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'Amit Paul deserved to win'

It's been less than 24 hours since he won Indian Idol, but Prashant Tamang still cannot believe it. When John Abraham announced the verdict, Prashant could not hold back his tears. But he made sure his close friend and runner up Amit Paul shared his glory on stage. In this interview, the 24-year old constable from Darjeeling talks to Patcy N about the journey that culminated into this final, unforgettable moment. When my name was declared as the winner of Indian Idol 3, the first thought that came to my mind was how happy those people who voted and cheered for me would be. They must surely be feeling proud of me today. I guess I have live upto their expectations. I hail from a small village called Tungsung in Darjeeling. My dad passed away in 1992 and it was up to me to take care of my mother and two elder sisters. At that time, I was preparing for my Standard 10 examinations. I got a call to join the police force (my father was in the Kolkata police force at the time of death) in 2002. That spelled an end to my studies.

Photographs: Reuben NV

'I always underestimated myself'

I never thought of taking up singing as my career; it was just a hobby. People would say that my voice is good but I never really paid attention to it. I just sang few times in school. When I joined the Kolkata police in 2002, my colleagues encouraged me to sing. In 2005, I joined police orchestra. I heard about the Indian Idol audition and went for it after securing permission from my senior officers. I passed. I never imagined of winning. I would always underestimate myself, thinking that I was not a good singer, and could never win any competition. If not for the encouragement of my colleagues, I would not have participated in the contest. They even took care of my leave and made sure that I did not lose my job. I'm still with the (police) force.

'I've not decided on the future'

During the course of the contest, I returned to my hometown in Darjeeling. The reception shocked me. I saw so many fans -- young and old -- waiting just to get glimpse of me. Some of them even ran behind my car. I also learnt that I had fans not only from Darjeeling but also in Nepal and Sikkim, who had come to see me. That was a great moment for me. Some people from Meghalaya (where Amit Paul hails from) also supported me. For the first time, so many people stood united for one cause. That really felt good.

I know I've won. But I have still not decided on the future. I will seek my assistant commissioner's advice in this regard. He was the one who supported me. I don't know how I managed to get so many leaves but thanks to my senior officers, I did

The Unmatchable Gift : Friendship Amit Paul and Prashant Tamang together with the winning trophy... A real winner for both is the friendship and bond they have managed to get...

John Abraham Enjoying the Finale John with the Future Singing Sensations, Prashant Tamang and Amit Paul

The Maestro in Action! Annu Malek giving the audience a Grand Live Concert with his band!

A Tired John? John Abraham looks relieved and exhausted after the gruelling Finale...

Proud Owners of SX4 Prashant Tamang and Amit Paul were rewarded a Maruti Suzuki SX4....

Tamang, 24, who hails from Darjeeling, has undergone a journey from being a member in the police band in Kolkata to becoming the heart throb of millions of TV viewers all over the country.

The grand finale was an all North-East affair as Tamang took on 24-year-old Paul, who hails from Shillong.

The results of the talent hunt were announced at a gala in New Delhi with the final witnessing a whopping seven crore people sending in their votes.

Tamang stole the centrestage with his rendition of the song Yeh Kali Kali Ankhen from the Hindi film Baazigar .

As Bollywood actor John Abraham announced Tamang the winner, the constable thanked his mother in a voice choked with emotion.

"I thank my mother, public and Bengal police for granting me the permission for participating in the show," he said.

Hussain Kuwajerwala, Amit Paul & Prashant Tamang

Prashant Tamang

Amit Paul, Prashant Tamang & John Abraham

Darjeeling celebrates Prashant Tamang's victory


Text: Binu Sundas in Darjeeling
Prashant Tamang was declared the Indian Idol on September 23, after a tough fight from runner-up Amit Paul. And the win sparked much singing and dancing in Darjeeling, Sikkim, Dooars and Nepal.

Throughout the show that ran on for months, supporters were locked in a feverish race to vote. The total vote polled was seven crores, as declared by Sony Entertainment Television. However, the details of the vote garnered by the individual participants were not disclosed.

The beautiful town of Darjeeling was confident that Prashant would win, and celebrations started as early as 6pm on Sunday, when the voting closed. People started taking out rallies, and a huge crowd gathered at Chowrasta in Darjeeling. Kalimpong and Kurseong saw a gathering of more than 30,000 people. Reports of celebration also came in from Siliguri, Sikkim and Nepal.

People were so intent on celebrations that they didn't actually watch Prashant performing on television

'Prashant has come a long way'

History has been created," says Anand Moktan, a fan from Kurseong. "It is a victory for Nepalis all over the world," says Robin, another fan. "Prashant has come a long way against all odds. Nobody had given him a chance to win this coveted title," says a fan from Nepal who has come from Nepal to vote for Prashant.

'We are indebted'

The president and secretary of Prashant's fan club Tara Rai and Pradeep Pradhan respectively were mobbed by people, who wanted to congratulate them.

"We are indebted to the Nepalis all over the world and everybody who supported our endeavor to make Prashant the third Indian Idol," said Pradeep Pradhan.

'This victory is a slap to the comments passed by some of the judges and Bipasha Basu'

Cries of 'Prashant zindabad' rented the air and crackers lit up the sky. Chandra Sundas, a 65 year old fan, says, "This show of unity among the Nepalis is a reminiscent of the Nepali Bhasa Andolan of the 1970s and the Gorkhaland agitation of the 1980s." Dhiraj Mukhia, a resident of Kathmandu, says over the phone, "Kathmandu has been awake the entire night. People have been celebrating and are still celebrating." Deenkar Chettri says 'happy days for Nepalis are here again.' He adds, "Prashant achieved this feat against all odds. The judges indirectly promoted Amit Paul but our unity and determination has earned us this victory. This victory is a slap to the comments passed by some of the judges and Bipasha Basu."

'We are pleased with the mother who gave birth to such a son'

Pooja Pradhan, a student, says, "I was thinking of attending classes early this morning in Siliguri. But now that Prashant has won, I will celebrate his victory and go (for classes) on Tuesday." Moreover, people are very pleased that Prashant sang, Gorkhali ko choro ma (I am a son of a Gorkhali) in the show. By doing so, he has done a lot for the identity and recognition of Nepalis in India. People were pleased that his mother presented him with a Nepali topi soon after the result was declared. A proud Paru Sundas says, "We are very pleased with the mother who gave birth to such a son and even more pleased that she placed a Nepali topi, a symbol of our identity and pride on his head."

Prashant's victory to be celebrated like Dusheera and Diwali

Prashant has won a Rs one crore contract with Sony BMG, as well as a Maruti SX4 car. And people think that it's a fitting gift for Dusherra and Diwali. Bindhya, a fan, tells us that she plans to light her home with diyas, so that this victory is celebrated in no less a manner than Dusheera and Diwali.

Prashant, Amit charm Delhi

It was not yet 4 pm on Sunday evening, and already the lines outside the National Small Industries Corporation Ground, Okhla Industrial Estate in New Delhi, stretched endlessly into the distance. The Indian Idol for 2007 would not be crowned for several hours yet, but out there outside the venue, the crowds had set up their own impromptu competition. Fans who had flown in from Meghalaya and Darjeeling faced off, in face paint and traditional costumes, singing songs in the Kashi language of Shillong in honor of Amit Paul, while fans of Prashant Tamang who had flown down from Darjeeling responded with Nepali songs. A group of police officers from Kolkatta added an interesting element; fans and colleagues of Prashant, they had come all the way to Delhi to see him peform, and to cheer him on to the title.

Text: Patcy N in Delhi | Photographs: Reuben NV

Prashant, Amit charm Delhi

Clearly, the show has captured the national imagination. The trick with reality shows is to capture audience empathy, to get the audience to relate -- and just how successful Indian Idol has been in this regard was evident in the actions of this lady, who started dancing once she got into the hall, and kept dancing whenever Prashant took the stage. So involved was this lady in Prashant's appearances, that we figured she had to have some stake in him -- a relative, perhaps? "Oh, I am his country cousin," was her response, when she asked. That was a new one on us -- country cousin, what's that? It turned out, the lady is from the same district as Prashant -- and that was enough to create in her this sense of empathy, this identification with the talented youngster.

Prashant, Amit charm Delhi

A noticeable facet about the two finalists was the genuine camaraderie they shared. Matinee idol John Abraham, who drew the biggest cheers, referred to it repeatedly while spinning out the suspense before the final announcement of the winner -- but even if he hadn't, it was hard to miss.

Amit and Prashant both referred, repeatedly, to the close bonds they had forged during the seven months they had spent together on this show. Both said, in their own ways, that it didn't matter to them who won -- they would take as much joy in the triumph of the rival as they would in their own victory.

Amit's smile when Prashant was crowned Indian Idol was heartwarmingly genuine; he seemed delighted that his friend had taken top honours, and seemed to mean every word when he said he felt as much of a winner as Prasanth.

And when Prashant pulled Amit over to share his award, it was not the empty gesture of a PR-savvy person -- Prashant's action, and Amit's reaction, created a warm glow in those of us who watched. Their camaraderie was so genuine, so palpable, that even sponsors were not immune. Thus, Maruti Suzuki, which had planned to give the eventual winner a car from its latest SX4 range, decided at the last minute to give one to Amit, too.

In the picture: The original Idol Abhijeet Sawant performs

The two lads had, especially in the final rounds, captured the public imagination to such an extent that even though Amit lost, he was lionized just as much as if he had won.

Javed Akthar, one of the judges, took him aside while Prashant was basking in the applause, and spoke to him earnestly about concentrating on his career.

'I am always there for you,' Javedsaab told Amit. 'If you ever have a program in Shillong, or anywhere else, call me and I will always come for you.'

To his credit, Amit handled himself with an awareness far in excess of his age. After the announcement of the winner, when the two were brought to a neighboring mall for a brief interaction with the media, one fan broke through the barricades, wanting a picture taken with Amit.

His minders blocked the fan, refused to permit him to approach the youngster. But even in the midst of attending to media questions, Amit noticed the incident, broke away, brushing aside his minders and ran to where the fan was, and posed with him for the photograph. The smile on that fan's face, the cheers with which the crowd around him responded to this gesture, must have made Amit feel as much of an 'Indian Idol' as his friend and rival. In the picture: Udit Narayan, Amit Paul, Prashant Tamang, Alisha Chinnai and Anu Malik

Prashant went through the evening with the dazed look of someone who was yet to come to terms with what had happened to him. His parents were in tears from the moment their son was crowned; they hugged the judges and draped white shawls on each of them, they shook hands with everyone in sight, and the more they were felicitated, the more they cried. It will be a while before the reality of it all sinks in -- but in the interim, the two youngsters seem determined that a relationship they have forged on the anvil of incredibly tense competition will not end with the conclusion of the 2007 edition of Indian Idol.

In the picture: Idol contestant Meiyang Chang takes the mike with Alisha Chinnai

Prashant kept saying it all feels like a dream; that he had never expected to win. Amit responded by pointing out that he had, much earlier, told Prashant the two of them would make it to the final, and that Prashant would win.

"My wish is that our friendship blossoms forever, and we work together till our last breath," Amit said; an overwhelmed Prashant responded by pulling Amit into the kind of hug that drives the breath out of you. Overall, it was intriguing to see that the crowds cheered louder, far more enthusiastically, for two young men who had captured the national imagination than they did for headline performers like Anu Malik, Sukhvinder Singh, Alisha Chinai and Udit Narayan.

The exception, though, was John Abraham, whose every appearance was greeted with scenes of mass hysteria. The noise was deafening when he came on stage in the early part of the show. Promos of his upcoming film Goal were greeted with roars David Beckham would have delighted in. Each time the cameras focused on him and the image was thrown up on the big screen the crowd roared deliriously (at times, to the mystification of the performers, who couldn't figure out why their acts were being applauded before they were done).

And when he went back on stage to make the final announcement and spun the suspense out for long minutes, no one seemed to mind --

'Our friendship will never end'


I always thought that Amit (Paul) would win. He deserved to win.
Though the contest has come to an end, our friendship will not. We have told each other that if either of us wins, we will share it in the end. And I did.

The past seven months that I've spent with the participants of Indian Idol are the most memorable experiences of my life. I will always cherish the memories till I die.