Biswajit Mohapatra, a playback singer from Odisha’s Bhawanipatna enthralled the audience and judges with his power-packed performance in Indian Idol Season X aired on Sony TV. This is the second time that the former photo journalist will be seen in the show after reaching the Top 40 in its previous season in 2016. He was also the runner-up in another singing reality show ‘Voice of Odisha’ on a regional television channel in 2012. So far, this 26-year-old has lent his voice in about 12 Odia films and music solos.
Trained in Hindustani, classical, and western music, the young lad dedicates hours for his passion and has his eyes set for the jackpot. Orissa POST interacts with the singing sensation. Excerpts:
Describe your Indian Idol journey
Getting into the show for the second time was really an uphill task for me. Last time I could not make it so far but this time, with my luck and guitar I’m in the Top 14. And as the adage goes—Success doesn’t come easy. I practice for seven hours a day. I seek knowledge and techniques of different genres of music.
Has the runner-up title in reality show ‘Voice of Odisha’ made it is easy for you to get a seat in Indian Idol
Of course! I don’t deny it. I have learned a lot in that reality show and explored a whole lot about music. Feedbacks from prominent musical personalities served as motivations for me in my pursuit of excellence.
Do you think winning a reality show is a must to be a good singer?
First you have to be a good singer but performing in a reality show tests you to your limits. In this age, if you are on television and you make the cut for a winner, you are a superstar overnight.
What is your plan after winning the contest?
I don’t have any plans. I just want to learn and grow as a person to become a better artist. I want improvement to be my constant, do quality work and carve a deeper niche in the music industry. Like everyone else, I too aspire to take a plunge in the city of dreams Mumbai and live my passion.
Does hard work solely contribute to winning in the show or are there other factors too?
Every show is designed to entertain the viewers. Every contestant gives out his/her best but there are several other contributing factors like voting by the viewers, eliminations and several others. They add a tinge of salt and make the show entertaining which they ought to be. The pressure, the thrill, the surprises and the adrenaline rush in the contestants, all of these make the competition very tough. Imagine crores watching you on television or you performing in front of the likes of Anu Mallick, Neha Kakkar and Vishal Dadlani. It’s exciting and an arduous task too. But yes, it all zeroes down to discipline and persistence. Hope this discipline and hard work will amplify my energy whenever I am on the stage so that I keep delivering my best always.
Many reality show winners had a short-lived moment in the industry, what is your opinion on this?
Winning a reality show doesn’t guarantee you success throughout your career. You still have to struggle hard, practice more and more and never less. Indian Idol is a catalytic process, it gives you a head start, a buffer so to say. If you want to remain in the thoughts of the public, you have to toil harder and harder, simple!
Who do admire the most, who gives you inspiration?
My mother was the one who introduced me to music in my childhood but still I was not much involved in it. It was when I started learning the guitar, I slowly developed an interest in music. Speaking of inspiration, I would say it’s my elder brother Satyajit. However, I proudly say that I worked with popular music composer Prem Anand (chuckles), and he is an inspiration for me too.
What’s your most memorable experience during your journey in Indian Idol X?
I can’t single out any moment, everyday has something special for me to gift. What can I say? But as you have asked, I would say when I visited the recording studio of Vishal Sir, I was bewitched or when I meet my favourites like Ash King, Javed Ali or Kailash Kher or Jubin or Amit Mishra at the sets.
Soyong,OP