For those of you who subscribe to Zee TV (ahem) you know that Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is a guilty pleasure. Much better than Indian Idol or that similar Adnan Sami show, the ‘Jhee Tee Bhee’ version has some of the most talented singers you’ll hear anywhere in India. Some contestants have also started showing up from the UK and other faraway lands where desis talk phunny.

Note: For those who might be wondering what on earth ‘Sa Ra Ga Ma Pa’ means, think of it as ‘Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do.’ It’s a long-running singing competition on Indian television and one of the most-watched shows in the nation.

But more interesting than watching the contestants duke it out with their hyper-talented crooning, is to witness the spectacle of Bollywood music directors bashing each other up. This year’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa — dubbed ‘Challenge 2005′ — features 4 Bollywood music heavyweights who are coaching teams of singers and preparing them for the rigors of singing your favorite Bollywood songs from the 1940s through today. The directors: Aadesh Shrivastava, Jatin-Lalit, Himesh Reshammiya, and Ismail Darbar.

Everything was going well until recently when two judges had a major argument — shouting match actually — in front of the TV audience (and the contestants) which resulted in one of them walking off the show, perhaps permanently. Why? Their egos got in the way. They forgot the show wasn’t about them, it was about the kids who were vying for the fame and fortune of winning a competition. The bounty is sizable — the winner gets a recording contract, an apartment, and wads of cash.

So what happened? Apparently, Aadesh Shrivastav got ticked off when Ismail Darbar claimed that Aadesh’s knowledge of classical Indian music was substandard. Aadesh retaliated that Ismail, until recently, played 2nd violin (or something) in Jatin-Lalit’s orchestra, so who was he to talk trash. Entertaining, right?

I’m sure there was a lot more to it than what Zee showed. They have the annoying habit of editing out segments of audio and video, and overdubbing conversations on the shows with really cheesy music. But now the show may be down to three coaches/judges and one team of contestants is without a coach. Semi-tragic story in the making.

More on the saga here and a list of movies the music directors have composed for, below.

Aadesh Shrivastava: Brother-in-law of the Jatin-Lalit sibling duo, Aadesh is known for composing the music for Chalte Chalte, Baghbaan, and Deewaar (the new movie, not the 70s version).

Jatin-Lalit: These guys are heavyweights who have been in the game for more than 10 years. Their sickly sweet poppy sound can be heard in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum and others.

Himesh Reshammiya: I don’t know as much about this guy, but he sometimes throws in rock guitars when they’re totally unncessary. His rallying cry on the show is “LET’S ROCK!” so maybe he thinks he’s a Bollywood rock star, who knows. Anyway he did some pretty nice tunes for Blackmail, Julie (the new one, not the 70s classic), and Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya.

Ismail Darbar: Now this guy is a buffoon who thinks he’s the man. I hold him personally responsible for Aadesh’s walking off the show. Ismail is a chump who looks like a two-bit roadside paanwallah with his tinted hair and pimped out clothes. He had the gall to say he was more talented than A.R. Rehman (that claim in itself deserves a tight slap), but his uncontrollable ego and total lack of class make him insufferable. That being said, dude has written hummable ditties for a couple of mega-movies you might have heard of: Devdas, Kisna, and Hum Dil Chuke Sanam.