So it finally happened. The axe has fallen on Sanjaya Malakar, the Indian-Italian contestant on the hugely popular show, American Idol. The 17-year old with the big hair who managed to coast — undeservedly, according to most — through umpteen rounds of the harshly competitive talent show bowed out this week with tears and a defiant piece of ad libbing: “let’s give them something to talk about — other than hair”. A curious ending to one of the most baffling phenomena of popular culture in recent times.

For several weeks now, the Sanjaya phenomenon has had observers scratching their heads for an explanation. Many theories have been proffered including the backing of the Indian community, overseas Indians voting through call centres, Howard Stern the irreverent radio jockey, a website that encouraged viewers to ‘vote for the worst’ and swooning pre-teen girls. While all were discounted as unlikely to have swung the results or, in the case of call centres as simply untrue, the myth grew. Respectable newspapers such as the LA Times pondered over it; Hillary Clinton was asked for her opinion and celebrities as dissimilar as Jennifer Lopez and speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi confessed to a fondness for the cute kid with the spaniel eyes.

The new explanation that is gaining ground is that Sanjaya did well on American Idol because he was the ‘most interesting thing’ on the show. An article on the show’s website claims that he was ‘more remarkable than the cardboard cutouts alongside’. This may well be true. Well into its sixth season, the talent show has begun to seem jaded. The current crop of contestants, though talented, seem like professionals, showing little transformation robbing the show of its most dramatic element. Sanjaya, with his unusual looks and mannerisms was the surprise package.

... contd.