Music shows have become quite a trend on every channel nowadays. The latest channel to catch on to this is the recently launched 9X, albeit with a difference. Their programme, 'Mission Ustaad', is a musical reality show, with eight singers pairing up to make four jodis.

The winning pair will be the Ustaad Jodi, and the prize money will be donated to the cause that spreads awareness of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The four jodis are Roop Kumar Rathod and Sunali Rathod, Kailash Kher and Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vasundhara Das and Mohit Chauhan, and Naresh Iyer and Shweta Pandit. The celebrity judges are AR Rehman, Javed Akhtar, and Lara Dutta. Simone Singh will host the show.

According to Roop Kumar Rathod, music is a healer, and he has no doubt that the show will achieve new heights in creating awareness for MDGs.

His partner, Sunali, affirms that each one can make a difference, and take vows to do so. Naresh and Shweta, the youngest jodi, feel that their lack of age or experience does not mean that they will be less responsible in creating awareness.

This show is AR Rehman's television debut, as well as Lara Dutta's. "This show is about music and songs that will influence people, and the United Nations is also involved with the show," Rehman says, adding, "The show has been really interesting, there have been no pretentious fights. It has been dignified."

Lara agrees, adding, "This show is special to each one of us. It gives us a chance to combine our passion and talent, and give back something to the world."

She also said that she has been associated with the UN for seven years, and that not more than two per cent of the people in India know about the MDGs, which were decided in the year 2000.

Javed Akhtar said, "It is time to sensitise people. We are living in paradoxes. We have more millionaires than Tokyo, yet we have 10 crore children sleeping hungry everyday.

We are on the verge of becoming a super power, yet farmers are committing suicide every 30 minutes." He believes that this show has no cut throat competition.

'Mission Ustaad' airs on 9X on December 1, at 9 pm, and is presented by Endemol.