MUMBAI: The much-awaited television show based on the popular lip syncing concept of the American musical reality show Lip Sync Battle has finally come onto Indian television screens with the moniker Lip Sing Battle.

The first episode of the show aired this weekend on Star Plus, but in contrary to the hype created around the show, it turned out to be a disappointment. Yes, they have Farah Khan, the choreographer who has been hopping reality shows for decades now. She has aced the art of being on reality TV, but Star definitely has some fine polishing to do here.

Star Network definitely has truckloads of the creative lot, but they seemed to have got a bit tipsy before approving the design of this big budget show. The set undoubtedly looks glamorous, but it also looks completely out of sync. And, a lip couch will definitely get an oouch! Yes, there is a huge lip couch that is the throne to Tara Khan. Well, we haven’t got the famous choreographers name wrong, but this person happens to be the co-host of the show. Well, Ali Asgar of The Kapil Sharma Show and the Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki fame is seen as Tara on the show.

Ali is not the only one with a fancy seating, Farah seems to have all the equipment to get high. Don’t get surprised if she goes overboard in certain episodes, she sits beside a bar counter. We know many of you now envy Farah, but then her drinks are spiked with Bollywood movie characters. Yes, this is dripping Bollywood. Afterall, it’s going to be a lip sync battle between two famous personalities.

Lip Sing Battle has two rounds - the ‘Lip Syncing Round’ and the ‘Performance Round’, both of which can be fun to watch, but something seemed to have gone amiss in the first two episodes. Also, the show seems to run faster than the actual pace at which it should.

The worst part of the show is that often the studio audience reaction is shown and television viewers don't get to watch the performances and hosts. Too much focus on the studio audience diverts the attention of the people watching the show on television from the main focus of the show.

The first episode of Lip Sing Battle had Ishaqzaada Arjun Kapoor battling it out with actor-director Farhan Akhtar where Farhan did the Rishi Kapoor act with his iconic song Om Shanti Om, whereas Arjun stepped into the shoes of Sanjay Dutt, by dancing on the Khalnayak song. The two also battled it out with Amitabh Bachchan's famous number Jumma Chumma De De. Farhan turned out to be the winner of the episode by a two per cent margin. The first episode was a decent one, but certainly not good enough to have people go gaga over Lip Sing Battle.

The second episode featured director Karan Johar along with drama queen Pari?eeti Chopra who added a fun flavour to the Star Plus show. The episode saw the superb bonding and the equation between Farah and Karan, something that is always a treat to watch. Karan and Chopra were seen miming on the Devdas chartbuster ?ola Re ?ola. Viewers witnessed a new avatar of Parineeti who did the Raju Babu act of Govinda; and Karana as Sexy Sam, was seen performing to the song rock and roll Soniye. The highlight and the surprise of the episode was the entry of Pretty Woman Preity Zinta, who made an appearance for the song performed by the Kal Ho Na Ho director and also grooved along with him. Though the second episode was better than the pilot one, overall the Lip Sing Battle failed to meet expectations. 

However, looking at the lineup of celebrities like Govinda, Shaan, Vishal Dadlani, Malika Aro?a, Raveena Tandon etc., future episodes of Lip Sing Battle can be fun. But going only by the past two shows, the makers really have to work pull up their socks.

Conclusion- The show really has a very good concept but lacks the things that could make it magical. If the makers pay proper attention in crafting some of the aspects, then Lip Sing Battle could definitely be a treat to watch.