MUMBAI: Colors Infinity’s homegrown English talent hunt show ‘The Stage’ is about to begin. The show will start on 17 September 2016 and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 9 pm.

Last season's jury panelists Vishal Dadlani, Monica Dogra, Ehsaan Noorani and Devraj Sanyal are back, while Shibani Dandekar will host the show. The promo of the show was out on 24 August, 2016 in which all the judges including the host were featured with a badass outlook. Absolute swag it is, we think.

Radioandmusic got a chance to speak with all the judges. Here's what they said.

Ehsaan Noorani said, “I travel all over India for shows and I have met people who love the show. We are hoping that this time there will be lot more talents, raw singers, professionals and semi-professional singers. A lot more people will be watching it too. All I can say is the second season of The Stage is bigger and the reach is also brilliant this year.”

Monica Sharma Dogra, who recently recreated 'Trouble' with Malaysian singer 'Resh’, was a member of the jury panel last year as well.

“The Stage season one was of the most magical experiences. This portal is full of pure talent. In this season in Delhi, more than 400 people showed up. We have established playback singers. What I feel India needs now is a star, who has that x-factor. It’s hard to find, but someone who is truly hungry and desperate - that person should get the trophy. It is very intimidating for me to be the only woman and it makes me feel more responsible,” said Monica.

When we asked her about her approach and appearance for this season, Dogra said, “The approach and appearance will be the same, I guess. I'll probably look the same. Maybe a little less depressed and a little more fit (wink). This year we have travelled for the auditions, so I'm really excited to see the talent unearthed in the furthest reaches of the country! It's all just so exciting.”

According to noted music composer-vocalist Vishal Dadlani, one of the judges of this season of The Stage, last year there was closed door auditions and they could find twenty best candidates.

“There will be changes in the format. We are going to start with top 50 this time and it is bigger-better-brighter this time. Last time we got a huge response from the episodes which had live bands and the four of us prefer this. This time, there will be live bands throughout the show that's tough as well. However, it will also let the artists spin the songs in their own way. Also, there will be a vocal coach who will be helping the contestants in their riyaaz and voice training. Of course, vocal quality is what’s primary. But above and beyond, we also want to see who the real artist is. The key is to give as much freedom so that the contestants can explore their artistic abilities,” shared Dadlani.

He also said that the 'believe' factor is the most important thing when it comes to performing; the contestants should believe in themselves and in whatever they are singing and performing.

“When you are in a studio, you get the option to make it right but when you are performing on stage, you have just one shot, so you better go ready and believe that’s what carries you through. As far as the technical parts are concerned, I and Ehsaan will be vocal about technicality of the performance like last year,” said the composer.

According to Universal Music Group and EMI Music, South Asia, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Devraj Sanyal, The Stage Season 2 is incredible. “This is a far-fetched programme managed by Viacom18. The way they positioned it, is brilliant. As this show is an English talent hunt show and not mainstream, it is not very easy to accomplish what you want when you live in a world of singing idols and Bollywood. It’s always going to be performance, attitude, and voice. We are ultimately looking for a package,” said Sanyal.

In addition, he also shared a label’s perspective. “Ultimately, it is not about what language you sing in, the way the music is consumed nowadays, the younger generation no longer listen to only Bollywood. That’s where The Stage works. That shift is about to begin very very soon. A parallel market has been created where people don’t believe in piracy. It’s that market that consumes music legitimately. We have a chunk of the market that are English speaking and listening and officially streaming English songs and The Stage is the right place for them. Our ratings were spectacular last year. We are still in the country where the reach of television is miles ahead compared to the internet. We need to believe that this show is the single most important television thing to happen. Ferzad and team did a fantastic job. I am looking forward to another phenomenal season of The Stage.”

Check out the promo of The Stage Season 2