LV Revanth lifts Indian Idol trophy

At the glittering finale of Indian Idol 9, Hyderabad boy L.V. Revanth was crowned winner, amidst much applause and fanfare. We caught up with the jubilant new winner, who’s pinching himself over his big win and his journey so far. Excerpts from a chat:

Is the feeling of holding the trophy sinking in yet?
It’s so surreal, honestly. I’ve never won any competition before, even though I’ve participated in a lot of reality shows down South. I’m an untrained singer. I just trusted my passion, and the hard work I invested in, eventually paid off. I felt so happy to receive the trophy from the legend Sachin Tendulkar. I thank the junta with all my heart for making me their Indian Idol. I cannot ask for anything more. The journey, right from day one, has been filled with varied emotions like joy, anxiety, fun, and nervousness. Holding this glorious trophy in my hand gives me a feeling that it was all worth it.

Your language barrier issues were well known. What gave you an edge over equally brilliant contenders like Khudabaksh and Rohit?
It was the toughest competition for me, because of the language issue. I’m unable to express myself well since I’m not fluent in Hindi. Many people used to make fun of me because my Hindi is weak. That complex somehow always stayed with me, but it never hindered my confidence or focus. Indian Idol was like a boon in many ways. They worked hard on my diction and language, and groomed me pretty well. It gave me a scope to perform exceptionally well, more than I could’ve even imagined. I always trusted myself, and the power of my voice gave me an advantage over others. Sonu (Nigam) sir always complimented me on using my voice well.

You were not just the judges’ favourite, but also had a strong connect with the audiences. Was that a prediction for your win?
Farah (Khan) ma’am said “welcome to Bollywood” and Anu (Malik) sir assured me that he will use my voice in one of his films. In fact, Anu sir is my idol. Whenever I would be low, he would uplift me with his encouraging words and support. I lost my father in a young age, but I saw him in Anu sir. I’m very grateful to all the judges for their unconditional support. Along with the judges, I would like to thank all the people who believed in me and voted for me. Even though I’m a ‘South boy’, I got tremendous support from the ‘North’ as well. Today, the whole of India knows who Revanth is. I think a lot about being a Bollywood sensation, so I just want to tell them — watch out, I’m upcoming in Bollywood.

Hyderabad is proud of you and celebrating your win. Any message for your fans?
This victory belongs to the whole of South, and the North too. Since I stay in Hyderabad, a special thanks to the people there who voted for me.

So, what do you plan to do with all the prize money you’ve received?
I have a lot of responsibilities and commitments. I will give 10 per cent to charities.