Ananya Sritam Nanda from Odisha was announced the winner of Sony’s Indian Idol Junior. She was awarded the trophy by judges Sonakshi Sinha, composer Vishal Dadlani along with comedian-turned-actor Kapil Sharma. She shares her experience with us:
What was going through your mind on the day of the finale?
I wasn’t nervous or scared at all. I wasn’t expecting to win. Winning was never the reason why I came on show. I wanted to learn and Indian Idol Junior gave me an amazing platform to learn. When my name was announced I was very excited. I couldn’t believe my ears.
Tell us a little about your family. Were you homesick during the show?
I am from Bhubanesh-war. I belong to a nuclear family. I live with my parents and my elder sister. We don’t have a concrete music background. My sister learnt music when she was very young but later on discontinued it to pursue her studies. When I was part of the show, I missed home food a lot. I had never stayed away from family until then.
How did you get interested in music?
I was in Class III when I sang in school, in front of my class. My teacher was very impressed and she reached out to my parents. That’s when I started learning music. But serious training started only four years ago.
Your favourite moment from the show
It was when my name was announced in the top 13. My name was the first to be announced — I still remember the moment.
How did you juggle the show and studies?
While I was shooting in Mumbai, my teachers were in constant touch with me and I was also in touch with my best friends. My teachers and my principal were really supportive during my journey. Right now, I have to focus on my upcoming exams. As soon as I reach home, I will be taking coaching classes to catch up on missed lessons. After that, I will continue with my training for singing.
Who was your favourite judge?
Sonakshi ma’am, Vishal and Salim sir were encouraging and nice. Even when we made mistakes, they never scolded us. They made sure we learnt from our mistakes and politely corrected us.
