) coming up. The Sony show is about 14 singing talents who’ll make their place in the music academy. And Zee TV’s Business Baazigar that rewards one innovative entrepreneur each month. Bigger booty The stakes are high. KBC 2 comes with double the prize money — the winner pockets Rs 2 crore this time. Roadies 3 will have 13 roadies (6 girls, 7 guys) this year, as against seven (3 girls, 4 guys) last year. The Get Gorgeous 2 winner gets an exclusive contract with [V] and modelling agency Elite, show co-sponsors. Recipe for spunk If the season is new, it’s got to be spunkier. The new shows promise captivating entertainment. TV Champion, for instance, is all about being wild, innovative and uninhibited. Says Channel [V] head honcho Amar K. Deb: “The show is about youth doing their own thing. We’re giving them one minute each to show us what they’re made of. The show has no script, no celebrity jury, no rules.” Time for innovation Shows like Fame Gurukul and KBC 2 are banking on novelty. While Fame Gurukul is another music talent hunt show, the format is new. The 14 who make it will learn music in the ‘gurukul’ where Ila Arun is the headmistress. Javed Akhtar and Shankar Mahadevan train them. KBC 2 will be more interactive with a play-along facility. Says Deepak Segal, executive VP, Star India: “This will allow TV viewers a chance to win in every episode.” Also, KBC 2 will have 45 million landline and 49 million mobile connections for viewers keen to participate. And participants get an extra lifeline by way of ‘flip the question’. So, readerji, Lock kiya jaye?

Source : http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/37576.asp

7 skills to jumpstart your PR

2005-06-16T01:56:00.000-07:00

By Kirthi P

Are you an expert at sweet-talking everyone, right from the paanwala to the principal of your college?

Do you manage to weasel out of the toughest situations thanks to your gift of the gab?

Then a career in public relations beckons. Should you answer? Read on to find out.

Do you have it in you?

A career in PR is not as much about qualifications as it is about knowledge, soft skills and presentation.

i. Do you have these soft skills?

These include:

~ A liking for meeting people from different walks of life

~ An extrovert nature

~ The ability to absorb information about various topics

~ Good organising skills.

"What's really important in a PR professional is a thirst for knowledge. Everyday, you are learning something different. Today you are talking about a certain sport, tomorrow it is a corporate, the day after it is lifestyle, on the fourth day it is about food and wine," says Pooja Chaudhari, co-founder of Zzebra, the PR agency that handles the Lakme Fashion Week.

ii. Do you have a flair for writing?

This skill, combined with strong command over languages, adds to the skill set of an ideal candidate.

iii. Are you willing to put in crazy work hours?

A PR professional is generally required to be present at conferences, parties, interviews and events organised by his or her company.

This could stretch to late evenings and sometimes even nights.

If you need to hit the bed at 10.30 every night, PR is not for you; you should opt for a 9 to 5 job!

iv. Are you willing to travel?

Willingness to travel is another characteristic required of the PR professional because a large-scale event might drag you to different places in and outside India.

v. Are you well-groomed?

Physical attributes do matter to a certain extent as does good grooming; remember, this is a people-related job.

So scruffy hair, bohemian attire and sneakers are NOT acceptable at the workplace at all.

vi. Are you good at maintaining contacts?

The ability to get in touch and stay in touch is probably the greatest skill required of a PR associate.

If you are bad at remembering names, saving telephone numbers and writing e-mails, look elsewhere.

vii. Are you flexible?

Flexibility is an absolute prerequisite.

"You should be able to adapt to anything. I was part of a team that was into marketing, entertainment and healthcare. Later, I was shifted to lifestyle," says Chaudhari.

Are you eligible?

Fresh graduates from any discipline can make a career as PR associates. PR is a mass media field and is best learnt on the job.

There are many courses available that impart formal training and prepare you for a career in PR.

However, there's only so much that a PR course can teach you.

Like journalism, most of the tricks of this trade are learnt on the job and through interactions with people.

Getting the education

"PR is very closely linked with journalism. So any college offering journalism will offer courses in PR as well," says Chaudhari.

The recent mass media boom has resulted in several colleges introducing courses in public relations under the collective Bachelor in Mass Media umbrella.

~ This three year degree, recognised by major universities in India, is offered by many graduate colleges.

~ If you missed the bus earlier, you needn't fret just because you opted to graduate in another discipline. Various diploma courses are available to teach you the basics of a public relations job.

~ Most colleges offering PR courses put their students on an internship with PR companies or consultancies for anything between two months to six months.

~ The cost involved for a course? It varies between Rs 8,000 per year for a three-year BMM degree to around Rs 12,000 to 15,000 for a year-long diploma.

However, the more reputed institutions might charge a higher amount.

Study options

Courses:

Diploma in Public Relations and Corporate Communications
Bachelor of Mass Media

St Xavier's College
Mahapalika Marg
Mumbai -- 400 001
Phones: (022) 2262 1366, 22621639, 2262 2877
Web site: www.xaviers.edu

***

Course: Post graduation in Social Communications Media (Corporate Communications)
Sophia College
Sophia College lane
Near Breach Candy
Mumbai -- 400 026
Phone: (022) 23631642
Web site: www.sophiacampus.com

***

Course: Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising & Public Relations
Indian Institute of Mass Communication
JNU campus
New Delhi -- 110 067
Phone: (011) 26109268
Web site: www.iimc.nic.in

***

Course: PG Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising
Mass Communication Research Centre
Jamia Malia Islamia
Jamianagar
New Delhi -- 110 025
Phone: (011) 26987285, 26982263, 26986812, 26986810
Web site: www.jmi.nic.in

***

Course: Bachelor of Mass Communication
Amity University
Amity Campus
Sector 44
Noida -- 201 303
Phone: 1600.11.00.00 ( toll-free)
Web site: www.amity.edu

***

Course: Post-Graduate Diploma in Communication Management
Symbiosis Institute of Journalism and Communication
Senapati Bapat Marg
Pune -- 411 004
Web site: www.simc.edu

***

Course: Postgraduate programme in Public Relations & Event Management
Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad
Shela
Ahmedabad -- 380 058
Phones: (02717) 237946/ 47/ 48/ 49/ 50/ 51
Web site: www.mica-india.net

Fame ke liye kuch bhi karega

2005-05-31T05:20:00.000-07:00

FAMOUS JODI: Manav Gohil and Mandira Bedi, the anchors of Sony’s reality show Fame Gurukul
Pic: Sameer MarkandeIf Indian Idol’s tagline read Sab Kuch Bhula De, Fame Gurukul, Sony’s new reality show that starts next month, has Iske Liye Kuch Bhi Karega.

Touted as the next big thing after Indian Idol, Fame Gurukul will be anchored by Mandira Bedi and Manav Gohil (CID, Ayushman).

Viewers are already familiar with Bedi and her noodle straps; it will now be interesting to watch Gohil in his anchor avatar.

The new show, which will air at 8.30 pm daily, is being produced by the Miditech duo of Niret and Nikhil Alva, along with Vipul D Shah and Sanjiv Sharma of Optimystic – the same team that produced Indian Idol.

The famous gurus...

Ila Arun

1. Ila Arun (headmistress)
2. Vocal coach Padma Wadkar (wife of playback singer Suresh Wadkar)
3. Playback singer Prasant A Samadhar (Fiza, Taal, Gadar)
4. Counsellor Anjali Chhabria
5. Choreographer Geeta Kapur
6. Fitness consultant Mickey Mehta

The jury

1. Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar

2. Musician Shankar Mahadevan

3. Singer Kay Kay Menon

The prize

The Fame Jodi will be awarded a recording deal with a leading music company, and a contract worth Rs 1 crore with Sony.

How is it different from Indian Idol?

Fame Gurukul is totally different from Indian Idol, says the channel.
Idol was a studio-based show, while Fame Gurukul is a live daily drama, with two participants being crowned the Fame Jodi.

In fact, Fame will provide the run-up to the new season of Indian Idol later in the year.

What is Fame Gurukul?

Fame Gurukul is a licensed adaptation of the Spanish reality show, Operacion Triunfo. Produced by Endemol, it has been aired in several countries worldwide.

It will have 14 singers selected from auditions held all over the country, vying for a place in the gurukul where their journey to fame begins. The gurukul is a mansion-cum-dance recording studio. Candidates also put up their own music-dance shows.

Besides professional training by experts from the music industry, there will also be fitness, counselling, grooming (for the X factor) and dance classes.

Cameras will follow the participants’ every move, with viewers voting in the two best candidates — the Fame Jodi.

Source : http://web.mid-day.com/hitlist/2005/may/108705.htm

Sony TV launches new singing talent

2005-05-31T05:12:00.000-07:00

Sony Entertainment Television Wednesday announced another music-based contest that will have 14 finalists vying to be singing sensations.

"Fame Gurukul" will be a reality show that will tell the story of 14 singers fighting for two top slots in a music academy called Gurukul.

The winners would get a Rs.10 million deal with Sony and a recording contract with a leading music company, the channel said at the programme's launch here.

The show is being termed as grander than Sony's "Indian Idol" series that saw winner Abhijit Sawant bag a similar Rs.10 million contract with the channel and the chance to cut an album.

"Fame Gurukul" is fashioned on Spanish reality show "Operacion Triunfo".

Sony executive vice-president and business head Tarun Katial said the programme will offer viewers entertaining musical performances and true talent spiced with gripping drama and high emotions.

While lyricist Javed Akhtar, singer KK (Krishna Kumar) and musician Shankar Mahadevan are on the jury, singer Ila Arun will be the "strict" headmistress of the music academy.

"Like 'Indian Idol', 'Fame Gurukul' will roll out in phases - introducing the concept and the show, driving participation via auditions, an on-air premiere and the countdown to (choosing) the final two (Fame Jodi)," Katial said.

The auditions begin with Kolkata May 6 at Science City, moving on to Delhi, Indore and Mumbai.

The jury will select 16 aspirants but only 14 will be enrolled into the "Fame Gurukul".

"Indian audiences have taken reality television very positively and 'Indian Idol' is a good example. The viewers will decide which 14 hopefuls will take the coveted places in the Gurukul, which is a fabulous mansion-cum-dance/recording studio in Mumbai," Katial said.

"We can really find good talent through 'Fame Gurukul'," said lyricist Javed Akhtar at the launch.

According to Ila Arun, "We will take only those who are good singers as well as combine a drive to showcase something new and have the ability to work hard."

"They should not only have a classical base with knowledge of the ragas but also able to present themselves in popular (singing)."

Source: http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/14541.html

Sony’s new reality show 'Fame Gurukul’ in the offing

2005-05-10T01:25:00.000-07:00

Sony’s new reality show 'Fame Gurukul’ in the offing

revolutionary show named ‘Fame Gurukul’ is all set to be launched by Sony Entertainment Television (SET) this month after the stupendous success of its groundbreaking reality programme ‘Indian Idol.’

'Fame Gurukul' - a daily reality drama would be the story of 14 talented singers who vie for a place in the coveted music academy to begin their journey to become the nation's singing sensations, informed Sony Entertainment CEO, Kunal Dasgupta.

The show is based on a successful Spanish show 'Operacion Triunfo', produced by the format owner Gestmusic, part of the Endemol group, the show premiered on television Espanol and has been adapted across eleven countries, proving to be a huge rating success across the world.

Dasgupta claimed that the show would take millions of Indians on a roller coaster ride of entertaining musical performances, competitive spirit and true talent spiced with real gripping drama and high emotions.

Dasgupta further said, “SET has delivered the promise of making Abhijeet Sawant an overnight star from among millions of hopefuls on 'Indian Idol'. ' Fame Gurukul' starts where Indian Idol ends.

Unlike ‘Indian Idol’, ‘Fame Gurukul' will give 14 talented aspirants out of 16, the chance to go to a school in a reputed music academy and be professionally trained by a team of top experts from the Industry to come out as seasoned performers.

The show will roll out in various phases. The auditions will be held across Kolkata, Delhi, Indore and Mumbai, the esteemed jury will select 16 talented aspirants and only 14 amongst them will get opportunity to enrol in the prestigious 'fame gurukul'.

Viewers would be given the opportunity to decide 14 hopefuls who will get coveted places in the Gurukul which is prestigious mansion-cum- dance/recording studio in Mumbai.
The programme will get two talented superstars who have to prove their mettle to the jury comprising stalwarts from the music industry as well as the viewers.

The lucky 14 will live together in the Gurukul. Each week drives towards individual live performances.

While the Gurukul faculty would be Padma Wadkar, Prashant Samadhar, Anjali Chhabria and Geeta Kapur, the show will be presented by Mandira Bedi and Manav Gohil.

The auditions begin from May six in Kolkata, Delhi (May 10), Indore (May 14) and Mumbai (May 19). However, the date for the telecast of the programme has not been decided yet. It will be announced later.

source: http://www.ddinews.com/Entertainment/idol.htm