Singing competition featuring singers with their kin Famili Duo is back for its second season, but with slight changes in its format. Groove has the details
DRIVEN by the success of its first season, TV3 is bringing back reality singing competition Famili Duo.
But this time around, the format is a little different.
In the first season, a total of 40 pairs took part in the competition, with five pairs competing each week in a knockout format. However, during that first season, there were eight pairs of weekly winners, but it ended without the winners moving onto the next (or final) round for the grand champion title.
"So this time around, all the contestants will compete for seven weeks, with only four pairs selected for the final week, to compete for the champion title and the grand prize with cash prize of RM100,000," says Famili duo producer Noradillah Abdullah.
Noradillah adds that only seven pairs have been selected for this season.
"It's not easy to get participants who are actually singers with partners who are also their kin. Our industry is small, and thus there are less players."
Therefore, TV audiences will get to see some of the contestants return for this new season. They are Datuk Jamal Abdillah's sons Yamani Abdillah and his younger brother Zaki Yamani; Ara Johari and her cousin Shaffiq Erwin; Siti Sairah Tarudin; and Naim Daniel.
However, both Siti Sairah and Naim are paired off with different sparring partners this time around. While Siti Sairah will be competing in the show with her sister Siti Saida, Naim will be singing with another cousin, singer Sissy Imann.
The others are sisters Ayda Jebat and Fyna Jebat; cousins Bella Astillah and Wani Kayrie; as well as brothers Sabhi Saddi and Fareed (of K-Clique fame).
"However, despite the search for contestants being an arduous task, we managed to sieve through to ensure that we didn't just rope in any Tom, Dick and Harry just so that we could go on with the show.
"We were careful in finalising the contestants as we didn't want TV viewers to question our choices later," she explains.
New season, new format
Noradillah says despite some contestants being a repeat of previous season's contestants, it should not be a big problem as the competition format is different this time around since a grand champion will be selected at the final episode.
While the winners of the grand title will walk home with RM100,000 cash prize on top of a trophy, there will also be weekly winners who will be rewarded with RM10,000.
"Every week, contestants will be assigned to sing songs according to the weekly theme, with 80 per cent of the marks coming from a professional jury panel, and the remaining 20 per cent will be based on votes on online votes from TV audiences," she says.
Composer Ajai and singer Mas Idayu are the permanent jury members of the show.
"Every aspect will be accounted for in judging the contestants. Aside from their vocal capabilities, we'll also look into their creativity and on-stage chemistry," he says.
He adds: "Whatever it is, I hope all contestants will not be overly confident or be too pessimistic. Every pair stands a chance of winning, provided they work hard and believe in themselves."
For brothers Yamani Abdillah, 21, and Zaki Yamani, 16, they hope that through this programme, they will be able to pave their way in the local music industry.
"While we may not be able to beat our father as a solo artiste, maybe by teaming up like this, we could at least aim to be at par with his level," says Yamani Abdillah whose real name is Osama Yamani.
Yamani adds that while aiming to make their legendary father proud of them, he also wants to have fun while taking part in the competition.
In the previous season, the brothers also beat four other pairs to emerge as the winner of the weekly episode, which happened to be the first episode.
Meanwhile, sisters of Malaysia's No.1 singer Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, Siti Saida and Siti Sairah hope that they will be able to show their talent again to TV audiences.
Siti Saida says: "It's thrilling to be on this reality show, especially when paired up with my sister."
Her younger sister Siti Sairah was also a returning talent to the show. In the previous season, she joined the competition with her daughter Umairah. They were also the winning pair of the second episode (of Famili Duo S1).
"I'm sure many are waiting to see how we fare in the competition," says Siti Sairah.
Famili Duo production is helmed by Russell Mark Rodrigues as its project manager, while Muhamad Sufian Che Isa, the executive producer.
The programme which will be airing at 9pm every Sunday from Dec 18 (for eight weeks) will be hosted by Sean Lee and Janna Nick.