Neeti Mohan: Contestants learn in 45 days what others do in 2 years

When Neeti Mohan entered the world of music as part of the quartet Aasma she became an identifiable figure for more reasons than one Her mellifluous voice was of course her trump card but her distinguishably curly hair and her prowess as a dancer made her instantly identifiableThis was in 2003 In 2023 however Mohan asserts that aspiring singers need to develop two essentials to enjoy a longlasting career ldquoInnovation and consistencyrdquo In this interview Mohan set to judge the upcoming edition of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa draws parallels between the two eras in terms of challenges and opportunitiesEdited excerpts from the interviewFrom the initial glimpses that we are getting to see on social media this edition presents a diverse range of singers What made you agree to be part of it when this offer came your wayWhen I am called to judge I am always willing to do it because I know what it feels like to stand in a line and hope to get selected so that I can have the opportunity to build a career I donrsquot like to use the word judge I prefer to call it mentorship With whatever experience I have if I can mentor someone I feel thatrsquos my way of giving back This show has been going on for over 22 years When I was a kid I used to watch it And now I have a kid So the love that it receives is immenseI have faith in our countryrsquos talent From folk to regional singers our musicians are exposed to different languages and genres Earlier people only consumed Bollywood music But now theyrsquore also exposed to Kpop and world music And we know that because we are hearing incredible stuff on this showYoursquove also been in the public eye ever since you entered the industry given that you were part of the successful pop band Aasma How do you think the challenges that you had were different from the ones that the participants of reality shows have todayAspiring singers are definitely more prepared informed and exposed to different kinds of music today They also understand the consequences of social media and the fame that it can bring When I started back in 2003 I was too naiumlve I just ended up winning that show and coming to Bombay from Delhi with the promise that I would not go back I had that confidence in myselfEarlier we struggled with reaching out to people Now thanks to social media one can go on anybodyrsquos Instagram account and see what genre they follow and understand their style Today if your voice goes viral overnight you could work with the top composers of the country regardless of where you come from At the same time it comes with a downsidemdashto sustain in this industry you have to be very innovative and consistentThis time on the show we have a unique conceptmdashAny singer who becomes the star performer of the week will get the chance to release an independent song that will be composed by HR Himesh Reshammiya or Anu ji Anu Malik That is a remarkable opportunity because everyone needs an identityCan you take us behind the scenes and tell us about the opportunities that these young singers entering the industry via reality shows are gettingThousands of contestants apply for the show A few hundred make it to the shortlist And then about 70odd singers come for the auditions to Mumbai where we listen to them But once they are here we have an internal team that mentors them and deciphers whatrsquos best suited for their voice As we speak they are undergoing that training And during this intense 45day prep they can learn as much as people do in two years They teach you about the flamboyance that you need in your performance and help you master other things as well That is a big opportunity in itself So if you donrsquot see the singers seeming busy that doesnrsquot mean they arenrsquot doing anything They are busy composing making scratches and pitching for film web shows or their own labels