by Subhash K Jha

The wait is over. After months of stiff competition the two finalists Debojit and Vinit finally faced the roaring crowds at the Andheri Sports Complex last week.

The audiences' votes poured in by the lakhs. Both the finalists danced and sang nervously but confidently unheedful of the fate that awaited for both of them at the end of the evening.

Debojit was relieved, joyous and grateful. "I've been through the worst ordeal possible to get here. Ghis-ghis ke main yahan pahuncha hoon. Now suddenly all the trouble and toil seems worth the while. I really needed this victory to boost my confidence. Do you know what I like best about winning?

"The fact that my wife can stop working. She's a patient of arthritis and it used to kill me every day to watch her leave home for her job. She can now take it easy. Perhaps now I can afford to give her those comforts of life that I've so far not been able to give her. There's a hunger within me to sing and build on the platform that Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has given me. Let's see what destiny has in store."

Hours before the event Himesh Reshamiyya threatened to boycott the grand finale. The bone of contention was the song that the two mentors had composed for their respective protégés.

While Ismail Durbar thought it wise for Debojit to record Durbar's composition in a studio and lip-sync it on stage, Reshammiya had other plans. He wanted Vinit to sing his composition live on stage for the Finale.

When the show director Gajendra Singh supported Durbar, Reshammiya threatened to stay away from the Finale, thereby throwing the entire event into a quandary.

Gajendra Singh had to spend the entire evening and night of Thursday persuading Reshammiya to change his mind before the composer agreed to be on stage on Friday.

Would it be possible for the bickering judges to co-exist on the same platform? "Why not?" reasons Ashish Kaul (senior vice-president corporate brand development).

"Differences are an integral part of any competitive event. We never intended to model Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Indian Idol. In fact when two of our judges staged a walk-out we thought of keeping it off camera. But then we thought, why not let viewers know that truth?

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has thrown forward the most amazing talent. And the mentors are as important as the contestants. We certainly want the same judges gain."