Rajeev, Himani do the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa for

Each time people in Mehla Village, 12 km away from Chamba, switch on their TV sets to watch Sa Re Ga Ma Pa's Challenge on Zee TV, their faces beam with pride and affection. Because from this little village in Chamba comes Rajeev Kaushal who was selected by Adesh Shrivastav and Kalpana Lajmi to sing an alaap and a thumri in their forthcoming film, Chingari.

Owner of a little fast food joint in Mehla, Rajeev has now becomes the hero of the village. Everybody's talking about him, including the film's director, Kalpana Lajmi. Rajeev and his rakhi sister, Himani, will be doing an alaap and a thumri each for Lajmi's film.

Though he had no formal training in music, Rajeev auditioned for the challenge from Delhi after watching the ad on TV. He was selected at the first shot. "My voice is nature's gift to me and my parents. Who could have imagined that a person who runs a fast food centre would appear on TV someday? I run the fast food stall because I love cooking and love to be around young people," said Rajeev.

With latenights rehearsals becoming an everyday routine, and a change in lifestyle Rajeev is slowly beginning to miss home. "I came back after spending a week with family and friends in Mehla. I can't forget the love they showered on me. Elders from Chamba met me, organised a meeting and gave me advice on how to keep my cool and not get nervous," recollects Rajeev. "I am very happy that Aadeshji and Lajmiji thought I was capable of doing an

alaap in a movie. When Aadeshji took me to Lajmiji, all that she said was 'aapne rooh se gaana (sing from your soul).' The alaap was okayed in the first shot. Mein toh dhanya ho gaya (I feel gratified)," says Rajeev. Son of an ex-service man and a housewife, Rajeev says, "Whether I win or lose, I will give my best. If a guru has trusted me on singing an alaap, which only a trained voice can do, I will not let him down," says Rajeev confidently.