American Idol vs Indian Idol

 American Idol and Indian Idol, both these shows are very popular in the respective countries with audiences across the world. Though both these shows are spin off’s from the British show Pop Idol, each one is different on its own. Both shows take the contestants and the viewers through a rollers coaster ride of emotions, excitement, heartbreak and jubilation, before an Idol emerges from the contestants. But ultimately the requirements and measuring scale and what is sought in each of these idols is so different.

Every year, tens of thousands of hopefuls from across America audition for a shot at stardom in American Idol. The show's judges - Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi besides the host Ryan Seacrest- travel across the country in search of the next American Idol. They winnow down the competitors to a select group of semifinalists who sing their hearts out each week in front of a studio audience and television viewers.

The judges, Simon, Randy, Kara and Ellen DeGenerous have their say after every performance, but it's the viewing public that determines who will advance to the next round of competition and who will go home. Voting via telephone and text-messaging begins immediately after each performance show, and the results are announced during the following night's broadcast.

Eventually the competition is narrowed down to two finalists who compete for a major recording contract and the American Idol title.

Indian Idol gives millions of people across India the opportunity to chase their dreams and   become the  ‘Desh Ki Awaaz’ or the Indian  Idol!  This year in the 5th season, while its still auditioning for the contestants, the show announced that  in addition to a recording contract with Sony BMG, the ‘Indian Idol’ will be awarded a contract with Sony Entertainment Television worth Rs 1 crore, thus catapulting him or her into stardom, fame and fortune.

The judges on the Indian Idol show this year are Sunidhi Chauhan, female playback singer of Bollywood; Salim Merchant, music director and singer; and Anu Malik, a renowned music director.  Anu Malik has been the judge on this show since its first season.  Besides being the most popular judge of Indian Idol, he is also known as Simon Cowell of India with his straight forward critique.

Both these shows discover raw talent and make them superstars at the end of the season. But what they seek in their idol is different. This is the big difference between the Indian Idol and American Idol.

 The judges at American Idol, now in its ninth season seek in their ‘Idol’, the talent to sing, a great voice, an independent characteristic, an individualistic and distinctive personality,  uniqueness, not an emulator,has creativity to make a song one’s own, take a song and make it better or different,  a star quality with the ability to become a popstar  and recording artist with solo albums of one’s own!

Whereas the Indian Idol is a superstar in his own right, he/she has a set of different and probably lesser requirements to achieve.  The traits sought for here are a great voice, ability to sing well, good understanding of music and singing, and a star quality to become a successful singing star and playback singer. The Indian idol’s requirements are different because of the type of film Industry in India. Bollywood know to make movies with a lot of song and dance seeks creative  singing talent regularly to be playback singers for the thousands  of movies it produces. The Playback singer is a singer who can make the lyrics into a sweet melody and sing it  to match the actor who is lip synching their song in the movie. Though star quality is required even in Indian Idol, the American Idol may just be a harder race to run and Win!

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