Whether you have done your first stage show performance at a local talent show contest or haven’t quite had a chance to exhibit your musical or dancing skills to the world, or even if are a seasoned performer looking to get to the next stage of your music career, if you have the talent, a new show, titled, “International Indian Icon” or “3iii,” may just be the platform to turn your dreams into reality. The show, which is looking to expose the hidden Indian talent in the U.S. and Canada to the world, and establish careers in the process, is the brainchild of Indian musician Bappa Lahiri, son of internationally renowned Indian musician Bappi Lahiri, and Indian American businessman Sharan Walia, of Chicago, Ill. “I am the third-generation music director in my family, me and dad, we love music so much and this for us, was the best form in which we could give back to the society,” Bappa, who was the jury judge for “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa” in 2016 along with Pritam and Sajid Wajid, told India-West. “There are so many singers in the U.S. like Mauli Dave and others who are now settled in India and doing so well so we thought why not hunt for talent in America.” “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa” star Dave, of Texas, was also mentored by Bappi Lahiri on the singing reality show. This new reality show will group contestants into three categories: singing; dancing; and playing instruments of their choice. The entries can be for solo acts, duets or groups. The first round of online auditions, considered level 1, will screen the participants and the ones that qualify will be moved to the next level. Online public voting and a panel of judges will select the winners in each category. The judges comprise of Rahul Vaidya of “Indian Idol” fame, Bollywood singer Shibani Kashyap and Bollywood actress Anjana Sukhani. Kashyap will pick the finest musician while Sukhani will zero in on the best dancer. Vaidya will critique contestants in the music competition in the preliminary stages and Bappi Lahiri will pick the final winner. The application process is very simple, Bappa, who is handling the creatives of the show, said. All an interested candidate has to do is to pick up his/her smart phone, make a video of his/her performance and register, and upload the performance on the official website of the show. The auditions will run through April 30. The talent show is also picking state-wise icons, for example, California Indian Icon, Boston Indian Icon, etc. Bappa said that more cities will be added as they move forward. Level-1 and level-2 of the competition begin with the online auditions, from which a few would make it to level -3, which determines the “3iii” State Indian Icons in the respective categories. These competitors will then aim to reach level-4, where they will be competing with other State Indian Icons for the Indian Country Icon. Ultimately, everything boils down to level-5, in which these final few will compete for the ultimate glory, the title of International Indian Icon. Bappa, best known for composing and directing the famous song, “Tenu Le” from the 2009 film, “Jai Veeru,” followed that up with more background scores in popular films such as “Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara,” “Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam” and the Govinda and Priyanka Chopra starrer “Deewana Mein Deewana,” among others. Having showcased his talent in Bengali and Kannada cinema, Bappa’s work spans across multiple languages. As a songwriter, he has also been attached to films like “Chandni Chowk to China” and “CKkompany.” His credits also include producing “Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re,” the theme song of the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders, and several television title tracks. Bappa, a trained percussionist, who has inherited his musical genes, began his career early by learning how to play the tabla at the tender age of four. He went on to become one of the youngest drum players in India at the age of nine. He has been arranging music from the age of 14 under the tutelage of his celebrated music composer father, composing vibrant musical tracks for over 12 Hindi ?lms, including, “Acid Factory,” “Woodstock Villa” and “Zila Ghaziabad.” He is also on the path to setting up a production house in the U.S. through which he aims to produce an Indo-American film. International Indian Icon (3iii), which is an initiative of Gee Vision Inc., is envisioned as a grand reality show spread over five seasons and culminating at the end of the fifth season. Season 1 of “3iii” includes the U.S. and Canada while subsequent seasons will cover other countries with a heavy Indian population. Currently, Bappa said, Season 2 seeks to cover five European countries. The pit stops for Season 3 include Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In Season 5, the show will return home to India where the best of the best from all the countries will go head to head against the best of India for the ultimate crown. Along with a glittering trophy and a bevy of other prizes, the three International Indian Icons from the U.S. and Canada will each receive a cash prize of $2,000. The big prize, said Bappa, is an opportunity to shoot a music video set to music by the disco king himself. Additionally, he added that the winners will also get a push to get their big breakthrough in Bollywood. Another element that separates this show from its competitors is its openness to accept all nationalities, ages and languages, said Bappa, who is currently working on the show’s title track, which will be out sometime this month. “I personally feel it’s not just for Indians and Asians,” Bappa told India-West. “I think that Indian music has crossed the boundaries, and even people in the U.S. are listening to Indian music and interested in playing Indian instruments. I am really excited. We are getting people of all ages, and that’s the best part.” Bappa said while he has seen applications by only Indians so far, he is hoping Americans try their luck, too. The grand finale, which will be held in Chicago, Ill., Dec. 31, will be aired on Zee TV. For registration and more information, www.internationalindianicon.com.