Four months of rigorous competition, hard work and scores of votes later, 13-year-old Shivpuri resident Keshav Tyohar has bagged the runner-up prize on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs, the singing reality show for kids on Zee TV.
With the win, the teenager - whose favourite singer is Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan - has become the first child from Bihar to reach the top-5 of any music reality show in the country.
Udit Narayan handed over a trophy and Rs 3 lakh prize money to the young champ. Even though he hasn't managed to win the competition, Patna boy Keshav has won a contract with Zee TV for bringing out his own music album.
The show's last episode was recorded on Wednesday and the grand finale will be telecast at 8pm on Saturday. So, tune in to find to whom Keshav lost the competition.
Securing second place has not dampened the teen's mood. Ecstatic, he said: "I did not expect to be named the runner-up because if I didn't, it would have hurt a lot. But now, I feel on top of the world. I am really grateful to my fans, who voted for me and liked my singing. All I can say to them is a big heartfelt thank you, for helping me achieve my dream."
The four-month competition has also got Keshav many new friends. The bonding among the contestants was hard to miss. "We were competing against each other but we were like a family. These four months have been very precious for me and I cannot ever forget this time. I got a chance to interact with so many different people, devoted to music, and had our moments of joy and sorrow. I will return to Patna on March 23 and I am thrilled to think how my family, friends, relatives and fans would react," said Keshav, who studies in Delhi Public School.
His alma mater is also waiting for him eagerly. B. Vinod, the school principal, said: "I expected him to win the musical contest because he really deserved it. His classical music background really helps him a lot in singing. I extend my congratulations to Keshav and his family. We will honour him when he returns to school."
After his Li'l Champs experience, the teenager now wishes to become a music director and learn to play different instruments (he already plays the tabla, guitar, dholak, keyboard piano and congo).
He said: "I want to study sound engineering after doing Plus Two. On the show, I learnt a lot about voice modulation, apart from the technical aspects of singing, interaction with audience and expressions. It was a golden opportunity for me to meet singers like Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Monali Thakur, Mika Singh, Alka Yagnik, Asha Bhosle and learn techniques from them. I have also created my own website (www.musicstudiokt.plays-guitar.com) and uploaded my songs on them. In future, I want to write my own songs and compose music."
The best moment for the 13-year-old was although when Asha Bhosle, a special guest on one of the episodes, praised him for hitting the proper notes in his rendition of Beeti Na Bitai Raina (from Parichay).
Keshav's family is delighted with his success. His businessman father Rahul, who accompanied Keshav to Mumbai and stayed there for the past four months, said: "I am extremely proud of my son. I am delighted that the audience appreciated his performance and voted for him."
