A new TV show for three-wheeler drivers on the lines of American Idol has become an instant hit
DHAKA: On the busy streets of Dhaka, Omar Ali snakes his way through the city's gridlocked traffic, pedalling passengers around town on his cycle rickshaw.
Ali is one of three men selected by judges to appear later this month in the final of an 'American Idol'-type television contest for rickshaw drivers.
The father of four learnt to sing folk songs as a teenager by listening to the radio in his village. He came to Dhaka 25 years ago to earn money for his family.
Like most drivers on the streets of Dhaka, Ali has legs of steel, a result of working 12-hour days, seven days a week to earn a daily wage of between two and three dollars.
"In the village I drove a buffalo cart and I would sing," he says. "Now in Dhaka whenever I get caught in traffic, I sing. It makes my passengers happy and they sometimes give me 10% extra. They get upset in the traffic but the singing helps make it bearable."
The television show, Magic Tin Chakar Taroka, meaning three-wheeler stars, is open to drivers of both pedal and motorised rickshaws who sing Bangladeshi folk songs.
The idea is the brainchild of current affairs reporter Munni Saha, who was inspired after seeing an informal talent show for rickshaw drivers in a school playground on the outskirts of Dhaka.
Better known for making politicians squirm with her tough interviewing techniques, Saha made a five-minute news story about the initiative and from there the plan for a televised talent show gained momentum.
After getting her TV station to support her idea, she put posters on the back of rickshaws to advertise the talent hunt. Soon after, outdoor auditions at four venues in the city attracted 3,000 men.
The number was whittled down to 20, who appeared in weekly episodes on the ATN
Bangla network in September.
As well as gaining a huge following in Bangladesh, the show has rated well with overseas viewers.
