Indian households have a fondness for reality TV, which they relish watching as a family during prime time. While drama or thriller series are popular, singing competitions hold a special significance in the hearts of Indians. These programs offer a platform for discovering and promoting budding musical talents, thus enabling individuals to pursue a career in music.

Let us now take a look at the ten most popular reality TV singing shows in India that one can indulge in binge-watching:

Top 10 Popular Singing Reality TV Shows In India To Binge Watch

#1. The Voice

At the top of our list of recommended Indian singing shows to watch is The Voice India, which originated from the Dutch series and has gained global popularity as an international reality show.

The program features a panel of four coaches who recruit participants for their team through blind auditions. The coaches initially listen to the contenders with their chairs turned away, and if they are impressed with the performance, they can hit the 'I Want You' button to select them. The chosen contestants receive guidance and support from their mentors or judges, which helps them grow and refine their musical abilities.

The competition commences when the judges pit two of their own team members against each other to progress to the next phase, which is the Super Battle round. During this stage, the remaining participants showcase their solo performances on stage, vying for a spot in the Grand Gala round. The coaches or judges select two performers from each act to move forward to the Grand Gala Round. In this round, the contestants perform solo and compete with others from different teams, and the television audience votes to determine who stays and who exits the competition. Finally, each coach has their best contender left, who sings an original song, and out of the four, one is crowned as 'The Voice' and receives the prize money.

#2. Rising Star

Next up on our list of Indian singing shows to watch is Rising Star, which airs on Colors TV and Voot App. Unlike other shows, this one features a panel of expert celebrities and allows the viewers at home to act as the judges and vote for their favorite contestants. Although the celebrity experts do have some influence, their voting rights do not exceed 5% of the total vote.

In the initial stage, known as the auditions, contestants perform solo while the viewers cast their votes for their preferred acts. The performance takes place behind a wall, and if the contestant manages to secure at least 80% of the votes, they progress to the next round. After the blind auditions, the successful contestants move on to the duel rounds, where they compete against each other. The first contestant sings behind the wall while the viewers vote, and then the second contestant performs. To avoid elimination, the second contestant must receive more votes than their opponent.

#3. Indian Idol

Since 2004, Indian Idol has been one of the most popular singing reality shows in India, boasting winners such as Abhijit Sawant, Prashant Tamang, and Salman Ali, and has amassed a significant following. This show was one of the pioneers in promoting viewer participation by allowing them to vote for their favorite contestants. Auditions for the show are held in major cities throughout India, and contestants must impress the panel of three judges to advance to the live shows. During the live shows, home viewers have the opportunity to vote for their favorite contestants. Winners of the show receive a cash prize and a contract with Sony Entertainment worth Rs.1 crore.

#4. India’s Raw Star

India's Raw Star, created by Gajendra Singh, is the next Star Plus singing show on our list. The series is broadcasted on Star Plus, with Gauhar Khan as the host and Yo Yo Honey Singh as the mentor to the contestants. On the final episode, well-known singers such as Mohit Chauhan, Shaan, and Kailash Kher have made guest appearances and performed alongside the top three finalists.

#5. Dil Hai Hindustani

Included in our list of Indian singing reality shows is "Dil Hai Hindustani," which was aired during the prime time slot on weekends on Star Plus. Unlike other singing competitions, this show welcomes participants from all around the world, not just Indian citizens. The inaugural season's winner was Haitham Mohammed Rafi, hailing from Oman.

#6. The Stage

Next up on our list of singing shows is "The Stage," which is broadcasted on Colors Infinity and is India's premiere English singing talent show. Across all three seasons, the show has maintained the same panel of judges: Monica Dogra, Devraj Sanyal, Ehsaam Noorani, and Vishal Dadlani, while the presenter has been Shibani Dandekar. Airing on weekends, the show has garnered a large fanbase, particularly among the English-speaking community in India.

#7. The Voice India Kids

Included in our list of Indian singing reality shows is "The Voice India Kids," which is broadcasted on &TV and Star Plus. This show, which is an adaptation of "The Voice India" series, is exclusive to children between the ages of 6-14 years. The competition is comprised of three rounds: the Blind Auditions, the Battle Rounds, and the Live Performance Round.

During the initial phase of the competition, four coaches participate in a blind audition process to select 15 singers each. In the following Battle Rounds, these coaches mentor their respective contestants to enhance their vocal abilities. The singers are paired up, and they perform the same song, with the coaches selecting only one member from their team to advance to the next stage.

In the Live Shows, the remaining 7 contestants from each team showcase their individual talent through solo performances to win over both the audience and judges. In the Finals, the final four participants vie for the top spot and are judged based on live public voting to determine the ultimate winner.

#8. Superstar Singer

Superstar Singer is a highly-regarded singing competition in India that airs on Sony Entertainment Television, catering to young participants aged between 2 to 15 years. The show features four expert mentors or judges who guide and train the young contestants to improve their skills while offering constructive feedback on their performances. The children then compete to secure maximum votes and advance towards the ultimate finale. The Super Finale brings together six top finalists, among whom the contestant who garners the most votes is declared the winner, along with a cash prize and the coveted title of Superstar Singer.

#9. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs is a highly renowned singing competition on TV with an enormous fan base in India. The kids who participate in the show are evaluated based on their voice quality, performance versatility, and singing abilities. The show's inaugural season premiered in 2006 and was judged by Bappi Lahiri, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, and Alka Yagnik, with Shaan as the host.

#10. Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star

Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star is another singing show on our list, which is aired on DD National and produced by Gajendra Singh. The show has had three seasons so far, with different judges in each season. Season 1 had Bappi Lahiri and Kavitha Krishnamurthy as judges, while Ismail Darbar and Usha Uthup judged Season 2. Season 3 saw Usha Uthup, Anand Raj Anand, and Lalit Pandit as judges. The winners of the three seasons were Sumit Khatri, Mamta Raut, and Vishal Mishra, respectively.

Conclusion

Singing competitions on Indian television hold a unique position in the audience's hearts, as they provide a platform for showcasing their talents and gaining recognition. These shows serve as a launchpad for the contestants' careers.

Do you concur with our list of the most well-liked singing competitions on Indian reality television?