Who is Sanjaya?

Simply put Sanjaya Malakar is to American Idol what Shilpa Shetty was to Big Brother - a lucky 17 year old who found instant stardom after participating in the American Idol season 6.

So what’s the fuss about now, one may ask?

He is not much of a singer. But so are many others who participate in American Idol you might say.
He has funny hairdos. So what? You exclaim!
Well, he is half-Indian. Aah! Now I get it you say.

Here is a little snapshot on Sanjaya –

- Sanjaya & Shyamali (his elder sister) both auditioned for Americal Idol season 6 and both got selected for the Hollywood round. But only Sanjaya made it till Top 8.

- His father is a Bengali Indian while his mother is an Italian American.

- He has JLo for a “fanjaya” for she said, “I like this kid. I love Sanjaya!" after hearing him sing in Spanish in rehearsal, the only one of the remaining 8 contestants to do so

- The real controvery started when Howard Stern, veteran radio and television personality, announced that he was launching a campaign with his listeners to vote for Malakar to win the competition.

- Simon Cowell told Extra, an entertainment news television program, that if Sanjaya Malakar wins, he wouldn’t return as a judge to the show, even though he is contractually obligated to return.

What I get to understand from this is that the new age formula for instant revival of dying television shows is quite simple – 1. Start a new season or series, 2. Get an Indian to participate (whackier the better), 3. Throw in few fans and a thousand opposers. Sit back and watch your fortune soar.


[Image source: Wikipedia & Bodog Beat]