Neeti Mohan: Placed importance on mental health aspect

Neeti Mohan

Judging reality shows is no cakewalk. It only gets trickier when the contestants are below the age of 14. But Neeti Mohan enjoys both - the role and the responsibility that comes with it. For someone who started her journey as a contestant and then went on to become a prominent Bollywood singer, Mohan knows that reality shows can be a game-changer for true talent. As she sits on the judges' panel of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs season 9, the singer hopes to make it more about nurturing young talent and less about competition.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

What is your vision for this season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs?
I want to see growth in the children who come here. I want them to have strong learning so that they go back enriched, empowered, and more confident about performing. [They should] remember the show as a milestone in their life because it gave them an opportunity to learn.

You've gone from being a contestant to a judge. What is the one thing you wish to change about the show?
These shows give opportunities and are a game-changer for the talent. [On screen] they only depict the week-by-week performances, not the training they receive behind the scenes. There are coaches who train these children, day and night. Their back-story is not shown on TV.

Does the show also take care of contestants' mental health, considering they are being exposed to such high pressure at a young age?
Now that I am a new mother, I have placed huge importance on this aspect of the show. Someone who is exceptionally good will always perform well, but there are children who require more training before they shine. We have experts who give them pep talks, and [help them] deal with the jitters of the competition. We have teachers who train them. A lot of effort goes into [preparing] these kids, especially because they are impressionable between the ages of five to 14. We want them to go back with a positive experience. This year, regardless of whether they clear the round or not, we are giving everyone homework.

Also Read: Singer Neeti Mohan celebrates one year of motherhood as her son Aryaveer turns one

By cultivating singers, you're putting out the message that there is scope in playback singing. How much of that is true?
Music is one place where sur plays a bigger role, nepotism goes far away. If Arijit Singh can sing, then it does not matter where he comes from, or who his family is. He is from a reality show. Everyone has come [in this field] because their voices work. They are technically so strong that [you cannot deny them the opportunity]. Being a famous singer's son or a reality show contestant only takes you from point A to B. But there is a long journey ahead, which is only possible with a lot of hard work, patience, and love.

As a new parent, do you hope your son enters the music world?
My parents never expected me to pick up anything. They left that choice to my sisters and me because they wanted us to be happy with what we do. They promised to be by my side, no matter what I [take up]. That is liberating. I will apply the same learning to my son of [16 months]. I will expose him to different extra-curricular activities, and eventually, let him decide. Yet on a personal note, I will say he loves music. [Given his] attention span right now, he is exploring every instrument that we have at home - piano, guitar, ukulele, and tabla. He also listens to music while sleeping.