Navyajyoti is making a mark with her playback singing and stage shows. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 7: Navya really wanted to dance. But she became a rather successful playback singer at a very young age instead.

Hers is a fresh voice in the Odia film industry and it looks like she’s here to stay.

The 23-year-old Navyajyoti, better known as Navya, has made her mark in playback singing and stage shows with her contralto voice.

Western touch to the way she sings adds to the attraction.

Although dancing was her first love, the youngster now dreams to make it big in playback singing.

Born in Calcutta and brought up in Berhampur, Navya’s journey to the recording studio has been full of unexpected twists and turns.

“I was a member of the school choir, but that was it. I never gave singing a thought, let alone dream of becoming a singer as a schoolgirl. My friends, though, always encouraged me to pursue singing as a career. It was dance that attracted me. I would imitate the steps of the most popular dance numbers at home. That made me a good dancer. During Plus Two, I even trained school students at summer camps as a dance teacher,” said Navya.

It was her parents who always wanted her to sing on stage.

“My father would always persuade me to try my luck at reality shows for singing. So, I took part in the first season of ETV’s Amari Swara in 2009. Despite being untrained in any form of singing, I made it to the semi-finals and won great support of mentors such as well-known music director Prem Anand and Gudly Rath,” she said.

After that, the offers for albums and stage shows started pouring in. But it was Gudly Rath, who gave Navya the dream break in his first film as a music director — Aa Re Saathi Aa.

Navya has been charming listeners ever since, with popular numbers such as Billo Rani and other hit item songs that followed.

“Yet, I am more popular as a stage performer and I love interacting with the crowd,” said the singer, who has performed in many cities outside the state, such as Shillong, Calcutta, Vizag, Hyderabad and so on.

Now, she wants to try her hand at romantic songs. “I am a big fan of Asha Bhosle and Sunidhi Chauhan. I listen to their songs and practise karaoke. Recently, I took classes in Hindustani music. Now, I practise the few ragas I learnt to improve my voice.”

Navya’s dream is now to get to Bollywood and she has already got a few offers from the South Indian film industry.

“Since I am a Telugu, I can pick up the South Indian languages easily. I hope this will help me take my career a step ahead,” she signed off.