The host got emotional reminiscing about his late father Manas Mukherji during the special parent-child episode.
Tonight’s episode of ‘Sa Re Ga Ma L’il Champs’ (Zee) will remain most memorable for the little participants, their parents, judges Alka Yagnik, Bappi Lahiri and Abhijeet and above all host and singer Shaan.
The episode was dedicated to the special parent-child bond. In keeping with that the parents in the audience suggested a song of their choice to the children to sing.
Contestant Pawni from Mumbai sang, ‘Oh I love you daddy’ (‘Akele Hum Akele Tum’) while Sameer sang, ‘Tujhse naraaz nahin’ (‘Masoom’). The soulful renderings left parents and children emotionally overwhelmed all through the four-hour shoot.
But sentiments reached a crescendo when host Shaan got misty-eyed and finally broke down. The reason was that Shaan couldn’t help thinking of his father, the late lyricist-composer Manas Mukherji, whom he had lost 20 years ago. Bappi Da consoled Shaan saying, “I had worked with Shri Manas Mukherji. He was a source of inspiration for me.”
When contacted Shaan confessed that he had got nostalgic. “When I saw how happy and proud parents felt seeing their children on stage, I couldn’t help thinking of mine. I did not get the opportunity to make my parents proud. I was in school and just 13 years old when my dad passed away.
Shaan continues, “Usually, I stay very objective on the show. Though I tried my best to control my emotions I couldn’t hide them for long.”
When asked what makes hosting children shows special, he says, “They sing from the heart and have a natural freshness without being aware of the politics of competition.”
Do his children watch their father’s show? “My second son Soham is just 15 months old. Shubh, who is two years old doesn’t watch it. He resents the fact that I spend so
much time with other children and so little with him.”
Coming back to the show, the highpoint of the episode was when judges Abhijeet and Alka Yagnik consoled Shaan saying that it was all a part and parcel of life and they should be ending the episode with a smile. Consequently, they decided that they wouldn’t be eliminating any participant as it would be doing injustice to them — all being in an emotional frame of mind.
k_farhana@dnaindia.net
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