Amidst loud screams of joy, clapping and enthusiasm runs on the ramp a young well dressed, spiky hair styled host of the singing talent show Sitar-e-Afghan (Afghan Star) Dawood Siddique (for the last two shows Omaid Nizami) who also is the director of this American Styled American Idol. Sponosored by the country’s largest mobile company Roshan Afghan Star holds two shows weekly telecast for public voting every thursday and friday around 9:00 pm Afghanistan Standard Time. This talent show is running its fourth successful episode but what makes this time special is the standard of singing of the contestants and the true results of public voting declared every thursday. By now, it has reached its top 7 as last night its 8th contestant Elaha Suroor, the only female contestant who made her way to the top 10 got eliminated. This time it’s also special as it has received recognition amongst country’s singing community. Last friday, for example, the country’s only singing superstar known internationally Farhad Darya appeared as special judge and Mentor. Tonight a new superstar is supposed to be with the panel of judges and mentors as per the announcements made by the Afghan Star Executives.
Talent shows like the afghan star run on private TV channel “TOLO” is a rare entertaining program where afghans come with their families and enjoy the occasion. This time the presence of huge number of female sex in the audience is also applaudable. All such shows were banned strictly under the Taliban regime 8 years ago. In a sense, it’s also the gift of a free media in Afghanistan that is trying to push its head forth although still controlled by the state on certain affairs. Whatever the case might be, afghan youth enjoy the show, they vote for their favorite contestant and watch show anxiously to know who got voted out this week. According to a report, the traffic on Kabul’s narrow roads diminish as soon as the program runs on TV and Kabul’s atmosphere buzz with the sound of petrol run electric generators especially turned on to enable the enthusiastic fans watch their favorite program on time.
Posted on their web “www.afghanstar.tv” the brief statement reads as “Host Daoud Sediqi was in the United States for a very special trip – Afghan Star has attracted much interest from around the world and he will be appearing live on next week’s show from Utah.
Omaid Nezami, a contestant in last year’s Afghan Star himself, filled in as host and did a great job handling the contestants who are becoming more star struck every week – especially this week with Farhad Darya our special guest.” Afghan star is attracting huge global attention from both afghan communities and non afghan communities who are interested into the affair of promoting a liberal free media in Afghanistan. Hence, the host of the show is still in the US where he has received an award for the show and will be featured on different American programs.
After 30 years of war, destruction, forced migrations and all sorts of atrocities in different regimes, the Afghans have once again bounced back saying to the world that we can fight, but fight in the right spirit as well. We can have internationally reputed programs, internationally known singers, artists, mathematicians, scientists, professors, doctors, engineers, pilots etc. And the Stage of Afghan Star is one such platform where they openly display their passion for singing and express their talent to the public at large.
