Sur Kshetra and the Controversies Attached to It

There have been quite a lot of controversies about the upcoming television show Sur Kshetra also known as Sur Ki Baazi in Pakistan even before the show has actually begun. The recent one being about what seem to be “fake auditions” as held by Geo TV.

I think Geo is becoming a disliked TV channel. First because the way it sensationalizes news and now what seems to be a scam as money has been raised by the channel for what hasn’t been delivered.

The promos of “Sur Ki Baazi” were aired very enthusiastically on GEO TV catching the attention of many people who wanted a platform and a chance to sing and prove their skills. But according to a source who made it to both the auditions (yes there were two of them), the auditions which were to be held on the 17th and 18th of January according to the promos, were actually fake as the real auditions were held early at Planet X in Islamabad.

According to a reliable source, Ustad Rustam Ali Khan took the auditions and apparently the ARY team covered it as a VJ from that channel, VJ Shahzad was present there with the entire ARY crew.

Why were the auditions for a program reserved for Geo TV shot by ARY’s team? Quite unsure but apparently that’s how it went as the selected candidates were shortlisted based on those auditions and even flew to Dubai on the 13th of January, even before the dates of auditions as aired by Geo.

For the people to register themselves for the auditions, they were asked to text on a number provided by the channel costing 15rs per SMS. Some participants with keen interest in music also flew from Middle East to appear for the auditions as mentioned by someone who made it to the auditions.

Since the team was already sent to Dubai on the 13th of January, I don’t quite understand what exactly was the second audition for? And if not for anything, why were those charged who appeared for the auditions?