After Shilpa Shetty, it could be Sanjaya

Judges pan Indo-American wannabe pop star,  but tween girls go “Malakrazy”

NEW YORK: Wispy 17-year-old Indian American Sanjaya Malakar has thumbed it to his critics again by living to see another round of American Idol. By hanging in there by the skin of his teeth, wannabe rock star Malakar has set off Shilpa Shetty-like television and media chatter — for different reasons.  

With his wavering vocals Malakar has been panned by the judges, bloggers and show watchers as “perhaps the worst contestant ever to set foot on the Idol stage.” But the young media phenomenon was easily voted through this week by the public to the final nine of the wildly-popular singing reality show which pulls in up to 37 million US viewers. 

Even tart British judge Simon Cowell, who quipped last month that he would quit if Malakar won the competition, appears overwhelmed by the Washington state teen’s staying power.

“Sanjaya, I don’t think it matters anymore what we say... I think you are in your own universe and if people like you, good luck,” said Cowell much to the glee of “Malakrazy” tween girls who lavish him with the kind of hysteria usually reserved for anointed rock stars.     

Malakar has built up a loyal following of fans and fanatics in the past three weeks with his mile-wide smile, maverick hair-dos and ability to take a tongue-lashing from Idol judges. But conspiracy theories abound to explain away Malakar’s presence in the last lap. ABC News asked: “Could it be that his outrageous awfulness is actually his secret weapon?” 

There is a theory that the Indian teen has been “adopted” by the Vote for the Worst website. The website takes unabashed credit for “saving” Malakar and its mission has been advertised by radio presenter Howard Stern. He is urging his estimated five million listeners to “have fun with American Idol and embrace its suckiness” by voting for Malakar.

Others speculate that Malakar’s distinction as the show’s first Indian-American contestant has brought him a “well-organised Indian voting bloc.”

“Sanjaya is a transparently good-natured, polite kid. We are happy to see one of our own letting it rip in a tough all-American competition. But it is ridiculous to suggest two million Indian-Americans are working the phones to vote for him. I think he has wider appeal,” said Kalyani Dasgupta, 25, who works with a New York City youth organisation.

The depth of Malakar’s appeal may be deceptive but he certainly gets a reaction. “J” — the MySpace blogger — has been on a hunger strike for nearly two weeks in efforts to have Malakar booted off American Idol. 

The show reaches its climax in May with the winner scooping a major record deal. Jennifer Hudson, a finalist in the 2004 American Idols series, won an Oscar for her performance in the film musical Dreamgirls.