Reality TV contestants who made it big in the music industry
Indian singing reality shows are a sensation in the television space. Not only they are a great entertainment source for the audience but are also a podium for the upcoming artists to show their talents. Shows like Indian Idol, The Voice India, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Rising Star and India’s Raw Star have a massive following from where every year we witness number of emerging artists spreading their wings and making it to the music industry by showcasing their skills in music.
Here are some of these singers who have started their careers as contestants of the singing reality shows and have managed to enthrall the audience with their magnificent voices-
1. Arijit Singh
Who doesn’t know Arijit Singer, who is one of the most famous singers in India. But what might come as a surprise is that he also started his career when he participated in the contemporary reality show, Fame Gurukul in 2005. Also known as the king of playback singing, Arijit Singh has a huge fan base all around the world especially in countries India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. He’s also the recipient of a National Award and six Filmfare Awards and one of the most followed Asian soloist on Spotify. His rich texture and depth in voice is what made him an overnight sensation after the release of his songs “Tum Hi Ho” and “Chahu Mai Ya Na”. He preforms live with his orchestra which is a sight one must experience at least once.
2. Rahul Vaidya
Rahul Vaidya is a prominent Indian singer whose music career began after he appeared on the music reality show Indian Idol. He was a loved contestant, who finished third on the first season of Indian Idol. He has sung many Bollywood songs like, “Chunar Chunar”, “God Promise Dil” and many more. Rahul is also known for appearing on the reality shows like Bigg Boss 14 and Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 11, where he managed to make huge fan base. He renditions of the old songs is something which must be witnessed.
3. Neha Kakkar
The Indian pop sensation Neha Kakkar who can also be called the Queen of Bollywood Remixes, is one of the best Indian female singers whose hard work and talent has paved the way to her massive success. In 2005, she participated in the second season of the famous Indian singing reality show, Indian Idol. She has given some of the biggest hits to the Indian music scene and continues to mesmerize people with her breathtaking, bold and effortless vocals. She has a way of making the crowd groove with her chirpy, distinctive and unique voice and her shows and concerts are nothing less than a party.
4. Darshan Raval
Darshan Raval came to prominence after he became the first runner-up in the music reality show, India’s Raw Star in 2014 and with the released of his song, Pehli Mohobbat which was an instant hit. Launched by Himesh Reshammiya in Bollywood, he quickly gained massive following and was much loved for his distinctive voice and impressive songwriting. He also makes independent music and tours around the world to perform live. His talent and music a something that cannot go unnoticed.
5. Armaan Malik
Armaan Malik is a distinguished singer and songwriter who started his journey in singing when he took part in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs in 2006. He went on to judge The Voice India in 2019 and has earned widespread acclaim for his style of singing. He has won numerous awards including Indian Television Academy Awards, Michi Music Awards, Filmfare R. D. Burman Award, Global Indian Music Academy Awards and many more. He is one of those artists who have introduced himself to the global music industry by singing English songs which went on to become chart topping hits. His voice has a serene and breathtaking quality to it which you can’t get tired of no matter how much you listen to it.
6. Harshdeep Kaur
Popularly known as “Sufi Ki Sultana” because of her soulful Sufi renditions, Harshdeep Kaur has made a mark for herself in the music industry. She started off by winning two reality shows titles and is now known for reviving Punjabi folk and creating a splash with her soulful voice. She has performed all around the world with some of the biggest music artists in the country including A.R. Rahman and Himesh Reshammiya. She has also regularly appeared on television and has judged some of the biggest singing reality shows like, The Voice. She is also the only singer who has appeared on four seasons of Coke Studio (India) on MTV. Her list of achievements is endless and so is her talent.
7. Monali Thakur
Monali Thakur’s singing career began after she appeared on the 2nd season of the Indian reality show, Indian Idol, where she came 9th. After the show, the singer went on to become one of the most popular and respected singers of Bollywood. She also won the National Film Awards and the Filmfare Awards. Her songs “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage” and “Sawaar Loon” are some of the biggest hits of Bollywood. Her soulful and melodious voice has the power of making any event into a music heaven for the audience.
8. Nakash Aziz
Nakash Azis is an Indian singer who participated in the season 2 of Indian Idol. Although he was eliminated after making it to the top 28. He was much noticed and appreciated for his talents. Known for his chart-topping hits “Jabra Fan”, “Sari Ke Fall Sa” and “Gandi Baat”, he has managed to steal the hearts of the people with his bold and unique voice. He sings in Hindi and other regional languages like Kannada, Telegu, Tamil, Bengali, and Gujarati. He has also worked with A.R. Rahman on many famous films. He is known for performing LIVE in colleges and parties.
9. Salman Ali
Salman Ali is a popular Indian singer who won the 10th season of Indian Idol and was also the first runner-up in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs. He has sung in various Bollywood movies like Dabangg 3, Sui Dhaaga, and Satellite Shankar. His mighty and magical voice has graced various live music sets and he continues to be a versatile singer in the Industry. Salman’s superior tone quality has vowed the audience while his performances feel like you’re in a party.
10. Anushka Patra
Anushka Patra is a versatile singer who is best known for participating in singing reality shows Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs and Indian Idol 13. She sings in both Hindi as well as Bengali languages and has managed to make an impact on the audience with her melodious voice. She not only made the judges shocked and mesmerized with her performance but also the audience. Known for her breathtaking vocals, she is one of the upcoming talents that is only running to rule the music industry.
11. Mohammed Irfan
Mohammed Irfan has given Bollywood numerous hits. He was a contestant of the shows Star Voice of India and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge and went on to sing songs like Banjaara, Baarish, Phir Mohabbat and many more. He has a soft voice which make his live performances so serene that you just want to drop everything and listen. He is another singer who made an impression on the reality show and later got noticed for his songs in Bollywood.
12. Antara Mitra
Antara Mitra is another Bollywood singer who gained recognition after appearing on the singing reality show Indian Idol 2 in 2006. Her songs like Gerua and Janam Janam were chart topping hits and got her a significant amount of following. She does live shows all around the country and after listening to her magical voice, anyone can say that her voice is blessed with genuine melody. Her timeless, sweet voice and the incredible confidence on stage stands out from others which makes her so unique and a great listen.
These Indian singers entered reality shows to show their skills and talent and have managed to rule not only the music space and also our hearts with nothing but music.
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