ROI 6: Welcome to Sayoy Suites!!

Not blogged for a week……Ahhhhhh… I feel TERRIBLE!!!!!! But kya kare yaar….lot of visits had to be done…relatives place…temples and so on…so it was one week of ‘off-the-comp’ for me!! Sorry for keeping you guys waiting… but since I haven’t written in a week.. I am giving all of my ardent blog readers a bonus…two entries today!!! Now isn’t that a fair deal??!! Hehe!



So…after the theatre rounds all the top 28 contestants could go back to their homes and we were called back in May. Most of us (including mua) could see our first audition rounds on tv before we left for Mumbai. And just the next day after my audition was telelcasted, on the 12th of May 2007, I received a scrap on orkut from my first unknown appreciater from Hyderabad. His name’s Jagminder who also plays the guitar and loves music, he noticed me during the auditions and wished me all the very best for my next rounds. Although we weren’t supposed to disclose to anyone outside our family the fact that we guys were chosen as the top 28 contestants, I still told this newly made friend of mine. I really felt soo good getting those blessings.




Coming back…both Vani & I reached Mumbai on 13th May, at 10 pm. We were greeted by Sheenu (a new face among the crew for us), who is another one of the associate producers along with Samrat and another cameraman too. Oh.. and Harshi was there too…she had stayed back in Mumbai to get some training, while all of us left for home. So they brought her there to the aiport to shoot an entry shot …to make it look like she just came from London and all three of us were asked all sorts of questions like how it feels to be back…and what our plans are…and bla and bla…




By the time we reached our hotel (we were now going to be at Savoy Suites) it was about 11-12’ish. After all the entering-the-hotel shots, and taking-the-keys shots..we were free to go to our rooms. That’s when Aisha came down and told us that we (Vani & I) were going to be her roomies. Boy!! Were we excited and thankful or what!! We also met Alphreda urf Alfy , our second contestant manager (apart from Samrat). She too, like sheenu and Thomas was a Mallu! We then took our keys and went off to our room, the corridor was pretty silent…everyone else seemed to be in bed already. The room was… WOW…pretty neat and spacious…and wide…and ….just perfect man!!! Once Aisha also came in after her interview shots, the three of us decided where each one would sleep. There was a double bed and a mattress on the floor too. First we thought of taking turns every day to sleep on the floor bed, but then Aisha was like she doesn’t mind and infact prefers sleeping on the floor as it would be easy for her prayers too. So that was that, Vani & I on top, and Aish on the floor. The next thing we did was…what? Sleep ….duh!!! Hehehe!!



Aisha was the first one to wake up at around 5:30. She borrowed my electronic tanpura and began her riyaaz. I thought ‘my God!! There’s tough competition here man…I have never in my life so far ever done early morning riyaaz..and here I have a roomie who’s bound to make me feel guilty every single day man!!!Damn!’ But the reason I don’t do my riyaaz early in the morning is cause I sound like a freg at that time. Seriously…I croak!! My throat opens up only after my morning chores and a good breakfast. Yea.. that’s me! And I was glad to find out that Vani also did the same!! Phew!



Alfy had asked us to be at the breakfast table by 7 and I was the first one from 308 (my room) to reach there at…7:30. Alfy gave me the glare and asked me why I was late…and second where my roomies were…both for which I answered with a HUGE smile…it always works in my favour…Hee Hee!! Everyone else was also there, I hadn’t seen them the previous night so it was a very nice warm welcome I got down there that morning from all my top 25 (excluding aish, vani and mua) Idol frends!!



After B-fast (too lazy to type out the whole word!) we were told to be at the conference room on the 1st floor at 8:45 sharp, for a session with our vocal trainer. It was one of the most fun sessions we had with him, Mr. Hridaynath Merchant. He had such a pleasing nature, so full of energy and he must be well over 50!! I was impressed with his teaching style from day 1…he told so many things that echoed my dad’s and my Shiva sir’s thoughts!! If you think I’m gonna share all those secret-to-success tips with all of you…DREAM ON!!!!!!!!!! Hehehehe…no the actually fact is…I have no bharosa on this net connection of mine…every time I sit to blog the damn thing starts acting weird…so I’d rather not diverge into the details of my training!!



After Merchant sir’s session we had another session with the music director of II3, Ram Shanker ji. We got our very first songs for the first piano round and we all had to individually go and check out our scales for the song with Ram Shanker ji , along with Swapnali di too (the music manager). I had got Pyaar ki yeh Kahaani from Honeymoon travels. It was chosen from my list of songs and I was happy to get that song, so were both of them (Shaker ji & Swapnali di) happy to see such a song on my list!


The following two weeks this was our daily routine:

7:00-7:30: B’fast

8:30-9:30: Session with Hridaynath Ji (sometimes we used to swap our session with the guys session at 10)

10-11:00: Session for the guys

11:30 onwards: Individual sessions with the M.D (music director)

12:30-1:00/2:00: Lunch session (and M.D sessions continue for those who haven’t finished yet)

Around 5:30-6:00: Tea time

6:30-8:00: Here’s where sometimes we used to walk outside in the parking lot, the guys would play football, or some days Aish, Vani and I used to be in Shantanu’s and Parleen’s room to hear Shan play his guitar….man he is plain awesome!!!!! And those one or two hours used to be heavenly for me!!! Shan you’re the best yaar!!!

8:30-10:00: Dinner


In between we used to spend time in interview shoots, bytes and VT shoots all done by our very dear and loving Idol crew!! Miss all of you!!! After dinner it was up-to us when we wanted to be in bed…although we were supposed to sleep immediately…hehehe!!!!



So that is that…from now on my entries would be random days at Savoy and extracts from my memory of some of the truly enjoyable moments I had there with my new pals!! So enjoy reading folks! And…although I can’t guarantee this statement…I’ll try to be more regular!!! Hehehe!….Cheers!!!