Popular Marathi singer, composer, and judge Avadhoot Gupte has once again returned to the stage of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as a judge. The show, which has held a special place in the hearts of audiences for many years, will introduce viewers to the fresh voices of a new generation, their changing perspective towards music, and the way social media has transformed the music industry. On this occasion, Avadhoot spoke candidly about the music of the younger generation, the influence of social media, mentoring contestants, and his own musical journey.
“There is going to be a lot that is new and special in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. We will see new talent, new faces, new voices, and, in many ways, an entirely new and innovative generation. Today’s generation is very smart. Their lifestyle has changed in its own way, and this generation moves very fast. The way young people discover, absorb, and consume music has also changed. Today, they come across songs through social media and various other platforms, and those songs attract their attention. This time on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, we will get to hear the music of this generation. We will try to understand them, and I believe that will be the biggest novelty of this season.”
Having closely witnessed the journeys of many emerging singers over the years, Avadhoot also spoke about what sets today’s contestants apart.
“Despite having many years of experience, for me, music ultimately comes down to the seven notes and rhythm, which never change. What changes is the emotion behind them. And that changing emotion reflects the society of its time. Today’s generation is very different from the earlier one. They have clear opinions and are outspoken. They show respect only to people they genuinely feel deserve it. This generation thinks a great deal and responds to people according to what they believe those people merit. The entire Sa Re Ga Ma Pa team has always tried to impart values rather than merely provide education. Today, almost everything is easily available on the internet. Whether you want to learn about a raga or something like Yaman, there is plenty of information available online. A single YouTube search can bring up nine or ten people teaching you for free. But as judges, our job is not merely to teach contestants how to sing. Our responsibility is also to instil musical values in them. I strongly believe that Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has always focused on imparting values rather than just education. These values have become even more important in the age of social media. Today, if a talented singer creates a good piece of work and uploads it on social media, they may begin judging their own ability on the basis of how many likes they receive. That is a completely wrong way of looking at things," he shared.
“They may actually be an excellent singer who simply needs encouragement. Even if commercial aspects of social media determine how much visibility or longevity they receive, it is important to stop them and explain that social media is not the benchmark of their talent. On the other hand, someone may become popular on social media by using various gimmicks and receive a large number of likes. But if that person is not a good singer, their scores on the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa stage will reflect the reality. They will have to bring out the real gold in their singing and make it shine in front of everyone. That is the major difference between social media and the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa stage.”
Speaking about his criteria as a judge, Avadhoot said, “My criteria as a judge will never change. The first is sur and taal—melody and rhythm. The second is an understanding of poetry: whether the singer has understood the meaning of the words and whether that understanding brings the required emotion into the performance. These are among the most important aspects. A singer’s presentation is also extremely important. While performing a song, the singer must be able to communicate it to the audience. The audience should be able to feel the emotions of the song, and that is perhaps the most important thing."
“As judges, we are trying to create a blend of the old and the new. Bringing the contestants’ authentic music and genuine talent before the audience, and encouraging those who are truly talented, is certainly part of a judge’s role. But I also believe that preparing today’s generation to present themselves effectively on new media platforms is part of our responsibility. So, this season, one of my areas of focus will also be guiding contestants on how they should present their music on social media and other new platforms. As judges, we will certainly try to offer them guidance in that direction.”
Offering advice and good wishes to all the contestants for their future careers, Avadhoot said, “I would like to wish all the contestants the very best for their future careers and give them my heartfelt blessings. I hope each of them reaches the highest possible level in their career. If I had to give them one piece of advice, I would say: always remember the saying, ‘No one receives anything before its time or more than what destiny has in store.’ One should not go through life constantly thinking, ‘I want to become a great singer, I want to reach tremendous heights, I want to earn a lot of money, or I want to become very famous.’ Instead, you should simply ask yourself whether you are taking one step forward from where you were before. And whatever you receive along the way, be grateful to God for it. Young people who are passionate about music should take inspiration from these contestants. If they practise regularly, learn music, and work sincerely on their singing, they too can one day reach a major stage like this as singers and build their own careers."
He added, “This platform offers them a strong pathway, and they should certainly consider it. At the same time, Marathi as a language is moving forward, and everyone should draw inspiration from that and continue doing their work. We should also continue, positively and confidently, to instil good values in the new generation. I sincerely hope that viewers take this inspiration with them.”
