Most of the reality show contestants never make it big in Bollywood. However, Sumedha Karmahe of <em>Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007</em> fame is proving the critics wrong. After having sung for her <em> Sa Re Ga Ma Pa</em> mentor Bappi Lahiri’s composition, Sumedha has bagged two more plum projects. “I’ve recently sung for director Nikhil Advani’s upcoming film <em> Chandni Chowk to China</em>. It has Akshay Kumar in. the lead. Besides this, I’ve also sung a duet with Shaan. I’m just grabbing every opportunity that’s coming my way,” says Sumedha.

Aneek Dhar and Sanchita Banerjee, winners of <em> Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007</em> and 2006 respectively, met with a near fatal accident in the outskirts of Guwahati today. The duo had performed at a show and was on their way back from Kokrajaar, around 250 kms from the city, when a speeding truck collided with their car.

In a realty show, it's always the popular candidate that wins the contest. For more than 30 weeks, Bikaner's Raja Hasan ruled the roost on <em> Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007</em>. No one evoked a bigger response from the audience and the viewers than Raja. When the winner was to be announced, 22,000 people across the stadium echoed his name. However, the name that cropped up wasn't his but that of Kolkata's Aneek Dhar.

His wild card entry attracted criticism from some quarters but at the end of the grand finale of<em> Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007</em>, Aneek Dhar was crowned the undisputed winner. The 17-year-old from Kolkata pipped Bikaner's Raja Hasan by a whopping 13 lakh votes to win the musical reality show. Apart from bagging a Rs 50 lakh contract with Zee TV and Universal Music, Aneek won a Chevrolet spark car too.

After her insipid performance on Saturday, the only thing that can now save Poonam yadav from being eliminated in <em>Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge</em> 2007 is viewer's vote. Thus far, Poonam's humble background has overshadowed her talent. She's garnered more public sympathies than anyone else on the show. More sympathies will pour in for Poonam after it was revealed that the 26-year-old girl from Lucknow had adopted a child.

Last week, the theme was wedding songs. So, it provided the perfect opportunity for our Romeos' on <em>Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007</em> to express their love for Juliet. As the events unfolded, Amanat Ali, Aneek Dhar and Sumedha Karmahe (Juliet) were caught in the net laid out by the three gurus.

Music is a universal language. It transcends all boundaries of language and religion. This is aptly defined by our two Pakistani contestants (Juniad and Amanat) of Zee's <em> Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge</em> 2007 as they have lent their voice for <em> Bal Ganesh,</em> an animated film on the Hindu deity. "Amanat and I are singing a song <em>`gana gana',</em> which is a ode to<em> Lord Ganesha</em> for this film. It's also sung by Asha Bhonsle, Sumedha, Mauli and Aneek," says an excited Junaid.

It takes great pain to triumph in any reality show. Our pretty girls on Zee's <em> Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007 </em> are beginning to feel it. Not only are they being weighed down by the fan expectations, it's the weight of their approximately 10 cm-heavy earrings that's causing them pain. Mauli Dave and Sumedha Karmahe shared their grievances with us. Poonam Jatau was unavailable for comment.