Dimapur, July 5 (MExN): A martial arts group from Nagaland today alleged discrimination in the hands of organizers of ‘India’s Got Talent Season 3’, Mumbai. A press release issued by a representative of ‘Extreme Boyz’ alleged that the organizers refused the Nagaland talent group a chance at performance over a number of questionable reasons. According to the Extreme Boyz, they were selected for the Kolkata audition after the Guwahati audition for “India’s Got Talent Season 3” and the date for the auditions was June 21 at the Science City Auditorium in Kolkata and that “we should be there by 8:00 AM. Never realizing what humiliation awaits us.”
“After hearing the news, we practiced very hard; even injuring ourselves trying to master stunts, mobilized funds and put all efforts to make an impact at the national level. On 21st June, we reached the venue at 7:45 AM and it was at around 9:00 AM that we realized our group was not in the list however, the in-charge told us not to worry as there could have been a mistake on their part and promised us that we would perform for the audition,” the group stated. They were given the contestants “Ghy 036” and “were made to pose for their cameras performing stunts and shouting cheerful slogans taught to us by their crew.”
The statement narrated the events – “It was also a long awaited day for the audiences as well, who reached the venue by 8:00 AM but were allowed to enter the auditorium only by 2:30PM. The audition started only by 4:30 PM. but the main irony for the audience was that they were given only 15 minutes break through out the audition, which was not even getting over by 11:00 PM. And whoever got up was forced to sit back.
The audiences were also forced to maintain silence or applaud when asked for. However, as they are human too, they could not keep up with the requirements of the organizers without food, water and loo breaks – so they all stood up and forced their way out of the auditorium. in that confusion all that I could hear was noise of displeasure from the audiences and a voice from the microphone (in Hindi) requesting the audiences to sit back as there were just two more groups for audition but the crowd paid no attention – then the voice on the mic cried out ‘call the security’”.
With the audience left, the group said, the organizers called all the crew members to occupy the place of the audience (just behind the judges) but the crew was not even one fourth of the audience yet the next audition was conducted. “At that point of time when we the Extreme Boyz were back stage ready to perform, Akansha one of the managers informed us that we would not be performing as there can be no audition without the audience and said ‘sorry guys please come next time’”, the group’s representative stated.
The Extreme Boyz realized that they were discriminated because other groups performed using the crewmembers as “audience” while the Nagaland group was singled out. The group demanded to know the reason for the ‘discrimination’ and the manager allegedly said, “How can you perform without the audience?” when in fact the other group performed.
The manager is said to have offered to “compensate your traveling and will try my best for direct Mumbai audition”. The statement said – “We struggled to get funds but we are not beggars and don’t want your compensation as you will not be able to compensate the sacrifice and injuries. All we want is to know why we are discriminated” I also told her not to bribe us with a false promise to Mumbai Audition or give us another humiliation there. In the process of our argument, I realized that she was not making any headway but was just wasting our time as she was not willing to let us meet people who could give us any assurance nor was she able to give us any concrete answer herself. So I took my boys and walked away as it was already 1:00 AM and we were far from our stay home.”
To the manager the group said “Akansha please don’t take it personally but keep in mind, as talent hunters, you are suppose to build confidence in the hearts of young people not destroy it, but today you have destroyed the confidence of these boys and therefore, I take it very personally and will never forget this humiliation. We are going to take this insult back home, to our loved ones and tell them how in the sole interest of your organization you sold our trust.”
“After hearing the news, we practiced very hard; even injuring ourselves trying to master stunts, mobilized funds and put all efforts to make an impact at the national level. On 21st June, we reached the venue at 7:45 AM and it was at around 9:00 AM that we realized our group was not in the list however, the in-charge told us not to worry as there could have been a mistake on their part and promised us that we would perform for the audition,” the group stated. They were given the contestants “Ghy 036” and “were made to pose for their cameras performing stunts and shouting cheerful slogans taught to us by their crew.”
The statement narrated the events – “It was also a long awaited day for the audiences as well, who reached the venue by 8:00 AM but were allowed to enter the auditorium only by 2:30PM. The audition started only by 4:30 PM. but the main irony for the audience was that they were given only 15 minutes break through out the audition, which was not even getting over by 11:00 PM. And whoever got up was forced to sit back.
The audiences were also forced to maintain silence or applaud when asked for. However, as they are human too, they could not keep up with the requirements of the organizers without food, water and loo breaks – so they all stood up and forced their way out of the auditorium. in that confusion all that I could hear was noise of displeasure from the audiences and a voice from the microphone (in Hindi) requesting the audiences to sit back as there were just two more groups for audition but the crowd paid no attention – then the voice on the mic cried out ‘call the security’”.
With the audience left, the group said, the organizers called all the crew members to occupy the place of the audience (just behind the judges) but the crew was not even one fourth of the audience yet the next audition was conducted. “At that point of time when we the Extreme Boyz were back stage ready to perform, Akansha one of the managers informed us that we would not be performing as there can be no audition without the audience and said ‘sorry guys please come next time’”, the group’s representative stated.
The Extreme Boyz realized that they were discriminated because other groups performed using the crewmembers as “audience” while the Nagaland group was singled out. The group demanded to know the reason for the ‘discrimination’ and the manager allegedly said, “How can you perform without the audience?” when in fact the other group performed.
The manager is said to have offered to “compensate your traveling and will try my best for direct Mumbai audition”. The statement said – “We struggled to get funds but we are not beggars and don’t want your compensation as you will not be able to compensate the sacrifice and injuries. All we want is to know why we are discriminated” I also told her not to bribe us with a false promise to Mumbai Audition or give us another humiliation there. In the process of our argument, I realized that she was not making any headway but was just wasting our time as she was not willing to let us meet people who could give us any assurance nor was she able to give us any concrete answer herself. So I took my boys and walked away as it was already 1:00 AM and we were far from our stay home.”
To the manager the group said “Akansha please don’t take it personally but keep in mind, as talent hunters, you are suppose to build confidence in the hearts of young people not destroy it, but today you have destroyed the confidence of these boys and therefore, I take it very personally and will never forget this humiliation. We are going to take this insult back home, to our loved ones and tell them how in the sole interest of your organization you sold our trust.”
