Written By: Goher Iqbal Punn
(Bollywood & Indian TV Analyst)
Indian Idol is ROCKING….Yes, it does….Whole nation is sitting in front of TV to enjoy the saga.
Recently the first woman President of India has been elected. The most powerful male bastion has fallen. When the President of the country is a woman why shouldn’t the next Indian Idol follow suit? But while Pratibha Patil’s political counterparts voted for her in full strength, unfortunately the same cannot be said for the girls on Indian Idol. Week after week, a talented girl has been eliminated from the show. Much has been said and debated and what seems to be emerging is a sad fact that there is a strong gender bias in the voting. The guys like watching the girls singing and have their favourites too but where are the votes? It is the women who loyally vote for their favourite contestants… boys. The women do not show the same enthusiasm for their own gender. Like Javed Akhtar pointed out very rightly that women are their own worst enemies!
Girls have time and again proved that given a chance, they can out do the boys in all walks of life. The girls on Indian Idol have proved each time that they are equally talented if not more, but unfortunately they are being deprived of that chance. Even weaker singers are gaining ground each week simply on the strength of their gender, the region they come from, the language they speak. It is time to take stock of the situation before it is too late. Let us vote on merit. It is time to have a woman as the next Indian Idol!
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