Moodbidri: Small-town Dancing Sensation Shweta clinches Zee Kannada's 'Kuniyonu Bara' Title

Report: Shekar Ajekar
Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Sep 2: Child prodigy Shweta from Moodbidri, who has been mesmerizing the audiences and the judges alike with her magical performances since the beginning of the 'Kuniyonu Bara' reality show that puts to test the dancing talents of the younger dancers, has clinched the title. She was declared a winner at around 10.20 pm on Tuesday September 1, at the concluding episode of the programme aired by Zee TV Kannada.

Anushree from Mangalore had taken part as the anchor (Diva) and teamed up with Shweta in the finals. Anushree won one lac rupees worth of gold jewellery.  Rashree from Kodagu, who partnered with Tanusha, got Rs 50,000 worth of gold ornaments. In the finals, there were three founds, two solo performances by the partners and a team performance in which the contestant and the diva dance together.

Shweta, disciple of Rajesh Bhat of 'Talents' Moodbidri, who has been winning accolades from the judges in every episode, won Rs 2.5 lac in the form of education scholarship as award. The final performance of Shweta, who wore three different masks for her emotional rendering of the song, 'Raraa Sarasaku Baraa..' of 'Aptamitra' movie, was so engrossing and perfect, that one of the judges, Tribhuvan Master, made her to sit on his chair and offered her a salute, which speaks about the rich talent the girl possesses and the perfection with which the presentation was made. Singh, who has directed 145 movies so far, said that this was the first time he felt, anyone was worth his salute. Her performance was so superb and scintillating and the praise of the judges was so profuse, that her victory had become a forgone conclusion much before the result was officially announced. Tanusha from Mysore, who was in the finals with Shweta, had to be content with the runner-up award.

Shweta, a sixth standard student of DJ English Medium School, Moodbidri, has succeeded in turning the attention of the audiences of the small screen, towards the smaller towns, as most of the top honours have so far, gone to the residents of bigger cities. It may be recalled, that Ranjan Moodbidri, a seventh standard student of the Kannada Main School here, was also one of the 24 contestants selected from out of 1,040 aspirants for this competition. However, he had to drop out after the third round.

Rajesh, 29, who has been the sole teacher and dance director for Shweta for all her performances, exulted in the success of his disciple. "I am feeling as if I have won the award”, he explained. Shweta said after becoming victorious, that she aspires to become a big dancing star. She thanked her parents, Balakrishna and Shobha as well as Rajesh Bhat for her success.