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NT Bureau
Chennai Feb 24:
 

Carnatic vocalist Soumya and playback singer Tippu, Jury of the Airtel Super Singer Junior contest along with Airtel chief operating officer Mahesh Thampi.

        Another opportunity for budding singers to hit the popularity charts as Vijay TV in association with Airtel is all set to begin a new episode — Super Singer Junior which would be telecast shortly.

        Hunt is on already to select the contestants with the completion of two audition rounds in Coimbatore and Tiruchi recently. Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Vijay TV, creative head, Pradeep, said the audition tests in two zones were a huge success as many young talents took part in the screening.

        He said 30 contestants were selected from the two zones and another 15 would be tested in Chennai for the audition from today (24 Feb) at Mayor Ramanathan Chettiar Centre, MRC Nagar. The audition test is being conducted for the kids in the age group of 6 - 14 years, who could send their recorded voice either in CD or cassette.

        To make the audition more competitive and reach out to hidden talent among children, the Vijay TV team is on the move to remote areas in and around Chennai in their their mobile booths, which would register the young aspirants' voice.

        Video booths are also set up in the city to facilitate the recording of tunes and songs of young participants. Pradeep said a high-powered jury comprising popular names in the music industry would do the screening for applicants in all the three zones of Tiruchi, Coimbatore and Chennai.

        Carnatic vocalist Soumya and playback singer Tippu would screen the aspirants in Chennai to the select the best fifteen of them.

        Airtel chief operating officer Mahesh Thampi said their subscribers could use mobile phones to leave their 'voice drop' on 6464 and shortlisted voices would move to the next round directly. The selected 45 talents from the three zones would once again be screened by the main jury panel that included pop diva Usha Uthup and playback singer Chitra. Those kids who have passed the tests by this jury panel would be put to test in successive rounds that would examine their prowess in classical, semi-classical, light, film and folk songs, both in group and individual singing.

        Mahesh Thampi also informed that the Bharti Foundation, the social arm of Bharti Enterprises, has awarded scholarships to two meritorious, but poor students from Loyola Institute of Business Administration under Bharti Scholarship Scheme. Already, the foundation has chosen nearly 30 institutions for awarding the scholarships. But the cheques were issued to the students for the first time under this scheme.

        The Super Singer Junior would go on air for 13 weeks and the final winner of the contest would take home Rs 5 lakh as cash prize. The recorded CD or cassette could be send to Airtel Super Singer Junior, Vijay TV, PO Box - 8484, Chennai 34.