One reason why you should watch television: Indian Idol

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Aired on weekends over two hours on Sony, Indian Idol in 2017 has managed to balance talent, excellent production, and human interest stories in a way it didn’t earlier. From LV Revanth, who lent his voice to a song in Baahubali to Carnatic singer Maalavika Sundar to Jeli Kayi, a singer from Arunachal Pradesh, who can sing in male and female voice to the untrained raw voice of Khuda Baksh from Muktsar, Punjab – this season can easily thrive on the strength of its contestants.

This edition also sees the return of the original judges – music director Anu Malik, playback singer Sonu Nigam, and filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan. Surprisingly, they are tamer in approach, never nasty, less dramatic, and with real feedback – none of that abstract, vague conversation about taking “it to another level”.

In the “Grand Premier” round last weekend, the production quality was outstanding, with each performance – good, bad and average – standing out for the sets, and the lights. Even Nigam pointed out how live shows of established musicians lack such shine.

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Low-key drama, standing ovations, that rare bad rhyme by Malik and a montage of backstories of contestants get enough screenplay, and we don’t mind. What irks the most, however, is the banter between the hosts Karan Wahi and Paritosh Tripathi. Also, there is no need to fit in random games and competitions such as “roti belo-ing” in the middle of the show. This edition of Indian Idol doesn’t need these distractions; the contestants are that good.

If you do turn on the idiot-box, let it be just for Indian Idol.