i Rato Bhaley, Thanks for ur post. To be honest, I don't read much into his wanting to speak Nepali. However, I agree that this act has indeed tapped Nepali ego and misplaced nationalism. I too think that his focus is more towards voting mechanism than on singing and that could prove fatal. Based on a particular community's vote, he certainly cannot hope to win this contest...somebody please tell him that HE NEEDS TO PERFORM. Yes, he is an Indian by all means. This is precisely what he forgot while talking in Nepali and projecting himself as one. And this could backfire as the non-Nepalese speaking Indians might just look at it as a very communal thing. In contrast, look at Amit Paul (notwithstanding his tremendous singing capability), he has been able to present himself in a very cosmopolitan manner...what with singing in a number of Indian languages, including Nepali. In all these months on Indian Idol...only once did he speak in Bangla (language for Bengalis) when he was to dedicate a song to his grandmother...the last episode i guess, 'gustakh dil....' Perhaps, I don't have answers to all ur questions or maybe I don't want to answer them but I must say, they are all very valid questions and hope somebody will definitely send replies to them. In the end, since talent is what we are talking about...LET THE BEST MAN WIN!!! Well, now....that's anybody's guess! Thanks. Also, I dont' mean to offend anybody, please!!