Abhijeet's cousin aims for Indian Idol 2

Selected for round two

Amit is a SYJC (Arts) student at Patkar College, Goregaon. "I sang Tu Hi Re from the film Bombay in the first round and was selected," says Amit. "In the next round, in front of the judges Anu Malik, Sonu Nigam and Farah Khan, I again sang Tu Hi Re.

On that particular day, however, they thought I was not exactly hitting the high notes. They asked me to sing any other song. I selected the old chartbuster Mere Mehboob. They liked it immensely.

After this they told me I was selected for the next round."

Incidentally, Amit had also taken part in the Idol contest last year. "Abhijeet went on to win the crown. But I was eliminated in the first round itself! I had rendered the title track of Kal Ho Naa Ho. I was hugely disappointed and worked hard on my voice in the last few months."

Performed with Abhijeet

Amit has been greatly interested in music and singing since childhood. "We used to all live together, with Abhijeet's family, formerly at Mahim. I studied at King George High School, Dadar. Later, my father, Dinkar, shifted home to Thakur Complex, Kandivili, where we now stay.

Abhijeet's father Shridhar continued to stay in Mahim. He is elder to my father. In fact my younger uncle, Sanjay Sawant, is also a singer. He has also performed on stage shows with Abhijeet."

Amit wants to take up professional singing post his studies. "Singing has been part of me ever since I can remember. For a while I learnt music from Ustad Maqbool Husain Khan who is also based in Kandivili. "I am convinced that I want to be a singer."

Studying for HSC

From among the judges, he is most scared of Anu Malik. "Farah and Sonu were not too harsh on me like Anuji. Anyway Anuji has always been matter-of-fact.

And when they knew that I was Abhijeet's cousin you can imagine my situation! I had to give my best shot at it," says Amit. Besides the Idol rounds, Sawant is concentrating on his studies. "I am appearing for the HSC exams. I better work hard for it as well."

And how did he perform in the various rounds? "Let the viewers see and find out."