Kathmandu:

Public voting crossed the 7,00,000 mark this week. Unfortunately, though, 1,24,560 of the votes received were invalid and 2,00,000 received only after voting was closed. Only 3,45,450 votes were counted which was decisive in sealing the fate of one of the last six contestants. Saturday’s episode will be eagerly awaited, as it will only leave five to grapple for the title. All the singers are equally talented, further complicating speculations.

It’s the first time in the history of television in Nepal that people have demonstrated such overwhelming participation. But success seems to have left the participants unaffected. Dipak Limbu, contender, modestly says, “I find my friends a step ahead of me. That motivates me to work harder and keep up with them.”