Gajendra Singh, creator of music reality shows like Antakshari, SaReGaMa, Music ka Maha Muqabala, Sur Kshetra and more, recently conceived and directed the show, Nam Reh Jayegaa, a musical tribute to the late Lata Mangeskhar.

Talking about taking the show to Lucknow, he said, “Lata Mangeshkar had a unique association with Lucknow. Several music directors from there helped her with her Hindi and Urdu diction. So Lucknow ka ek final celebration and tribute toh banta hai Lata ji ko.”

Ganjendra, who started the trend of reality shows in India, says he is not happy with the dramatisation of the concept for the sake of TRPs today. He says, “Back then, reality shows were all very real. There was no added drama in them. We did not add any artificial script to a reality show. The reason why makers are doing it today is because they lack content. Channels don’t want drama, they want numbers and this can be achieved without drama. Makers of reality shows need to work on their content more — they would not need the support of drama then. The side-effect of drama in reality shows, especially singing ones, is that people remember the stories of a contestant, but they don’t remember their voices, the way they remembered Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan. All the reality show singers of the past are remembered for their voices, try recalling their drama and you will not have a single memory because tab drama tha hi nahi. Reality shows unfortunately are fiction shows today.”

Gajendra says that he is trying to bring back one of his most remembered shows, Antakshari. He says, “Yes, talks are on with the channel and of course, the host Annu Kapoor, to bring Antakshari back in the same format, but with a new flavour. I had ended Antakshari because I wanted to move on then. I wanted to sign off on a high note. If all goes well, the show will soon go on floors,” he said.