Exactly six years ago, Soujanya Bhagavathula sang ‘Gundeylona Nindukunna / Ne Guruthu Lega vupirayye/ Innalu’ for ‘Arjun Reddy’. The song which roughly means “Memories of you, which my heart is filled with / Became my source of life all these days” can easily describe the feelings she is going through right now.
Soujanya currently is a participant in ‘Telugu Indian Idol’. This week she was one of the nine participants who got a chance to perform in front of Chandra Bose who wrote the Oscar-winning song ‘Naatu Naatu’. The lyricist had promised to gift his pen with which he wrote the song for ‘RRR’ to the best performer.
Soujanya wowed the audience and the judges with her performance and won the pen as a token of appreciation from the noted songwriter.
Talking to ‘Deccan Chronicle’ exclusively, Soujanya, who is from Vizag, said, “When he announced that he is going to gift the pen, we all were very excited and eager to perform our best. I did not expect at all that I would be getting it because everyone was equally competent. Therefore, I was very happy when I got it (the pen) and his blessings.”
On what she plans to do with the gift, Soujanya said, “There is no ink in it. I do not want to replace the refill and start writing. I want to frame it and hang it on a wall in my house and tell everyone that it is such a precious pen.”
Recalling the recent episode in which composer Koti appeared, Soujanya said, “I was given an extra challenge. He had composed a fresh song recently and wanted me to try it. I had never heard that song. It was a nice experience that was relatable to the actual industry. We all want to become playback singers and this is how every singer will be getting songs when we go to the studio.”
When asked about her participation in the show as she has already sung for movies, Soujanya said, “After ‘Arjun Reddy’, there was a long gap. I wanted to come back with the proper playback which I dreamt of. I realized that the wave that ‘Arjun Reddy’ had created had died down. People knew the song but didn’t know who had sung it. So, I wanted to resume my career which I left five years back.”
On being a Telugu Indian Idol, she said, “I do not particularly aim to win the title. I always wanted exposure and felt that this is the right platform. I always wanted to learn more and a reality show is one such opportunity.”
