The contest is open to ALL living in the USA with the following exceptions

1. A past Atlanta Indian Idol Champion in the Senior category cannot compete;
2. A past Atlanta Indian Idol Champion in the Junior group cannot compete in the Junior category again but can compete in the Adult category.
3. This exception does not apply to the 1st and 2nd Runner-ups and the other finalists who can compete in their eligible age category.

The competition will be held for two groups based on age:

1. Junior Category: A contestant must be between the ages of 12 and 17 as of September 30, 2023 to enter the competition in this category. Translated, this means that a JUNIOR contestant be born between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2011, inclusive of the dates.
2. Adult Category: A contestant must be at least 18 years old as September 30, 2023 to enter the competition in this  category. Translated, this mean An ADULT contestant must be born on or before September 30, 2005. However, a Junior Champion from previous a year may also compete in this category and the age criteria will not apply.
3. A contestant can compete only in one group.
4. Please see exceptions detailed in Section 01 (Who Can compete?)

Songs performed must be a HINDI song from a “Bollywood” movie. In this context a Bollywood movie is defined as a film produced by the Mumbai film industry and the song has Hindi as the primary language.

1. Qualifying Round: The Qualifying round will be held at the IACA Auditorium located at 1281 Cooper Lake Road SE, Smyrna, GA 30082. oUT OF TOWN contestants may choose to compete in the qualifying round virtually. Please see Section 5 for more details on “Virtual Auditioning".
2. Championship Round:: The Championship Rounds will be held in front of a live audience. This is subject to Federal/State/County/CDC health guidelines.
3. All room, board and traveling expenses to and from the competition venues must be borne by the contestants and the organizers will bear no responsibility to provide them.
4. All contestants MUST report to the competition program coordinator at the respective venues per the scheduled notified to them. Late attendance may be grounds disqualification.

1. Though we prefer that contestants attend the qualifying round audition in person, out of town contestants may wish to compete virtually for the qualifying round.
2. The actual date, time and connection details will be notified by email to the contestants. It may not be possible to re-schedule a virtual session.
3. Atlanta Indian Idol and its organizers are not responsible for any technical or quality issues related to remote auditioning.
4. If qualified, remote contestants must agree to compete in person during the Championship Rounds at their own cost. Please see Section 04 for more details.

1. Contestants will compete based on the Selection Method and Criteria laid down in Section 8.
2. Contestants will be scored based on the scoring rubric laid down in Section 9.
3. The number of contestants to qualify from each group defined in Section 2 will be determined at a later date.

1. Contestants who qualify from the Qualifying round will compete based on the Selection Method and Criteria laid down in Section 08.
2. Application and registration for the Qualifying round is valid for the Championship rounds of the competition.
3. Contestants will be scored based on the scoring rubric laid down in Section 09.
4. The overall score will determine the Champion, 1^st Runner-up and the 2^nd Runner-up from each group as defined in Section 02.
5. Championship round may comprise of multiple stages and may require singing more than one song. The number of rounds will be announced well in advance.

1. For each round and stage of the competition, a contestant will be required to sing one song of his/her choice.
2. Maximum duration of the song including prelude, interlude and ending music can be 4 minutes for qualifying rounds and 5 minutes for Semifinals and Finals.
3. Contestants may sing to “Karaoke” music. The “Karaoke” track (in standard CD format or standard high-resolution MP3 format) must be made available to the on-site program coordinator on the day of the competition for qualifying rounds. Contestants qualifying for the finals will have to share their “Karaoke” track at least seven (7) days prior to the day of the Championship Rounds.  (Additional instructions will be share with the qualifying contestants at an appropriate time.)
4. The organizers will have in-house audio system to play the track music. Instruments (e.g., Electronic Tanpura, Guitar, Keyboard, etc.) will be allowed as long the instrument is played / operated during the performance by the contestant and no other performer is involved.
5. Though not encouraged, a contestant may choose to perform without any instrumental or track accompaniment.
6. Karaoke tracks cannot have dominating vocal tracks. For example, karaoke tracks with additional voices may not be allowed and may be grounds for disqualification.
7. A setup time of 2 minutes (maximum) will be allowed per performance.
8. Slips/notes/lyric sheets for rendering the song will be allowed ONLY during the Qualifying round. Slips/notes/lyric sheets will NOT be allowed during the Championship round.
9. You may not sing the same song in the qualifying round as well as the grand finale rounds. Likewise, if you qualify, you will not be allowed to sing in the qualifying rounds, the same song another finalist has chosen. Songs will be allocated on a first-come-fist-serve basis for the Grand Finale rounds.
10. Karaoke with prerecorded lead vocals for duets are not allowed in any round.

1. A panel of judges will individually score a performance based on the following criteria:
   • Tonal Accuracy
   • Sense of Rhythm
   • Lyrics
   • Tonal Quality
   • Diction, Articulation & Pronunciation
   • Feel of the prsentation
   • Mastery, Feel & Overall Presentation Style
2. Judges will be allowed to comment but not reveal the scores they have recorded on the scoring sheet provided.
3. Judges will score and rank the current performance based on all previous performances.
4. The judges’ score will have 100% weightage.
5. In case of a tie, the average of the judges’ ranks of the contestants tied will be considered.
6. For the Championship round, Audience Choice will be considered for breaking ties if ties cannot be broken using rule 9.5. The methodology for determining the Audience Choice will be announced prior to the Championship round.
7. The methodology for aggregating the judges' score will be announced prior to the competition rounds.
8. In all cases the decision of the Judges’ Panel will be final.

1. All contestants are required to pay a registration fee to enter the competition. The applicable registration is $20for juniors and $30 for adults as defined in Section 02.
2. Contestants and register and make online payment at the Atlanta Indian Idol website. Click here to register.
3. Deadline  to Register: Please visit our website at https://atlantaindianidol.org/ for competition timelines.

1. Certificate of Participation (upon request)
2. Attractive trophies will be awarded to the Champions, 1^st Runners-up and 2^nd Runners-up from each group outlined in Section 2.
3. Cash prizes will be awarded to the Champions, 1^st Runners-up and 2^nd Runners-up from each group outlined in Section 2.
4. Other categories of awards will be announced at a later date.
5. The top contestants from both categories will be provided with opportunities to sing in various IACA programs throughout the year.
6. It is very likely that one of the Indian media channels will cover the program and may open up opportunities to participate in other national and international programs.

1. IACA Atlanta Indian Idol will have the right to all the performances and may decide to use audio/video/images from the competition for promotion and publicity at their will.
2. IACA Atlanta Indian Idol Contest organizers have the right to amend rules of the competition at any time as they may be necessary. However, no rules will be modified to favor or disfavor a contestant.
3. All participants agree that they shall treat the judges’ decisions as final. This is one of the major conditions for participating in this contest.
4. Registering for the contest will imply that you will agree to the Rules & Regulations of the competition.

The contest is open to ALL living in the USA with the following exceptions

1. A past Atlanta Indian Idol Champion in the Senior category cannot compete;
2. A past Atlanta Indian Idol Champion in the Junior group cannot compete in the Junior category again but can compete in the Adult category.
3. This exception does not apply to the 1st and 2nd Runner-ups and the other finalists who can compete in their eligible age category.

The competition will be held for two groups based on age:

1. Junior Category: A contestant must be between the ages of 12 and 17 as of September 30, 2023 to enter the competition in this category. Translated, this means that a JUNIOR contestant be born between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2011, inclusive of the dates.
2. Adult Category: A contestant must be at least 18 years old as September 30, 2023 to enter the competition in this  category. Translated, this mean An ADULT contestant must be born on or before September 30, 2005. However, a Junior Champion from previous a year may also compete in this category and the age criteria will not apply.
3. A contestant can compete only in one group.
4. Please see exceptions detailed in Section 01 (Who Can compete?)

Songs performed must be a HINDI song from a “Bollywood” movie. In this context a Bollywood movie is defined as a film produced by the Mumbai film industry and the song has Hindi as the primary language.

1. Qualifying Round: The Qualifying round will be held at the IACA Auditorium located at 1281 Cooper Lake Road SE, Smyrna, GA 30082. oUT OF TOWN contestants may choose to compete in the qualifying round virtually. Please see Section 5 for more details on “Virtual Auditioning".
2. Championship Round:: The Championship Rounds will be held in front of a live audience. This is subject to Federal/State/County/CDC health guidelines.
3. All room, board and traveling expenses to and from the competition venues must be borne by the contestants and the organizers will bear no responsibility to provide them.
4. All contestants MUST report to the competition program coordinator at the respective venues per the scheduled notified to them. Late attendance may be grounds disqualification.

1. Though we prefer that contestants attend the qualifying round audition in person, out of town contestants may wish to compete virtually for the qualifying round.
2. The actual date, time and connection details will be notified by email to the contestants. It may not be possible to re-schedule a virtual session.
3. Atlanta Indian Idol and its organizers are not responsible for any technical or quality issues related to remote auditioning.
4. If qualified, remote contestants must agree to compete in person during the Championship Rounds at their own cost. Please see Section 04 for more details.

1. Contestants will compete based on the Selection Method and Criteria laid down in Section 8.
2. Contestants will be scored based on the scoring rubric laid down in Section 9.
3. The number of contestants to qualify from each group defined in Section 2 will be determined at a later date.

1. Contestants who qualify from the Qualifying round will compete based on the Selection Method and Criteria laid down in Section 08.
2. Application and registration for the Qualifying round is valid for the Championship rounds of the competition.
3. Contestants will be scored based on the scoring rubric laid down in Section 09.
4. The overall score will determine the Champion, 1^st Runner-up and the 2^nd Runner-up from each group as defined in Section 02.
5. Championship round may comprise of multiple stages and may require singing more than one song. The number of rounds will be announced well in advance.

1. For each round and stage of the competition, a contestant will be required to sing one song of his/her choice.
2. Maximum duration of the song including prelude, interlude and ending music can be 4 minutes for qualifying rounds and 5 minutes for Semifinals and Finals.
3. Contestants may sing to “Karaoke” music. The “Karaoke” track (in standard CD format or standard high-resolution MP3 format) must be made available to the on-site program coordinator on the day of the competition for qualifying rounds. Contestants qualifying for the finals will have to share their “Karaoke” track at least seven (7) days prior to the day of the Championship Rounds.  (Additional instructions will be share with the qualifying contestants at an appropriate time.)
4. The organizers will have in-house audio system to play the track music. Instruments (e.g., Electronic Tanpura, Guitar, Keyboard, etc.) will be allowed as long the instrument is played / operated during the performance by the contestant and no other performer is involved.
5. Though not encouraged, a contestant may choose to perform without any instrumental or track accompaniment.
6. Karaoke tracks cannot have dominating vocal tracks. For example, karaoke tracks with additional voices may not be allowed and may be grounds for disqualification.
7. A setup time of 2 minutes (maximum) will be allowed per performance.
8. Slips/notes/lyric sheets for rendering the song will be allowed ONLY during the Qualifying round. Slips/notes/lyric sheets will NOT be allowed during the Championship round.
9. You may not sing the same song in the qualifying round as well as the grand finale rounds. Likewise, if you qualify, you will not be allowed to sing in the qualifying rounds, the same song another finalist has chosen. Songs will be allocated on a first-come-fist-serve basis for the Grand Finale rounds.
10. Karaoke with prerecorded lead vocals for duets are not allowed in any round.

1. A panel of judges will individually score a performance based on the following criteria:
   • Tonal Accuracy
   • Sense of Rhythm
   • Lyrics
   • Tonal Quality
   • Diction, Articulation & Pronunciation
   • Feel of the prsentation
   • Mastery, Feel & Overall Presentation Style
2. Judges will be allowed to comment but not reveal the scores they have recorded on the scoring sheet provided.
3. Judges will score and rank the current performance based on all previous performances.
4. The judges’ score will have 100% weightage.
5. In case of a tie, the average of the judges’ ranks of the contestants tied will be considered.
6. For the Championship round, Audience Choice will be considered for breaking ties if ties cannot be broken using rule 9.5. The methodology for determining the Audience Choice will be announced prior to the Championship round.
7. The methodology for aggregating the judges' score will be announced prior to the competition rounds.
8. In all cases the decision of the Judges’ Panel will be final.

1. All contestants are required to pay a registration fee to enter the competition. The applicable registration is $20for juniors and $30 for adults as defined in Section 02.
2. Contestants and register and make online payment at the Atlanta Indian Idol website. Click here to register.
3. Deadline  to Register: Please visit our website at https://atlantaindianidol.org/ for competition timelines.

1. Certificate of Participation (upon request)
2. Attractive trophies will be awarded to the Champions, 1^st Runners-up and 2^nd Runners-up from each group outlined in Section 2.
3. Cash prizes will be awarded to the Champions, 1^st Runners-up and 2^nd Runners-up from each group outlined in Section 2.
4. Other categories of awards will be announced at a later date.
5. The top contestants from both categories will be provided with opportunities to sing in various IACA programs throughout the year.
6. It is very likely that one of the Indian media channels will cover the program and may open up opportunities to participate in other national and international programs.

1. IACA Atlanta Indian Idol will have the right to all the performances and may decide to use audio/video/images from the competition for promotion and publicity at their will.
2. IACA Atlanta Indian Idol Contest organizers have the right to amend rules of the competition at any time as they may be necessary. However, no rules will be modified to favor or disfavor a contestant.
3. All participants agree that they shall treat the judges’ decisions as final. This is one of the major conditions for participating in this contest.
4. Registering for the contest will imply that you will agree to the Rules & Regulations of the competition.