Date : 21st September 2008, Sunday.
Address :
Jnana Jyoti Convention Hall, Central College Building,
KR Circle, Bangalore – 560001.

After a week long wait for another interesting audition [Images] , Bengaluru auditions left us high and dry. The city which has always boasted of its charged up youth population was indeed all talk and no show. The judges admitted a dearth of true Roadie spirit in the people who were auditioned.

The auditions started on a high note with so many people thronging the venue. However, the turn out was lesser than Kolkata or Ahmedabad where it was a mob-like situation. Bani J again hosted the audition and we can’t help but admire the way this former Roadie has come of age.

The toughness of the audition process can be gauged from the fact that Aniket, the guy who had won Roadies Battleground, an online game for Roadies aspirants was also not selected. He was totally screwed in the interview and was proved a loser by the brothers –Raghu and Rajiv. He entered the interview room, pumped up thinking that it would be a cakewalk for him, only to return with a dropped face. It appeared that he just had undergone a shock therapy inside the interview room.

A large variety of people tried their luck and basked in their two minutes of fame. There were wannabe Roadies, rich spoilt brats with spunky hairdo and piercings and people who tried every trick in the book to impress the judges. Props were used, silly jokes were cracked and one guy even made an effort to abuse the judges. That’s another story that this young 18 year lad who made the mistake of making such an effort was nicely given a reality check. The contestants seemed to have forgotten one basic rule of this show and that is, expect the unexpected.

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All the color blind people, you just missed a bizarre show of all the possible hues which can be put to display. Paulami De, the new Roadie on the block is not just different but totally out of the world (pun intended!).

All pre conceived notions about a Roadie go haywire after the selection of this girl. The hype about Roadies Season 6 as Hell Down Under goes for a toss if such delicate damsels are put into the show. Paulami De had a trouble even putting her chair back in place as the fear of broken nail loomed in her head.

The curiosity level has already risen about this freaky Roadie. For starters, Paulami De is a 28 year old model from Kolkata. She, according to her, belongs to an average middle class Bengali family yet nothing appears to be normal for her. With her appearance she could put any K soap vamp to shame. Loud makeup, mascara and all weird accessories were donned by her. She was humiliated in her face by Raghu and Rajiv. They bashed her in their elegant style. She talks in a kiddish voice and pretends like an 8 year old. Her intellect level seems of the same age group as well. We understand that she comes from modeling background, but such an appearance gave hints of an insecure girl trying to hide her flaws. She neither had the flair nor the flamboyance to carry herself with elegance in her strange dress up.  They asked her talent, at which she replied that she dances well, and she did show a sample, and that was not so bad!

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Kiri Timung went to all the audition venues last time. He could not crack the Group discussion even once. He did not give up and tried once again. Lady luck smiled on him this time and guess what, he not only cleared the Group discussion but also became a Roadie, all in one go. It looks like a story straight out of some motivational self-help book. That’s the story of our Roadie- Kiri Timung.

Kiri Timung relentlessly pursued the desire to become a ROADIE and the result is here to see. The judges were immediately impressed with his grit and genuineness. He was a constant fixture in all the auditions last season that Raghu, having recognized this familiar face, asked him to moderate the Group Discussion.

The audition of Kiri Timung was minus the slangs and humiliation which comes as a part of package deal when you go in front of the twin terror- Raghu and Rajiv. They asked him the reason for chasing a dream like this at the age of 25 when the priorities are totally different in life. He gave a dumb answer that he wanted a bike and the judges were to some extent moved by his simple aspirations.

Kiri mentioned that he had started growing his hair long so that he could use them to his advantage in some task. He took this inspiration from the previous season where a girl did the same. This answer completely stumped the judges and to make things interesting they gave him a task. Kiri was asked to lift a suitcase using his hair which was tied to the handle. He did that effortlessly and the judges challenged him to pick a heavier suitcase. This time too, he did not disappoint.

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Shocked!! Don’t worry, the reaction is completely normal. Bimbettes have finally found their way into the game show which till recently was meant only for the tough people. It seems this time around, the focus is more on making the show more entertaining than task and performance oriented. The judges, seemingly, are trying to redefine who a roadie is with such choices.

Varisha Hawelia can be completely described in simple words as ‘beauty without brains’. She is a student of journalism, without any intellectual prowess to do justice to her chosen course. The registration form is used extensively by the judges to understand the thought process of the contestants. The form had a question on the applicants’ reaction to the recently held rally for gay rights. Varisha, showed her shallowness by writing that gays are ‘mentally retarded’. Her answer on the sensitive gay issue was blasphemous to say the least.

There was nothing interesting about the girl except the beautiful hair which she left no opportunity to flaunt throughout the audition. She kept running her fingers through her tresses to draw the attention of judges. She was a complete bundle of contradictions. Her answers in the interview were completely different from what she had written on the form. At one point of time, the judges even started doubting if she had got the form filled from some one else.

She had mentioned that she had many boyfriends but on being questioned in the personal interaction, her answer was a straightforward ‘No’. She gave some stupid and unconvincing explanations to justify her two different answers for the same question.

She gave unnecessary airs of childish self importance with her attitude and opinions.

The judges found her stubborn and too caught up in her comfortable life of luxuries. The only reason they cited for having her in the show was to expose her to the not-so-beautiful life outside where hardships and struggles come in plenty. The other obvious underlying reason which goes without saying is the glamour quotient of the show which cannot be ignored. Such pretty looking gals take group dynamics to a different level with flirtations and infatuations. Need we say more!!

Watch Varisha Hawelia Roadies 6 Audition

Date : 17th September 2008, Wednesday.

Address :
Rang Manch, Swabhumi Heritage Plaza,
89 C, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Sarani, Kankurgachi,
Saltlake Kolkata – 700054.

The search for Roadies continued this week. The destination this time was the city of Kolkata. This cultural capital of India has produced many interesting Roadies in the past and a final winner too. Ankita and Ayaz were the two Roadies who proudly represented the city in the last season. Anthony, Roadie of season 4.0 went on to win the game show.

With high hopes and expectations, the production team went on its look out for some more Roadies who can add variety to this show. The city like the past did not disappoint and three Roadies from this huge reservoir of talent have been picked up for the journey where anything can happen.

The producers got unexpectedly huge response from the youth of the city. Almost 5000 people turned up for the auditions and gathered well before time. Raghu had to brave through the stampede to get inside the Heritage Plaza. Things got in order after a little effort and persuasion.

Bani J, a former Roadie hosted the show very well and her Hindi has definitely improved. Looks like, Bani is making a conscious effort to come into the mode of Hindustani VJ. The usual repeated nodding of head and over the top accented Hindi has been nicely replaced by a clearer voice and better facial expressions. She has finally started understanding the nuances of connecting with people.

The Group discussions went for a painfully long time. ‘’Dangerous’’ Debby, Ashish Patil, Clyde and Raghu were the moderators one more time. Some of the faces were so familiar that Raghu in one of the GD’s asked two contestants to step into his shoes and give the topic for GD. Raghu exclaimed that after having witnessed and experienced GDs in almost all the venues in the last season also, these guys know it all!

The two boys looked a little embarrassed initially but the bolder one took this opportunity and suggested an interesting topic ‘Should there be eve-teasing if girls wear skimpy clothes’. Even Raghu showed his amusement over the topic chosen. The GDs went on and on owing to the large crowd that that thronged the venue to try their luck. The list of the shortlisted Roadies could not be displayed and each of them was later informed on phone.

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Roadies 5.0: A shy guy comes to try his luck in the only Reality game show which is exclusively for the youth. He somehow manages to clear the group discussion and finds his way into the torture (interview!!) room. He is asked some very personal questions which he completely refuses to answer. He explains that the judges are trying to intrude into his personal space.

Outcome- The judges declare him unfit for the challenges that lie in store for a Roadie and the pre-requisite for a Roadie, according to them, is to be totally comfortable about who you are and not what you want others to see about you. He is humiliated and Raghu gives him a nice piece of his mind. The poor boy makes a firm vow in his heart to come back again and prove these people wrong.

Exactly one year later…..

Roadies 6.0: If you still have not been able to guess who this guy is, let us take this opportunity to introduce the familiar looking, second time lucky fourth finalist from Ahmedabad-Vicky Arora

This man has indeed proved the judges wrong. Times change and so do people. Experience, definitely is the best teacher. Vicky Arora, after one year, is a completely different person. Even the judges were amazed at the transformation of this extremely shy and so-called fake guy into a person with grit and go-getter attitude. Raghu, could not help but acknowledge that he had never expected a person to change to such an extent.

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After Samrat Kaushal and Devarshi Patel, the next on the list of new Roadies is Bhanu Pratap. Names can be definitely misleading. The finest example to prove this statement right is our next Roadie from Ahmedabad – Bhanu Pratap. When such a name is heard for the first time, the obvious reaction is that he must be a tall, strong built, short tempered guy with a complete no-nonsense attitude.

On the contrary, our Bhanu Pratap is a very short guy, about 5feet 5 inches, using his hair almost three inches long to add to his height. He has piercing on his chin and bothe ears. He is a cool and chilled out average youth with stooping shoulders. The way he sat for the interview showed his laid back attitude towards life as he was completely at ease with legs spread out. A rare sight when the person is already intimidated by the mere presence of twin tormentors- Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman.

Raghu gave him a new hair-do as he wanted to see how short he actually is. Raghu said “Tu Thinga hai na!” (you are dwarf no!). The hair stylist was immediately called in and effect was phenomenal. Bhanu Pratap was asked some very uncomfortable questions which he answered without showing any signs of embarrassment. He told the judges that one of the weirdest things he has done is to go to the Petrol Pump in his boxers only. The brothers went a step ahead and asked him to strip to his boxers there and then to authenticate his claim. In no time, we saw this short and lanky guy in polka dot boxers. Bhanu didn’t immediately become camera shy sitting like that and laughed off when the brothers made him the butt of all jokes.

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The few things which strike the mind on hearing the word ‘roadie’ are go-getter spirit, oodles of attitude, restless mind and a free spirit. The man in question apparently has none of these qualities, but he is still a Roadie in the current season. It’s none other than a typical pot bellied businessman type Gujju, Devarshi Patel who has surprisingly found a place for himself in this show.

He was a complete show stealer as nobody could have ever imagined him to get selected. The judges called him for the interview as he appeared interesting to them in the Group Discussion. Undoubtedly, he didn’t prove the judgment of the twin brothers wrong.

Eveything about 21 years old (hard to believe!!)  Devarshi Patel was different from the other shortlisted contestants. Starting from the appearance, he was probably the only guy who turned up for this interview in a formal shirt and trousers. His spectacles only added to the seriousness of his look. He related a sad story of his one sided love for a girl on being questioned about his relationship status.

The judges were amused with his weird gestures. Just before he started singing a song of movie ‘Rock On’, he removed his spectacles and donned glares. He explained that this would help him feel like a rock star.  If this wasn’t enough, his mimicry was totally hilarious. He enacted a scene from the movie ‘Sarrkar’. It was funny to see him imitate Amitabh Bachchan in the ‘Govinda Govinda’ act. The judges Raghu and Rajiv burst into wild laughter.

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Ahmadabad auditions gave the organizers four roadies for the season 6. The first suitable Roadie for the long and arduous journey is Samrat Kaushal, a man with a never-die-spirit. He had a winner’s attitude and this really impressed the judges. His interview went on smoothly which is so unlike the other occasions when the contestants feel dejected and worthless in just a few minutes of interaction.

Samrat comes from army background. When the judges asked him the stereotype ‘tell me about yourself’ question, he related the story of his poignant childhood when his father would whack him with belts. His father was in infantry and Punjabi, which according to him is a terrible combination when it comes to corporal punishment meted out to children.

He plays lawn-tennis, he is a swimmer, athlete, fond of physical fitness. He has been living in Mumbai for a few years now, and he is in a long term relationship with his girl-friend for more than two years.

Samrat told the judges how he had to struggle to earn the respect of his tough father. To do this, and show his strength to his dad, he swam 12 hours non-stop ina swimming pool, a distance of about 16KM, that is just not so easy. The judges took an instant liking for the strong willed boy after hearing his story. He was asked to show his strength by bending and taking support of his knees for almost 5 minutes. He was asked to pretend that he is sitting on a chair while he is balancing his body with knees bent. Its damn painful. During this time, judges asked him to make a mental calculation of the seventh decimal place of ‘pi(22/7)’. He did not give up and showed that he indeed was a true Roadie material.

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