Musical genius A R Rahman is all set to debut on the small screen by hosting a musical reality show, The Big Band, scheduled to go on air in the first week of December.

The show to be aired on Doordarshan will bring color and liveliness to the channel, which it sorely lacks in comparison to others like Zee, Star and Sony.

Rahman has teamed up with music label Phat Phish Records to do a reality series where they will give a variety of bands a chance to get their music released as well as perform worldwide.

With the objective of hunt for potential singers in all forms of music, the Big Band show will cover a pan Asia hunt irrespective of physical, ethnic, and cultural boundaries from India to Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.

The winner band will be awarded prizes comprising cash, worth Rs 1 crore and a three-year recording contract with Phat Phish, The contract also includes releasing three albums, six music videos, tours and concerts across the globe besides mentoring from leading musicians.

A R Rahman’s tie up with Phat Phish Records aims to find not one but a few bands from across the subcontinent that thrive on originality and give them a mainstream release.

A R Rahman says, “We are really excited to expose the hidden talent in these places, especially India.”

Bands from across genres can send in their entries to Phat Phish Records over the next month and will be judged in three categories. Namely, their remake of a popular folk or mainstream tune, their rendition of a tune composed by Rahman for the series and one of their original tracks.