Down to top 12, Druk Star heats up

5 March 2010

Ten weeks after Druk Star singing show was started, the competition has become more stiff and fierce. Contestants are spending more time practising songs, and of late, many of them have begun informally campaigning for votes.

Many regular viewers say that with every passing week, the contestants have improved their singing talent as well as presentation on the stage.

The contestants practise every day from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. They learn singing from different teachers, which, most participants say, is challenging. When the show began, the judges groomed the contestants but this has stopped.

“The judges were interested to teach the contestants, and they did, but later we thought that they would be biased if they teach as well as judge,” said Kencho Wangdi, one of the organisers of the show. Contestants can sing the song of their choice but cannot repeat it.

Afew Druk Star contestants have been campaigning for votes. Pamphlets have been circulated in Pemagatshel in the name of a contestant requesting the people to vote for her. But the contestant, however, said she was not aware of it.

Family members, relatives and friends of contestants are reportedly going around offices in Thimphu soliciting votes for their dear ones.

Kencho Wangdi said that there were no restrictions to campaigning and soliciting votes. “They can go around asking for votes,” he said.

Druk Star show has received more than 350,000 votes in five weeks. The organisers said 320,000 votes had been received from B Mobile users and some 30, 000 votes from TashiCell users.

Among the 14 contestants, Chencho Norbu, a teacher in Paro, received the highest number of votes this week.

However, votes are not the only factor determining the elimination of a contestant. The marks from the judges also count. It is based on 70 percent votes and 30 percent marks from the judges.

While two contestants, Nim Dorji and Gyem Dorji, were eliminated this week, Dorji Penjor was declared the voice of the week.

Druk Star is now down to top 12 contestants – seven men and five women. The organisers are planning to take the show around the country after two more contestants are eliminated next week.

The winner of Druk Star, who will be known as the Voice of Drukyul, will drive home a Maruti Swift car sponsored by Zimdra Automobiles.

The second, third, fourth and fifth singers will win cash prizes. All of them will sign an album contract with the organiser.

BY TANDINPEM

March 3 was not a usual day for 26 children of Drak Tsho Vocational Training Centre in Thimphu. It was their Happy Day organized by Group 4 Securicor (G4S). In orange shirts and caps, they rejoiced in dancing, painting, music and games.

G4S’s third Happy Day was celebrated on March 3 in Thimphu. The day is celebrated in 27 countries around the world to bring joy and happiness to disadvantaged children and convey the message that G4Scares.

G4Screated Happy Day to make disadvantaged children feel special. It is their way of repaying the community.

After a hearty welcome from the G4SCEOin the country, the children were shown a presentation on last year’s Happy Day and a video clip on how Happy Day is celebrated around the world. They were then made to draw sketches and play games.

By Tandin Pem

Ratings: 1 Star