Indian Idol’s latest episode brings a nostalgic ambiance as contestant Sugandha Date delivers a mesmerizing rendition of Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s timeless hit, “Chunari Chunari.”
Captivating Performance
Sugandha’s graceful vocals and refreshing interpretation captivated the audience, even making Abhijeet fall in love with his own song anew. In a candid moment, he revealed something quite surprising: despite the song’s immense popularity, he has never performed “Chunari Chunari” live on stage.
“I have never sung this song on stage. But from today, I will start singing it! We recorded this song in Hyderabad with Anuradha ji,” he shared.
Emotional Reflections
During her performance, Sugandha recreated the infectious energy of the chartbuster, prompting Abhijeet to reflect on the deeper sentiment of being a part of the episode.
“Coming to Indian Idol always feels like coming home. With a theme like ‘Bass Itna Sa Khwaab Hai’, it feels like revisiting the dreams and emotions that shaped my musical journey. Hearing these young singers reinterpret songs like ‘Chunari Chunari’ with such freshness is incredibly moving. Their passion reminds me of why I fell in love with music in the first place,” Abhijeet expressed.
Tribute to Dharmendra
Recently, singer-rapper Badshah, who appears as a judge on the show, paid a heartfelt tribute to the late superstar Dharmendra.
In a video shared on the show’s social media account, Badshah was seen remembering the legend with deep love and respect. “Dharam paaji was the real essence of Punjab, and now it feels as if that beautiful fragrance and essence have been lost from the soil of our own Punjab. He was Dharam Paaji, everybody’s, every fan’s ideal idol…” he remarked.
He continued, “Dharam ji, wherever you are, be happy and hopeful and at peace.”
As part of his tribute, Badshah recited a shayari often associated with Dharmendra:
“Sab kuch paakar bhi, haasil-e-zindagi kuch bhi nahi, Kambakkht jaan kyun jaati hai jaate hue.”
In a moving display of respect, singer and fellow judge Shreya Ghoshal was also seen standing in tribute, visibly emotional.