Term May 19 auditions in Mumbai 'sham', accuse organisers of shortlisting candidates beforehand in hush-hush manner

Indian Idol participants from the city claim the organisers have cheated them. Many aspiring singers who travelled to Mumbai from the city to fulfil their dreams were shocked to learn that a silent audition had already been conducted in the city to shortlist the "eligible" candidates and that the auditions held on May 19 were not genuine.

"We were made to stand on the open grounds of a school in Kandivili in Mumbai for more than six hours," a parent of a 20-year-old participant said. "There was no arrangement of food or even seating made for us. My ward was not even given a fair chance to put forward her talent."

A 22-year-old agitated participant said: "There were no proper judges, a so-called expert didn't allow me to sing more than two lines. I also came to know that some silent auditions were taken beforehand in Pune and Mumbai. They have called us just to show a huge gathering for the auditions."

Anupama Mandloi, content head, FremantleMedia, said: "Often those who are not selected start pointing at the loopholes and blaming the organisers. Firstly, no silent auditions were held in any of the cities, and secondly, this time our only criteria for selecting candidates is their talent.

"Moreover, the open auditions are conducted by experts and not any celebrity judge. It is impossible for the experts to listen to full songs as there are thousands of participants. The experts can judge talent as soon as the contestant opens his or her mouth."