Its dancing time again

Just half an hour into the season premiere and I think "Jhalak Dikhlaja" (JD) has just wiped the floor with "Nach Baliye 3" (NB3's) backside. Unless JD messes up big time from here, I think there's no reason for me to tune into NB3 any more. Here's why I prefer JD.

Big judges. Last year it was Shilpa Shetty (in the pre-Big Brother days of course), Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Farah Khan. That was always going to be a tough act to follow, but they've almost matched it with Jeetendra, Urmila and Shiamak. These three, purely in terms of star value, just smoke that random lot in NB3 (Isha K, David Dhawan and Vaibhavi Merchant).

I think in the last one year, all of us viewers have gotten used to gushing judges overflowing and OD-ing and that one judge who just has to get rude if only to wipe the smile off everyone, just for impact. Like today's NB3 episode where all three judges ganged up on the first couple (I forget their names but yes, they were bad), called their performance pathetic, predictable, lazy, etc. etc. Only for the same three judges to all but run in tears to the next couple who - get this - forgot their steps mid-way through their performance. So, whose worse? A couple who danced bad or a couple who forgot their steps?

Big participants. See, the thing that connects me to these kinda shows is to see celebs struggling to do something. And they have to struggle harder than us ordinary janta on the Indian Idols and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, etc. Ten left feet, for sure. JD has twelve diverse couples which include host Mini Mathur, Mir Ranjan Negi, Cyrus Broacha, Sonali Kulkarni, Aadesh Srivastav and a whole load of others. They might not be top-tier celebs, but they're just a very lively lot of people, most of whom I've neither seen acting or dancing. Reminds me last year of pro chef Sanjiv Kapoor and maverick director Mahesh Manjrekar who almost made it to the end. Those were the kind of people who make you tune in, if only to see what they're going to do next or because you're rooting for them as the underdogs.

And NB3? We have item girls Rakhi Sawant and Kashmira Shah (cashing in quite obviously to their rivalry on Big Bosss which was ironically aired on Sony TV - the channel airing JD), ohh-Lolita Shakti Kapoor and an entire truck-load of TV actors and actresses. Sorry, I can't quite identify with this lot, maybe because I know that almost all of them have some experience on the big screen or small screen. Maybe I'm not being fair but whatever.

The hosts on both shows are equally good and bad. While last year winner Husain (on NB3) looks comfortable (and experienced what with his recent Indian Idol stint), his wife Tina is just plain bad. Over at JD, last-year winner Mona Singh - her first time hosting a show, I think - is quite warm and enthu and almost seems a natural, while Rohit Roy should stick to flop movies.

Now, here's the thing. Star Plus (the channel that airs NB3) obviously knew they have a relatively weak line-up. So how do they compensate for that? Pitch the show as "Ye nach nahi aasaan." Oh ya. Read that to mean loads of drama, loads of "turns and twists", bucket-loads of tears on stage, judges being extra rude, etc. Recall that in the first season of NB, participating couple Varun and Rajeshwari had literally stopped midway in a crucial round, saying they - get this - blanked out. In season two, last year they had a round where fellow participants had to vote to bump off a pair off the show. Oh, and also watch out for scoops and scandals on sets to reach newspapers to keep interest in the show alive (although I think even JD might indulge in that).

Like I'd said last year, we all love underdogs. We root for them, sympathise for them, laugh, cry and enjoy with them. And of course, vote for them. We mock their falls, and wish for their recoveries. They have to slog for our love and bear with our fickle affections.

Right now, I don't feel a thing for anyone at NB3. While JD...whoa..hang on, what's this? Sudha Chandran dancing on Naughty, Naughty? Yep, aye gori, jara nach ki dikha, jara thumka laga. Now, we're talking, now we're dancing.

Baliye can keep nach-ing where they are, because I'm going to see more of the Jhalak I just saw.