Finally, Sanjaya sings his way out of 'Idol'

Though his run has now ended, the gangly teenager, who's become somewhat of an Internet phenomenon, managed to generate quite a bit of controversy.

NEW DELHI: The "Indian Idol" is out. Sanjaya Malakar, the 17-year-old Indian American who made waves on American Idol with his trend-setting follicle fashion if not his singing, has finally been voted off the popular reality show.
Though he sported yet another new hairdo, the bandana-sporting and boyishly charming Sanjaya had to make a tearful exit from the show after landing in the bottom three.
Though his run has now ended, the gangly teenager, who's become somewhat of an Internet phenomenon, managed to generate quite a bit of controversy.
Even his exit was construed by some to be the result of an ethnic backlash over the Virginia Tech shootings, though even the most ardent of 'Fanjayas' had to admit the singing — in the words of judge Simon Cowell — was "utterly horrendous".

And in a finale that saw a record 38 million votes being cast — the highest tally ever for a top seven round — Sanjaya was sent home.
The audience, though, erupted in cheers — characteristic of the love-hate relationship that the 17-year-old has shared with the public.
One blogger's website drew hit after hit when it made "Who is voting for Sanjaya?" the topic of the day. Even presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton was asked if she would vote for the American Idol wannabe.

Conspiracy theorists went as far as accusing Indian call centre workers of feverishly voting for Sanjaya instead of dealing with credit card complaints.
Not that Sanjaya, the son of a classical Indian musician who was "raised around music", downplayed his Indian connection.
"I think America is ready for an Indian American Idol. Indian culture is really popular now, a lot of people wear bindis as a fashion statement," Sanjaya said.
"It's time for an Indian musician to come to the scene and I'd like to be that person." More than his music, it was the ever-changing hairstyles — especially the pohawk (ponytail mohawk) — that made Sanjaya stand out in the crowd.
Even at his final performance, he adlibbed a line from a Bonny Rait song to give the audience "something to talk about... other than hair".
But the judges were never impressed with his hair-raising performances. After Sanjaya made it to the final 12, the acerbic Simon Cowell said he would quit the show if he won.
Last week's Latin night was the only occasion he elicited some reluctant words of praise. But all that changed this week with judge Randy Jackson calling his rendition the dreaded k-word, karaoke.
Paula Abdul said the vocals weren't so great while Simon summed it up, calling it "utterly horrendous". "As bad as anything we see at the beginning of American Idol."
The scathing comments ushered in the end for Sanjaya.

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