2,000 workers audition for Camp Ka Champ singing contest in UAE

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Dubai - Around 2,000 workers from 50 camps are participating in the virtual as well as on-site auditions that began on December 24 and will continue until January 30.

By Saman Haziq

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Published: Fri 15 Jan 2021, 6:45 PM

Blue-collared workers across the UAE have something to look forward to as auditions have begun for the 14th season of ‘Western Union Camp Ka Champ’.

Around 2,000 workers from 50 camps are participating in the virtual as well as on-site auditions that began on December 24 and will continue until January 30. The quarter-finals will be held in the first week of February and the grand finale will take place on March 5. Winners will walk away with cash prizes worth Dh20,000, exclusive gifts as well as the coveted title of Camp Ka Champ (CKC).


Elaborating on how the auditions are being held, Rupa Vinod, managing director of Right Track Advertising, which is organising the event, said: “Although the circumstances were extraordinary, we are ensuring that the auditions are going on with all Covid-19 safety measures in place. We have a videographer and an emcee who head to the labour accommodation where workers are seated at a distance in a large hall. Each worker is then taken to a room one by one, where he performs in front of the emcee as well as a virtual jury through video conference.”

Auditions are held at various labour accommodations from Thursday through Saturday in the evening from 6.30pm until 10pm.


All on-site events will be aired live via CKC’s social media channels. Twelve quarter-finalists will be assigned mentors to hone the singing talent to perfection before the semi-finals and finals that will be held on the same day.

One of the participants, Umair Maqsood Ahmed, who works in Transguard as an accommodation supervisor, said he has been participating in the contest ever since he came to the UAE in 2015.

“I wait eagerly for this contest every year and the trainers and organisers have helped me turn my hobby of singing into my passion and I am looking to win or at least reach the finals as an individual singer. My confidence level has gone up and after reaching the finals in the last few seasons, I was also given a chance to perform on a national television channel. I now aspire to become a full-fledged singer, thanks to CKC trainers,” said an excited Umair, a Pakistani national.

Talking about the response received for CKC, Vinod said: “It was heartening to see private firms inquiring about the talent show as they felt workers were happier when they engaged in these events. The aim of this talent hunt is to give them a chance to display their hidden talents and reward them.”

Although the show is primarily based on Bollywood songs, workers from different nationalities are also given a chance to perform live on the show and display their talent.

“We do not say no to any talented worker who wants to display his or her talent. Some people want to dance, act or sing in different languages. Although they cannot participate in the contest, we welcome them and give them a chance to perform on stage during the event and entertain the audience,” Vinod added.

saman@khaleejtimes.com


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