Parents of L'iL Champs voice dissent on Aishwarya's inclusion

With the ten finalists of L'iL Champs gaining eyeballs in just three weeks since the series has begun, every step that is taken by the director, creative team at Zee, judges, finalists and their parents comes under close scrutiny. An anguished mother from Ahmedabad returns back home heartbroken with her extremely talented daughter Aishwarya Majumdar, as all attempts to convince the judges and parents of selected finalists to allow her daughter to be part of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa platform proved futile. The upcoming Thursday episode has all the drama of kids who just did not get their songs right, strong reactions from judges for selecting the wrong songs, disappointed parents and to add to it all ---- Shaan introduces on stage a young girl named Aishwarya, who viewers will recollect was part of the final 22 chosen among thousands of hopefuls all over India. Aishwarya sings 'Chalka Chalka' so perfectly that all the three judges, Bappi Lahiri, Alka Yagnik and Abhijeet praise her performance and give her top marks. Alka Yagnik and Bappi Lahiri remind the audience that they were struck by her voice at the auditions and wondered why she did not turn up for the final selection from 22 to 11 singers. Abhijeet, though in absolute admiration of her rendition, raised a valid point whether a contestant who opts out on health grounds should be included in the competition weeks later when his/her health recovers. All the judges spoke of it being a controversial decision and left it to the programme creators to take a final call on the matter. When anchor Shaan asked the parents of the ten finalists on their reactions, none of them were in favour of including Aishwarya in the competition. They had many reasons for this decision. Most parents, including those of Pavani and Gurpreet, spoke of how their kids were very ill with the weather changes, strenuous routine of rehearsals, shoots and outdoor assignments--- all part and parcel of being part of the show-----and still managed to appear and sing whenever required. With news of two sisters, 17-year-old Archana and her 16-year-old sister Ankita, from Jabalpur trying to kill themselves by jumping into the sea in Mumbai, on not being able to participate in L'iL Champs, Zee TV is making sure it wants no negative publicity with its frontrunner show. "That Aishwarya has a good voice is undeniable, but it is unfair on the other participants who have seen good and bad days since the start of the contest and have come up the hard way. She should instead be given a direct entry to the finals in the next edition of L'iL Champs," said Armaan's mother. Aishwarya's mother says that she chickened out and took the decision to return to Ahmedabad when Aishwarya was struck with a severe attack of viral fever as she was alone and new to Mumbai. She requested Gajendrra Siingh to withdraw from the auditions that were held to select 11 kids from 22. And, despite his pleas to get her all medical help, they returned to their hometown. She said, "I was scared of things going out of hand and took the decision to return without letting Aishwarya sing for the final auditions." "It does take a lot of dedication and detemination on the part of the parents to motivate and gear the kids to be positive even when running very high temperatures or suffering from some serious ailment. And, come what may, the kids have been putting up a brave face and performing without letting the judges know that they are unwell and that is commendable," says director Gajendrra Siingh. "As much as I wanted Aishwarya to get back into the competition amicably, looking at the unneccessary controversy it would create, I have decided not to allow Aishwarya to participate in the show. I cannot give people a chance to criticise the fair and foolproof methods of selection that I have set up over a period of years," added Siingh. Seeing the tension on the sets, Aishwarya was asked to appear on the Friday episode and gracefully withdraw from the show, seeking the blessings of the judges and acknowledging their kind words of appreciation at her performance.