29/09/2022
Once again a popular singing reality show on TV has been receiving backlashes from its audience after it ousted Arunachal Pradesh’s Rito Riba despite being one of the most popular and talented competitors.
Netizens immediately took up to their social media accounts and alleged the show of being ‘scripted’ and not recognizing a talent from northeastern India.
Even Nagaland’s education and tribal affairs minister Temjen Imna responded with a GIF saying ‘Hum bhi bana lenge’ (we will make too) when a Twitter user slammed the reality show for not selecting Rito Riba and termed it ‘rigged’.
Netizens even started a social media campaign to boycott the show.
However, singer Rito Riba thanked his admirers for their love and support and requested them not to be disheartened over not being selected among the top 15.
He said, “For me, one of my biggest accomplishments was just getting the chance to represent my beloved state Arunachal Pradesh on national television, wearing my traditional attire.”
“Obstacles and setbacks are inevitable in life, I have chosen to view them more positively and move forward to learn from them”, he added.
Rito further added that, “We must trust the show and its judges as they have given a platform to many voices and artists for whom performing for such a large audience was only a dream.”
In response to Rito Riba’s post, musician and a judge of the reality show in question, Vishal Dadlani wrote, “You’re a star, my friend! And from this note of yours, I’m glad to see you have a big heart and a clear vision of who you are! Nothing is bigger or better than the fact that you can compose, write and sing your own songs. (I still hum your tune almost every day. It’s a big hit waiting to happen!) If you ever need help recording and/or releasing it, I’m always here.”
However, Rito’s incident was not the lone one. In 2006, the entire northeastern states jointly opposed a popular musical reality show when one of the judges there allegedly made some racial comments on Debojit Saha, a singer from Assam’ Barak valley.
