by Subhash K Jha

This week it's a veritable soap opera on Sony's popular music contest Indian Idol.

Star-judge Sunel Shetty, garnering favourable reviews for his comic act in Shaadi Se Pahele, goes straight from tickles to the tear-duct as Karunya, the sure-shot Indian Idol winner moves the macho star to tears.

The provocation? The Indian Idol theme song Mere saath sara jahaan written by Sameer and composed by Sandeep Chowta which Karunya crooned for the gathering.

The song about nostalgia, struggle, dreams and stardom brought the house down. Says Karunya, "As I sang the song I thought of all the hardships that my mother went through to bring me up, and to bring me to a position where I was eligible to be the Indian Idol. The emotions were real."

Suniel Shetty was deeply moved. "My son and daughter are crazy about you. I've also joined the gang. You're simply stunning," sobs Suniel on the last of the semi-finals to be telecast on Monday 10 April.

Judges Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam are also moved to tears. "I've a shayari for every occasion. But today I'm left speechless," says Anu.

Karunya also brought the house down with his rendering of Manna Dey's Jhanak jhanak tore baaje payaliya....A befitting finale to the gala rounds, since months ago Karunya had kicked off his long innings on Indian Idol with another Manna Dey classic (Kaun aaya mere man ke dware).

Sonu speaks about an air-hostess he met on a flight. She rushed to him with some papers which he thought were for an autograph. It turned out she had a letter for her favourite Karunya.

That letter from the Jet Airways hostess Simran will be read out on Indian Idol this week.

We'll also be told about Karunya's devoted female fan from Saudi Arabia who got a friend in India to send 23,400 sms messages for Karunya because she couldn't vote.

The voting for the finals will continue until 9.30 p.m on April 18 when the finals will be telecast.

But is there any doubt as to who the Indian Idol is going to be?