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Audition round of 'Close Up 1' begins

15 July 2006, 18:00 PM
LIFESTYLE
By Our Correspondent, Chittagong
15 July 2006, 18:00 PM
The contestants at the audition round
Sumi, a tribal girl from Khagrachhari, was ecstatic when judges granted her a coveted 'yes card' to compete in the selection round. Like her, 41 youngsters of Chittagong out of 821 got the coveted yes card on the first day of three-day audition round ofGao Bangladesh Gao, the countrywide talent scout for singers of Close Up1 and NTV. The programme began in the port city on Friday last at Theatre Institute --much to the delight of the local artistes.

The programme, that gained huge popularity in its initial journey, began for the second time through the audition round of Chittagong Zone.

Approximately 1200 would-be singers were students while many came from different parts of greater Chittagong and registered on the first day.

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Ten judges, including composer Pranab Ghosh, Selim Ashraf, Jalal Ahmed, Basudev Ghosh, Monowar Hossain Tutul, Piaru Khan, Anisur Rahman Tanu, Sujeo Shayam, artist Partha Barua and Sumana Bardhan conducted the day- long audition divided into five panels.

The organisers expressed their aspiration to find newer talents again through the popular programme.

Eminent composer Sujeo Shyam told The Daily Star that while many of the contestants auditioned so far have a good vocal and music sense they fell short on regular practice.

"We have to judge the participants in seven categories: Vocal, music, rhythm, expression of emotion, pronunciation, performance and confidence to select real singers and talents," he added.

In the words of Partha Barua, a prominent singer, "The major lacuna in the performance of the local singers was their colloquial accent which they find difficult to overcome."