Will Raja’s Fan Base be Dented with the new season of Saregamapa 2009?
It’s a question that has been bothering a small section of Raja Hasan fans. With the new season of Saregamapa around the corner - and the focus shifting to newer participants, there are a few people who wonder if that will affect Raja’s popularity in any way.
I, for a few reasons, don’t think so.
There possibly might be a shift in attention to the newer participants - with the high element of competition, drama and voting being part of the show. But I don’t think that will wash away anything of what Raja has achieved in the past year.
Raja is not the usual reality show contestant. I have my doubts if he should be even labeled as a reality show contestant anymore. He is now an upcoming playback singer, already with a hit under his name. And he is the one who draws the crowds, brings viewers to the television screens. Why else would Zee use him and his Maari Teetri performance in the promos - as it happened last night? Not just Zee, everyone knows the fact that Raja sells. Sony used him in promos more than anybody else in Ustaadon Ka Ustaad. Same with Ek Se Badhkar Ek. Forget television, even De Taali makers used Raja’s pull to the maximum. Raja’s popularity is almost unmatched - and it will continue to remain that way - even if the new season of Saregamapa gets underway.
Fans don’t walk away. Die-hard fans, like most of us, will always stick by Raja. But neither the moderates are going anywhere. Saregamapa followers might start liking a newer contestant. But under no circumstances that would that be at the expense of Raja. One can like X along with Y. It’s just like I could be a fan of Rahul Dravid, as much as I am a fan of a total newcomer. The only time when a celebrity’s fan base erodes is when his or her behaviour starts changing. Highly unlikely in Raja’s case.
Expect a few more Raja clones. Raja was a trendsetter in a few ways. He was the one who started singing songs in his own style - and using variations. You can expect a lot of it from singers in this edition of Saregamapa. No more sing-like-the-original stuff anymore. If you managed to watch last night’s elimination song by Shadab in Junoon, he sang Teri Deewani - intertwining the “Dewaane ki Nazron Ko” line that Raja usually does. And there’ll be more people in the show trying to behave like Raja - being polite, politically correct and all smiles. It’s probably the Raja formula to a massive fan base.
It’s the singing stupid. As long as the voice continues to mesmerize, Raja’s fan base will remain intact. Of course, he has a very polite behaviour and good looks - but these wouldn’t have mattered if he didn’t have the magical voice. Doesn’t make a difference if it is Saregamapa 2009 or Saregamapa 2029 - as long as the voice moves us, the fans will stay - and so will newer singing offers.
The 5 minutes of fame for the new contestants. The newer contestants of Saregamapa 2009 deserve their few minutes of fame. Just as Raja did. What matters is what they do with the precious few minutes of limelight they get. If they can build on it-and make a successful career out it - just as Raja did, then they truly deserve it.
Lastly, it’s more important for Raja to slide out of the reality-show singer tag. Of course, television appearances are important, but things should now gradually move from performances that one see to performances that are purely vocal in nature.
Now, I think we need to bug Raffu to give us our prizes. Raffu, are you there????...
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i dont think RAJA’s fan base wil ever be dented..
his popularity is rising day by day …
raja is a great discovery of saregamapa. now he is no more a reality show contestent …
i just wish him all the best for his future..
I completely agree with you Manish ji.
Raja fans will never forget his magical, hypnotic and divine voice, because I believe Raja fans are not only fans for his singing but also for his complete persona.
Raja is no more a new comer now but I believe, a legend in making, His charisma is incomparable.
as you said, “Doesn’t make a difference if it is Saregamapa 2009 or Saregamapa 2029 - as long as the voice moves us, the fans will stay.
Raja,
Agar aap ye article padhrahe ho tho mai ek bath kehena chahthi hoon ki, jo log aap se pyaar karte hai aur apne aap ko aap ke fan maante hai unke pyaar hamesha waisa hi rahega jaise aaj hai.
You are “THE BEST:
Excellent article. I totally agree with you. We will be Raja’s fans. We want to see Raja as a top play back singer. Another thing I agree with you that Raja should slowly move out of these reality shows.
Yes Manish, agree with you totally…
Raja can NEVER be replaced by anyone and his fan base will remain intact for decades to come..
arent we still fans of Rafi and Kishore and so on !
King Hasan belongs to that category (he loves to be called King Hasan it seems !)
The way the SRGMP 2007 contestents are being used in all promos goes to show how popular the show had become…. all thanks to Raja
We will never leave him and for us your point is right that it will not happen till his behaviour changes but my darling son it is not just the singing dummy agar Raja gaatha aur shakal bhooth ke jaisi hoti log pasand toh kartey magar tikthey nahi yeh larkiyan jo gaisoon mein latki hui hain yeh sab shakal surat ka kamal hai
Manish Bhaiya…You said it All!!! I ,being repetitive once again, totally agree with your views!!
And as you say……people might try to be polite..and keep smiling…have the same hairstyle…and other stuff…..but one thing that I doubt anyone will be able to copy is the divinity in Raja bhaiya’s voice and the honesty with which he sings!!!
Even if we do spot someone…then he can never take the place Raja Bhaiya has made in our hearts
And yes….Manish Bhaiya…I think you can now remove the ‘SaReGaMaPa’ tag…that is in front of Raja bhaiya’s name…am I right???
@ Avantika - The Saregamapa tag is a tactical issue. It isn’t used to describe Raja, but to drag people looking for Saregamapa related news to this site.
mmao ji,
Raja has the irresistable combination of both looks and a divine, divine voice and impeccable behaviour on top of it…
This kind of combo is very very rare and as far as I know there isnt anyone who has all these three ingredients at least here in India (i am only talking about celebreties and public figures)….
yes we will always be die hard fans of raja’s soulful singing powerful voice and drop-dead looks and most lovely curly sexy hair and that smile to die for and he looked ravishing today and slim did you notice??
yes, yes, we noticed padma…we noticed…
RHB, being a Raja fan, I completely agree with your views, mainly expressed in the last para.
i feel next time ‘raja’ shud try some foot tapping number.. may be ‘Dil hara rey” frm tashan…
he certainly can creat magic with this kind of songs also…
and man can he dance too!!!!!
this guy is too perfect sigh sigh sigh
darassal raja jaisi hastiyan kai centuries main ek bar paida hoti hai. raja ko hum sirf usske singing ke liye pyar nahi karte balki usski poori shakhsiyat se pyar karte hain ,kitne hi singer aa chuke hain aur aaeyenge lekin raja ke liye hamara junoon badhta hi jaayega.
I dont think so. Just this week, when raja was singing jag soona lage, my husband whose not as bonkers as I am about music, came out to watch him sing which brought a smile on my face. Thanks Raja for that moment where you made me proud. Thats the power Raja has over his listeners(I beleive its just divine )
As long as Raja has a tongue to sing wid, I will always be a big fan of his
Very nice article RHB . again, as usual , I completely agree with you. I too feel that ESBE should be R AJAS last reality show . He should concentrate on his bollywood singing . For tv appearance he can go for guest appearance in these r - shows .
About rajas fan base ,– I don’t think rajas fan base will ever be dented. rajas fans never forget his divine voice , devotion to singing , his polite personality . his popularity is increasing day by day.
no ,Raja will never loose popularity….whenever i see a reality show,…my husband asks ‘ is there Raja in this programme ?’ if my answer is in nagative..then his question will be ‘then why r u glued to it ? u can take rest instead..’ again my young son says…RAJA IS RAJA….infact Raja is blessed with a devine power
no way… whatever whoever may come.. there wont be any dent in Raja’s popularity. it will definitely increase his popularity looking at other contestants but will not reduce. Raja is only one and comes once in a million years… there wont be another raja and i dont think there can be any clones of raja either.. its not anybody’s cup of tea to be a raja clone.. noooooo wayyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
Raja will always be Raja - of everybody’s heart forever and God Willingly we will see him doing extremely well. The place Raja has in our hearts can never be replaced by anybody. my heart has a permenent place for raja and even if raja wants to come out he wouldnt be able to
I have sealed him in my heart forever
Felt like seeing this today again…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7o8X6AsXkA
And what a comeback
With an attitude like this, how can he loose even a single fan? Just listen the words Raja says in the beginning of the video - if I had found this video before the one above, I would have just put this one - this for me is the utilmate Raja…. the message he conveys or rather the way I interpret is we can all do well in any field without killing each other - kind of
- imagine wink here 
Oops- forgot to give the link for the video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV_EFuObR80
As always, wonderfully written, Sir RHB and so many pointsout in the open - neat. I agree with your last para completely… have been thinking, Raja needs to get into higher caliber events slowly. He’s seems way beyond Ek Se badkar Ek kind of shows, now - though, I kinda like it because - issi bahane Raja ko gaate huaye sun sakti huon. Nahin to pata nahin kitna intezaar karna padega, Raja ke naye gaane ke liye.