Boogie Woogie India

Yes without any exaggeration it was only darshan chote for Boogie Woogie America!! After all the hard word that was put by the contestants, hopes that were build by parents to see their kids on Television and viewers wish to see their local talent on television, NRI families only saw their dreams going down the drain that too after a long wait. In reality what they saw was merely half an hour show where the footage was given more to the local judges and singers then to the dancers. As far as I remember Boogie Woogie is a dancing show and not a singing show unless I missed the latest news?? Please don’t tell me that Boogie Woogie is now a singing reality show! The show has a big name all over and what America was expecting was something similar to 2004 finals but what America got in return was utterly disappointment in 2009. Below you will find some messages that poured in disappointment:

Guru Savale Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
We were all waiting anxiously for this and saw the airing of Boogie Woogie Chalo America. Although we were happy to see ourselves on TV, we were more disappointed with the content aired. All the participants entire dance did not air and it is not at all fair. I think every kid and their parents had put lot of efforts and went through lot of pressure of the competition. All of us were looking forward for this broadcast. In return what we got was 30 sec clips. Undeservingly the unknown and bay-surey singers where given more footage which nobody wanted to watch. This is ridiculous on Sony TVs part and whoever edited the show and was in charge of broadcasting this show. This show needs to be broadcast again with full dance sequences of all participants.

Kiran Malhotra from San Francisco, CA Says:
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
The long waiting ends up with a disappointment from Sony telecast of B & W on July 19th, 2009.
Dance performances were edited so much that they looked incomplete. I was anxiously waiting for the telecast but it was surprising to see hardly 1 or 2 minutes out of total 3 minutes from each performer. Now I know everyone’s family and friends have missed out a lot. The time was wasted on the guest artist singing during a solo dance competition. SET ASIA would have had much more publicity by showing children’s full performances. B & W Chalo America 2009 telecast was rushed and “choppy” for Boogie -Woogie fans. Telecast should be repeated with full 3 minutes performance by all the kids to establish a good image of Boogie- woogie show in America.

Kajal Yadav from New Jersey Says:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm 
We are also extremely disappointed with the Editing of this show. We have been watching this show for years and have enjoyed it all these years. Having our daughter Rhea come on the show was something we were eagerly looking forward to, but THOROUGHLY DISSAPOINTED with the ruthlessly edited version.
I think the show should be RE-EDITED AND RE-TELECASTED with the complete performances (minus the Singers performances).
Boogie Woogie should show the USA viewers their TRUE Mission of encouragement of the dancing talents of young kids and ensure that they stand up to their Image amongst the American-Indian community.
Adeebah, as everyone has said, you did an amazing job and I am sure you will make sure that our feelings are communicated to the right people ASAP.

So do you think we are being unfair or are our expectations way beyond for the show. Are we expecting something way out of the line? NO!! What Sony’s advertisements promised was Boogie Woogie for NRI families residing in the continent of North America but what they actually organized was worse then a local show. Not to mention, they did charge $50/- as entry fee to all contestants at the time of audition and there were rumors that contestants even had to pay to go through the other rounds. Boogie Woogie finals was conducted in Chicago with again an entry fee of $50/- for each individual. I really wonder what happened to the BIG TALK that says they never charge a penny for auditions or the show?? Is it wrong to charge a fee? No we don’t think so but it is definitely wrong that they charge the fee but refuse blindly that they never charge. It is wrong to promise the coverage of the show on television and raise the hope of the people and only show a teaser just for the heck of it.

The auditions that Boogie Woogie conducts in India are FREE OF COST but the same auditions abroad cost the contestants lots of money. The normal human thinking that many think is that NRI families live a lavish life and get money just like that without much pain and so they want to charge for every damn reason. The reality is totally opposite. Indians residing abroad work twice much harder to earn the money. Life is not easy for them. They fight a war everyday not just to keep their earnings rolling but also to make sure Indian culture and heritage is not lost in midst of western culture and so spent enough amount of time with their children guiding and training them all about India. After doing all of this, it is not only disappointment for the parents but also very discouraging act for the kids. Does Sony owe an apology to America and proper telecast of the show? Of Course they do and they better do it fast if next time they need to enter into USA!!

Coming to R & N Productions - as far as I am a fan of the show, I know that Boogie Woogie is their baby and not Sony’s. They produce, they do everything regarding the show! So how come R & N TV Productions went mum when Sony went ahead and conducted the show like a local show without them? How come R & N TV Productions not even once thought that any wrong act from Sony will effect not only on their show but also their fans would be disappointed? Why did they ever let the show be conducted without them physically present and still call it a Boogie Woogie?? Too busy and too less of time?? Overwhelmed?? Maybe! But then in that case they should not have had a show AT ALL!! When America last saw Boogie Woogie in 2004, they very well could have waited till the original Boogie Woogie team got free. Indian Americans definitely would not have preferred a show if they had known the truth.  But everything right from auditions to finals to the telecast on 19th was all secretive. Sony took Indian American fans for granted. What a disappointment!!