Reality shows often say they are a stage for talent from India's small towns. In the upcoming Diwali special of Zee TV's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2026, Kumar Sanu pointed to a gap in that story: some of the families of these contestants cannot watch the show at all.
The moment came after a surprise for contestant Durgesh Yadav. He had long hoped his guru, Pt. Shri Girijashankar Tripathi, would come to see him on the show, but that had not been possible despite his efforts. Knowing how much it meant to him, the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa team arranged for his guru to be on the sets, and Durgesh was caught completely off guard.
As the judges talked with Durgesh and his guru, they learnt more about his background. Durgesh is from Mau, Uttar Pradesh, where his family owns a small piece of agricultural land and lives off farming. Then his guru shared a detail that changed the mood on the sets: Durgesh's parents do not have a television at home, so they have never been able to watch their son on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.
Kumar Sanu responded right away. "A television will be sent to your home from my side today itself, so that your mother and father can sit together at home and watch your performances on the show," he said.
It was a small, practical gesture, and that is why it hit home. A contestant's journey on a show like this is as much about the people back home cheering as about the scores. For a farming family in eastern Uttar Pradesh, being able to watch their son on national television is a real milestone, not just a reality TV moment.
Why Sanu's gesture carries extra weight
Sanu has watched many such journeys from the judges' panel. He was one of the judges on the first Sa Re Ga Ma Pa when the show began in 1995. He went on to judge Waar Pariwaar in 2008 and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Bangla in 2010, then joined Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs alongside Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan, and later sat on the panel of Indian Idol 14.
Over three decades of televised singing contests, the format has changed, but its core idea is the same: an unknown voice from a small town gets a shot at the big stage. Sanu himself is a reminder of how far that voice can go. His promise to a farmer's son fits the show's own story as well as any script could.
A Diwali special with heart
Beyond this moment, the Diwali special will feature a grand musical celebration, with performances by contestants and judges, special jugalbandis and festive segments. Host Shreyas Talpade will add to the entertainment with his interactions with the contestants and judges.
For many viewers, though, the highlight is likely to be simpler. If Sanu's promise is kept, two parents in Mau will soon be able to sit together in front of their own TV and watch their son sing.
