Abhijeet Ghoshal On Singing Reality Shows: ‘Earlier It Was Music-Driven, Now Market-Driven’

Last Updated:December 27, 2025, 12:42 IST

Bollywood playback singer Abhijeet Ghoshal believes that today’s Indian singing reality shows have shifted away from music.

Abhijeet Ghoshal says publicity elements are much bigger in these shows.
(Photo Credit : X)

The Indian singing reality show seems to have lost its charm. The shows which once survived purely on musical excellence alone are now increasingly being shaped by market demands, believes playback singer Abhijeet Ghoshal.

Ghoshal, who rose to success after winning Sa Re Ga Ma Pa season 11, reflected on how the format of singing reality shows in India changed dramatically over the years.

Abhijeet Ghoshal Reflects on Musical Boot Camp

During an interview with The Tribune, Ghoshal recalled his days back in the reality show and revealed its music-first environment. “We had to shoot three episodes in a single day. That meant singing around 12 songs in one day, and hardly three of those were our own choice,” he revealed.

According to him, what set the competition apart was the calibre of the judges. “Naushad Saheb, Khayyam Saheb, Pt Shivkumar Sharma, Rashid Khan, Gopi Nayyar, even Vishal Bhardwaj—their expectations were so high you had to give your absolute best,” he said. “That was the real test of a singer.”

Abhijeet Ghoshal Believes ‘Publicity and Popularity’ Take Centre Stage Nowadays

Talking about the declining format of today’s singing reality shows, Ghoshal shared, “Now things are different. Amazing talent still comes, but contestants only have to sing one song a week. Publicity and popularity are much bigger.”

Pointing out the growing emphasis on emotional backstories, he shared, “In every other episode, you will see a contestant saying, ‘My mother works as a maid,’ ‘My father pulls a rickshaw,’ ‘My parents polish shoes,’ and so on. The stories feel repetitive, and the audience can sense something is off,” he said, explaining that the balance has shifted away from music.

“Earlier music shows were actually about music. A good singer would advance on merit. Now it is about whose mother is sick, whose family is struggling, and whose tragedy is bigger. Earlier everything was music-driven. Now it is market-driven,” he said.

Abhijeet Ghoshal Calls Unchecked Praises ‘Extremely Dangerous’

Apart from the declining format, Ghoshal also talked about the psychological risks posed to young contestants. “Another very dangerous trend is when people casually say, ‘Arre, according to me, he sang very well,’ That poor kid from a small town hears this and thinks, ‘Wow, I am better than great singers.’” Ghoshal described unchecked praise as “extremely dangerous” and damaging to a performer’s mental growth.