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Monday, May 12, 2008

Tears flowed freely on Mother’s Day : Debojit Saha

Tears flowed freely on Mother’s Day
- Singer invites old-age home inmates to be part of special occasion
IDOL CHAT

Voice of India Debojit Saha speaks about the most emotional episode in the history of reality TV
I have performed in many episodes of musical reality shows. But the last episode of the new show Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar will remain in my heart forever. For, it was something very special and is related to an issue very close to my heart. Those who have seen the show last Saturday will know what I mean.

For years now, I have been a regular visitor to the J.J. Dharamsala in Mumbai, which is an old-age home. Among the women in the dharamsala I see my mother who I lost a few years ago. I feel a deep sense of serenity when I spend time with the women of the dharamsala, which has almost become a second home for me. I find unadulterated love and affection among the women who have been forced to live there for different reasons.

Some of the stories the women told me are quite heart-rending. One old lady related to me how her son abandoned her in a park in Mumbai after bringing her to the city on the pretext of taking her out on an outing. I was shocked. How can a son do that to his own mother? But I prefer not to sit in judgement.

What pains me is the loneliness of these women who could be somebody’s mother or grandmother. In my own way, I have tried to give them company for some time and tried to ease the hurt in their hearts.

When I was told that the last episode of the reality show would be on the occasion of Mother’s Day, I invited some of the women of the home to be part of the audience. They readily agreed. It was a great feeling when I performed in front of the women who now think of me as their own son.

When I sang the hit song Mere naina sawan bhadon... from the film Mehbooba, some the women started crying aloud. Maybe the song struck a chord with them. There were very few people on the sets that day who did not have moist eyes.

After the recording was over, the editors debated for a long time whether they should retain and telecast the portion which showed the women crying. In the end they decided to keep it. I was told that it was one of the most emotional moments in the history of Indian reality show.
I revealed during the show that I was keen to set up an old-age home in my home state. It was heartening to see that all the contestants in the show and even many from the audience said they are ready to help me.

I feel that being a singer, I have some social obligations, which I am trying to fulfil. On Sunday, I performed at Guwahati at a function organised by a socio-cultural organisation Anandam. It is through Anandam that I am trying to do some social work, especially for the elderly who need our help. I am sure many of you would like to join me. Source: http://telegraphindia.com/1080513/jsp/northeast/story_9260556.jsp

2 comments:

vaastuandhealthyliving said...

Dear Debojit,

I am a music lover and have watched the show telecasted on last Saturday (Star Plus) - the day you came out of the show. Infact, I was stunned when you were declared termination. You sang so well and the track from Mehebooba is really superb. (I have heard you perfoming this number as well as other number of Gurudev Kishore Kumar a number of times while I was a student. I belong to the same place from where you are. At functions, mostly you would sing Gurudev's song.)

I have seen those old women audience whose eyes were filled with tears while you were singing the number. As I know you well (personally, and we spoke to each other while in Silchar) I told my wife, pointing her to one of the women -- that look at Debojit's mother.. she is crying because Debojit has come out of the show. Actually, I don't know that you have lost your mom a few years back. But still, being an unknown viewer on television I could make out one of the women to be your own mother.. sounds really amazing, isn't it?

As I was going through the blog, I came to know your plans and intention and about your visit to an oldage home in Bombay. Your goal to build a oldage home shall really succeed. I wish you all the best.

Your friend,
Mrinal Talukdar

India Blogs said...

Actually reality shows are not run on fair rules. Producers and directors are changing rules and terminating a contestants as they wish and also on other factors. So people should take it just as an entartainment.