India's Got Talent Season 9 (2022) marked a pivotal shift for the franchise, moving from Colors TV to Sony Entertainment Television. Premiering on January 15, 2022, and concluding on April 17, 2022, the season was celebrated for its revamped format and a diverse array of contestants that pushed the boundaries of traditional performance. The Judging Panel and Host
The season featured a fresh mix of veteran presence and new perspectives:
Kirron Kher: The show’s mainstay, returning for her ninth consecutive season.
Shilpa Shetty Kundra: Added elegance and technical critique to the panel.
Badshah: Representing contemporary music and performance, he frequently motivated contestants with his energetic style.
Manoj Muntashir: The lyricist and screenwriter brought a poetic and narrative depth to the judging.
Arjun Bijlani: The popular television actor served as the season's charming and witty host. Winners: Divyansh and Manuraj
In a historic finale, the duo Divyansh Kacholia (beatboxer) and Manuraj Singh Rajput (flautist) were crowned winners. Their collaboration was particularly revolutionary because they were two solo musicians who met and paired up during the audition rounds to find a unique, modern-meets-classical sound.
Grand Prize: They received a trophy, a cash prize of ₹20 lakh, and a brand-new car.
Significance: Their win was hailed as a victory for instrumentalists in India, moving musicians from the background to the center stage. Season Highlights and Top Finalists
The season featured several standout acts that earned the coveted Golden Buzzer and widespread public acclaim:
Ishita Vishwakarma: The soulful singer from Jabalpur finished as the 1st runner-up.
Bomb Fire Crew: A high-energy dance group from New Delhi who secured the 2nd runner-up spot.
Warrior Squad: A gymnastics and calisthenics group from Gurugram known for their gravity-defying stunts.
Demolition Crew: An acrobatic dance group from Maharashtra that consistently shocked the judges with their bold acts.
Rishabh Chaturvedi: A classically trained singer who reached the final seven. The Revamped Format Season 9 introduced several "Got Talent" firsts: india%27s got talent season 9
Simplified Judge Cuts: The long judge-cut episodes were reduced to a brief 10-minute discussion, allowing the show to move quickly into the competition phase.
Golden Buzzer in Quarter-Finals: This season became the first in the global franchise to allow judges to use the Golden Buzzer during the quarter-finals to show extreme appreciation for an act.
Reimagined Quarter-Finals: Only 14 contestants (including 8 Golden Buzzer recipients from auditions) moved into a weekly competition format. Celebrity Guest Appearances
The stage was graced by numerous Bollywood legends and contemporary stars throughout the season, including: Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org
Flute and beatbox duo Divyansh and Manuraj won the ninth season of India's Got Talent, which aired on Sony Entertainment Television from January 15 to April 17, 2022, and was judged by Kirron Kher, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Badshah, and Manoj Muntashir. The 28-episode season, hosted by Arjun Bijlani, featured notable performances from runner-up Ishita Vishwakarma and the Bomb Fire Crew. For more details, visit Wikipedia.
The ninth season of India's Got Talent (IGT 9) premiered on January 15, 2022, marking the show's significant move from Colors TV to Sony Entertainment Television (SET India)
. This season concluded on April 17, 2022, after 28 episodes of showcasing diverse talent from across the country. Season 9 Overview
Title: The Spectacle of Diversity: A Critical Analysis of Narrative Strategies and Cultural Representation in India’s Got Talent Season 9
Abstract This paper examines the ninth season of the reality television franchise India’s Got Talent (IGT), focusing on its thematic shift towards "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) and the construction of a unified national identity through diversity. By analyzing the selection of winners, the judging panel's discourse, and the editing techniques employed during the broadcast, this study argues that Season 9 moved beyond mere entertainment to function as a soft-power vehicle for nationalist sentiment. The paper explores how the show balanced traditional variety formats with modern digital consumption habits, ultimately presenting a curated vision of Indian talent that prioritizes social uplift narratives over pure skill-based competition.
1. Introduction Reality television has long served as a mirror for societal values, often amplifying prevailing cultural and political discourses. India’s Got Talent (IGT), part of the global Got Talent franchise, has historically provided a platform for acts ranging from classical dance to extreme stunt work. However, Season 9, which aired in 2022, marked a distinct evolution in the show's narrative framework. This paper analyzes Season 9 through the lens of media studies, investigating how the season utilized the "rags-to-riches" trope and patriotic imagery to foster a specific brand of nationalistic entertainment.
2. The Judges: Star Power and Relatability A significant shift in Season 9 was the composition of the judging panel, featuring veteran actress Kirron Kher, rapper Badshah, actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra, and former cricketer Virender Sehwag.
3. The Narrative of "Atmanirbharta" (Self-Reliance) The defining moment of Season 9 was the victory of the Divyansh and Manuraj duo. These two musicians, hailing from different states (Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) and playing different instruments (Flute and Percussion), were presented as the embodiment of a "New India."
4. Emotional Capital and the "Backstory" Economy Reality TV relies heavily on emotional engagement. Season 9 doubled down on the "backstory economy," where a contestant's struggle is often given equal weight to their performance.
5. Production Values and Digital Integration Season 9 aired on Sony TV but faced the challenge of a rapidly digitizing audience.
6. Criticism and Limitations While successful in ratings, Season 9 faced criticism regarding the subjective nature of judging. The dichotomy between "talent" and "story" often led to debates on social media regarding whether more skilled technical acts were eliminated in favor of those with more "television-friendly" sob stories. India's Got Talent Season 9 (2022) marked a
7. Conclusion India’s Got Talent Season 9 succeeded not merely by displaying skill, but by constructing a narrative of aspirational Indianness. By crowning Divyansh and Manuraj, the show validated a version of Indian identity that is syncretic, self-made, and rooted in tradition yet modern in presentation. The season stands as a case study in how global reality formats are localized to reflect domestic socio-political currents, proving that in Indian television, talent is rarely judged in a vacuum—it is judged through the lens of struggle, unity, and national pride.
Keywords: Reality Television, Cultural Representation, India's Got Talent, Media Studies, Nationalism, Narrative Strategies.
India's Got Talent Season 9: A Celebration of "Gazab Desh ka Ajab Talent"
India's Got Talent Season 9 premiered on January 15, 2022, on Sony Entertainment Television, bringing a fresh wave of diverse performances to the "Got Talent" stage. The season, which aired every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM, concluded with its grand finale on April 17, 2022, crowning a unique musical duo as its winners. The Winning Duo and Prize Money
The beatboxing and flautist duo Divyansh Kacholia and Manuraj Singh Rajput were declared the winners of Season 9. Interestingly, both arrived at the auditions with different partners but were eventually paired together, creating a "revolutionary" partnership that dominated the season.
If you need the winner's name, finalists, or specific episode details, let me know.
India's Got Talent Season 9 (2022) is generally reviewed as a refreshing turning point for the franchise, marked by a move to a new network and a major shift in the competition format. Key Highlights & Format Changes Network Shift : This was the first season to air on Sony Entertainment Television after moving from Colors TV. Unique Format : It became the first in the global Got Talent
franchise to introduce a completely redesigned progression where only
(including Golden Buzzers) advanced directly from auditions to the quarter-finals. Golden Buzzer Impact
: The Golden Buzzer was used more as an appreciation tool in the later stages, as those recipients originally bypassed several rounds to enter the Top 14 immediately. The Winners: Divyansh & Manuraj
The season concluded on April 17, 2022, with the beatboxer and flautist duo Divyansh Kacholia and Manuraj Singh Rajput being crowned winners. Performances
: Reviewers and audiences highly praised their "revolutionary" fusion of traditional Indian flute with modern beatboxing, often leaving the judges mesmerized.
: They took home a winner's trophy, a new car, and a cash prize of ₹20 lakh. Judges and Talent Diversity
: The season featured a new judging lineup including veterans Kirron Kher Shilpa Shetty Kundra , joined by Manoj Muntashir Act Variety
: Viewers noted a high standard of diverse acts, including the acrobatic Warrior Squad crew, hair aerial dancer , and sand animator Nitish Bharti Viewer Sentiment According to IMDb user reviews Title: The Spectacle of Diversity: A Critical Analysis
, the show is praised for showcasing the raw, visible talent from "every street of India." However, some fans noted the significantly shortened "judge cuts" (reduced to a 10-minute segment) as a major change from previous seasons. Top 14 finalists and their specific acts from this season?
India’s Got Talent Season 9 returned as a vibrant showcase of India’s diverse performing arts, blending tradition and modernity on one stage. Over the course of the season, performers from villages, small towns and big cities brought fresh energy—acrobats, classical dancers, beatboxers, magicians, comedians and experimental theatre—each act reflecting distinct local cultures while aiming for universal appeal.
Highlights
Cultural impact Season 9 underlined India’s pluralism: acts rooted in local rituals gained national attention, encouraging renewed interest in endangered art forms and providing touring and collaboration opportunities. The show also amplified conversations about artistic livelihoods, access to training, and the economics of performance in smaller towns.
Production and judging With production values elevated—tighter narratives, sharper lighting design and immersive staging—the season balanced spectacle with respect for performers’ craft. Judges played a crucial role, offering a mix of technical critique and emotional encouragement that helped contestants refine their acts for broader audiences.
Overall assessment India’s Got Talent Season 9 succeeded as both entertainment and cultural platform. It celebrated diversity, promoted creative fusion, and provided tangible career momentum for standout performers. While some segments favored spectacle over depth, the season’s strongest moments were those that married technical excellence with authentic storytelling—acts that stayed with the viewer after the lights went down.
Here’s a helpful, structured report on India’s Got Talent Season 9 (2022), covering key details, winners, highlights, and viewing tips.
When a show runs for nearly a decade, two things usually happen: either the audience gets bored of the repetitive format, or the producers find a way to reinvent the wheel. India’s Got Talent (IGT), the flagship reality competition on Sony Entertainment Television, has defied the odds. India’s Got Talent Season 9 was not just another season; it was a cultural reset. It proved that the country’s well of hidden talent is bottomless, ranging from death-defying aerial acts to soul-stirring vocal performances that left Bollywood legends teary-eyed.
Premiering to massive fanfare, IGT Season 9 became a trending topic on social media week after week. But what made this specific season stand out in the crowded reality TV landscape of 2022-2023? Let’s break down the acts, the judges, the controversies, and the life-changing moments that defined the season.
A classical Veena player (Agt) and a Dubstep EDM producer (Veena) created a genre called "Classical Trap." The sight of a traditional Carnatic instrument dropping a bass beat was so visually and sonically shocking that the performance clip garnered 50 million views on YouTube within a month.
The winner of India’s Got Talent Season 9 was Divyansh & Manuraj (The Danger Duo).
In a first for IGT history, a pure "danger/stunt" act won the entire competition, beating out traditional singers and dancers. Their finale act involved fire, water, blindfolds, and a precise arrow shot that split a rope holding a chandelier.
Badshah declared, "You didn't just win a trophy; you proved that Indian reality TV is ready for real risk."
Runner Up: Hemanth & Nainika (The Dance Duo). Second Runner Up: The Shadow Kings (Shadow Theatre).
Debjit Raj, the singing sensation, placed 4th, but signed a playback singing contract with T-Series immediately after the show, proving that winning isn't everything.