A.R. Rahman will now be seen as a mentor in “The Big Band”, a music-based reality show to be telecast on Doordarshan. Unlike other shows, here the search is for a music band.Says Rahman, “I conceptualised ‘Ooh La La’ for Sun TV, where the focus was on bands rather than individuals. It was a success in the South and I got a tremendous feedback from the North and the North East, where bands wanted a similar platform at the national level. So when Phat Phish (the production house behind ‘The Big Band’) contacted me, I agreed.”

In New Delhi recently, to launch the show, he informed the series is not about winning but discovering music and talent. “I don’t like the formats which put undue pressure on the participants, marring their confidence in the process. There is a probability that we may find individuals from different bands which can work together to make a new band.”

To start with, he will give a couple of tunes to the participating bands which they will arrange in their own way. “We won’t sit in a glittering set. It is also a travelogue where I would be visiting different cities in search of talent.”

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