Airtel Scholar Hunt: Interviews, Day 2

My father and I were at a relative's place till about 3:30pm in Delhi. We started off for Laksmhi Video Studio, Filmcity, Sector 16A, Noida :D My uncle wanted to come with us, but we hadnt told them about the show... so we couldn't let him come!! So umm... [edited] :P

Saw some yoyo-nigro people on the way... they really look the same in real life too ;)

The auto we hired took us through the shorter route to Noida... though we had to pay for it (literally... a toll bridge). Finally, again at the studio at 4:30pm. They were, as usual, far behind their schedule. The results had been *scheduled* to be announced at 6pm.. but *sigh*.. tv shoots are... forget it ;)

We walked into the main "hall". Lots of my friends were already there, Saurabh, Pankaj, Arnab, etc. I got to know that interviews were still going on. And I could see lots of people sitting in the "waiting area".

We explored more of the "store room" at the studio... it looked more like a fighting set to me. Found a sofa there.. big one! And lots of posters too!!

But then my father and I went to a nearby market... we had to get the admit card photocopied. And the astonishing thing was... there was NO photocopy shop in that area. We left the studio at around 5:15pm... roamed there for one hour just to find a photocopy shop. Finally we did. Meanwhile, Arnab too was at the same market, though we never met. Once we had the photocopy, we got some orange juice at centerstage mall.

And then we returned to the studio. Only a few interviews were left now. I think just one was left. Once that was done, we were all instructed to sit again in the waiting area. Lights had already been setup. They were switched on. The light which they were "bouncing" the previous day... a reflector (nothing... just a thermocol board) had been "cellotaped" on the wall. So it illuminated a lot better. The "glarecutter" was also in place!!!

So we little children, sitting without an AC, or fan, with 1200W lights beaming on us (deja vu?), and we're supposed not to talk. And they film us every now and then. "Be serious guys" was what we were instructed, though it took a lot of self control to stop from laughing out loud!!

And there were some ladies who went through the waiting area *ahem* *ahem*. Some of the boys laughed loudly after they had left. Ian replied... "Whats there to stop laughing" :P

So we sat there, again. The person who said.. "Be serious guys" told me to sit at another place. Umm... i went there. But returned after sometime, when sardarji [Harmeet] was giving his interview!!

But the "Be serious guys" person was adamant on shooting me... so he came right in front of me and sat on the stairs... with the cam staring at me. And I tried my best to act and look like I was so tense and "glum". Then they interviewed a group of 5 people... though they were unable to decide if they wanted to keep 3, or 4, or 5. 8-|

And then there were many instances when we were told by the Kolkata guy and Ian... "the results are gonna be out in 10 minutes"... most probably to intimidate us even more... and then we were again told the same thing after 30 mins... and then again after 30 mins... it was the worst part...

Once all this media circus was done, lights switched off. The little CFLs were turned on, though they hardly illumiated the place. And we little children... finally priviliged to be in the dark, with fans :) But it was a LOOOOOONNNNG time before the results were to be declared. We just kept sitting there. The subject exam was much better... atleast we got _something_ to eat... here we got nothing. :(

While we were sitting there, in the dark (but with fans :) ), starving... they constantly told us, "the results will be out in 10 minutes guys" 8-|

So... after waiting for time that seemed like eternity, at around 8:00pm, we were told to line up. HUH. It was total confusion. After a few seconds, we got to know that we were going into the studio... Finally, the results were *actually* going to be declared. Though I still had some doubt.

We were shot going into the studio.

Once inside, the "indoor director" instructed us. We had to walk across the ramp once our name was announced and "form a formation" around the interview panel. And then there was a testing of the microphone. We were made to shout... and he talked to the person in the control room to check if the audio input was ok. It was okay. And we were also instructed to shout, howl or do whatever when we get selected... reality show... 8-| :)

There were cams, and cameramen were looking into them. Without moving a bit. We stood under the group of blue lights to the left of the ramp.

We were then instructed to look at the cam to the right of the set, and then as the cam moved over to "look" at the main set, we had to turn towards them too.

The media circus started. The cam was towards us. And it moved on the tracks towards the main set. The cam and its operator were standing on a platform, and another person "pulled" that platform!!!

Then, Arun Thapar spoke something, don't remember it right now!! I noticed Thapar had a paper in his hand. Similar to the one we had seen at the center in Delhi (during the subject exam), with a few yellow rows (just as in the subject exam :) )

He announced that he would declare the names in alphabetical order, and I'm thinking... uff U toh last mein hoga. So I was under "suspension" till the last name was called. He started... Abhimanyu Lamba, and went on... no sign of U... the second last name was T. 8-| Me still under tension. And he looked straight in my direction, and said, "There is just one person from there, who makes it to the next round". And I'm thinking "Oh great.. me!!!" And then he said.. "And that lucky person is..." *pointing in my direction with his hand* "... you Vaishnavi". Uhh.. She was standing right in front of me. Uhh.... ok, so I didn't get thru into the next round.

And then the interview panel and he discussed... "Oh yes, the competition was really tough, we ourselves were so confused", said Mr. Story. 8-| I know what competition we had. 8-| Reality show ki reality :D

And then another announcement, "And still, theres hope for you" pointing at the unselected candidates. And then waitlisted peopel were called up. I was called up too. Atleast there was still chance for me... and I am quite sure, people won't come!! I walked up the ramp, and joined the people already standing there. And then there was more media circus. Thapar said some more things once all had been called up. And the director said we'd have to do the last part again. Thapar said... "Pura phir se kar lete hain" :P

But finally only the last dialog piece was redone. And then we started moving back, out to the "hall". And Mr. Story shook hands with me... I'll see you Mr. Story, just wait for 10 years... ;) I think this part was shot too.

Finally we came out, and the cam was on outside too... "come on guys, no reaction" 8-| This was at around 8:30pm.

And I started leaving the place disappointed. But suddenly we were called... all selected and waitlisted candidates had to come back. We started returning to the main hall. There was a camera (with a camman, of course) and was recording all, "How the candidates were going back disappointed", though i came right up to the camera, smiling, facing it all the time :P

Once I was there, just the selected candidated were "interviewed" by Ian and the Kolkata guy. And all of them were instructed, "shake hands and congratulate each other yaar" and "Arre someone hug each other too". REALITY TV :D

So, finally we it was all over at around 9pm. Ian said.. "Sorry for the long day guys"... uhh... right... 8-|

Once that circus was over, we started going home [arnab sitting on the "pavement" outside the gate].

And I forgot to take pics on the second day. :(

And finally, we started towards the Centerstage mall to get some auto, though that auto quite bugged us... it didnt have the "pick up".

But ultimately we reached Rail Yatri Niwas, and we left the room [attendent misinterpreted the date]. We had "dinner" at a strange place... we didnt have the time... we had a train in 1 hour. Finally, on the train... with strange people in my compartment.

The end for now.