As Sawant emerged as the winner, everyone was spotted humming 'Mohabbatein Lutavounga' – a song that mesmerised the audience and the judges – winning Sawant the title of the country's first Indian Idol. It was only after his appearance on the show that Sawant managed to tour the world, sing at various competitions, released his own album besides singing in Bollywood movies. It wouldn't be wrong to opine that Sawat dawned on the music world scene only because of Indian Idol.

The show is hitting our TV sets once again from June 1 this year in its sixth avatar, and experts in Bollywood and music industry see it as a platform for budding singers and some are even comparing it with the recently concluded Indian Premier League. Given the fact that IPL has proved to be a platform for budding cricketers, Indian Idol also has been doing the same – exposing the talent and providing them an opportunity to show their matter.

On August 15, 2010 when the whole country was celebrating the Independence Day, Sreeram Chandra's has another reason to celebrate – he was named Indian Idol for the fifth season of the show. Hailing from Hyderabad, Chandra was awarded a one-year contract with Sony Entertainment Television worth Rs 50, 00,000 besides a Suzuki GS-150R motorbike and a Tata Winger Platinum car.

Though one doesn't expect that all the Indian Idols would go on to become most popular singers in Indian music industry but at least the show helps them to make their mark. Besides, making them a household name across the length and breadth of the country, the show helps them monetarily, and even helps them to rub shoulders with the who's who of Bollywood. And, as they say, networking is a path to success in this age of competition, and the show at least puts them in a field where all music directors look for talent.

The show's popularity can be gauged from the immense response it gets from aspiring singers who flock the places where auditions are held. To fulfil their dreams, these aspiring singers even travel from one city to another, notwithstanding the fact that they can be disqualified in the first meet. Not only has the show brought talent from big metros, it has even made inroads into small towns, villages and countryside. Had that not been the case, Sourabhee Debbarma from Tripura in North-East India wouldn't have become the first ever female Indian Idol. Not only did she achieve accolades for her rocking performances, she even made a Guinness World Record by singing a song for almost 4 minutes and 30 seconds by hanging upside down. After becoming Indian Idol 4, Debbarma released her first album 'Meherbaan'.

Debbarma's inspiration might have been Prashant Tamang who became a rage across the picturesque and hilly state of Darjeeling after his appearance on Indian Idol. Tamang went on to become Indian Idol 3, as massive rallies were organised in his support across the city, in the schools and he even made newspaper headlines across the city.

Being the first Indian Idol to come from police force, Tamang, after winning the title toured the world and came up with his first ever album "Dhanyavad" which included some Hindi and Nepali songs followed by another album 'Namaste'. He also sung for few Nepali films like Himmat2 and acted in Nepali films like 'Gorkha Paltan' which did extremely well at the Box office, 'Angalo Yo Maya Ko' and 'Kina Maya Ma'.

Again people are going crazy over the auditions of the show, which at many times, become funny as particpants who don't even know the basics of singing appear before the judges. Notwithstanding the fact that they only ridicule themselves, it shows the impact of the show and belief in people's minds that it will help them achieve heights.

Auditions held across five states have already ended last week and the show will start 1st June at 8:30 in the evening, according to Sony Television website. Anu Malik, who has been associated as a judge with the show, since its inception in 2004-05 will be judging the show this time too, along with singer Sunidhi Chauhan and music composer Saleem Merchant. Although there are unconfirmed reports that Asha Bhosle or AR Rahman may be entering the show as the fourth judge.