'I don't believe in winning or losing'

The Rediff Interview / Singer Debojit Saha

'I don't believe in winning or losing'

Patcy N | February 24, 2006

Born in Silchar, Assam, Debojit Saha came to Mumbai three years ago to pursue a career in singing. The 29-year old, who is a civil engineer and works in the Public Works Department, is now the apple of the nation's eye. He seems set to win Zee TV's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge in tonight's finals.

The only reason he is in Mumbai, he says, is his wife. On the eve of the grand finale, he speaks to Patcy N about his passion for music, his experiences at the contest and more.

"I have two elder brothers and sisters. My mother, who dreamt of me becoming a singer, is no more. When I was in class six, I was interested in drawing. But, whenever I had to draw, I needed music in the background. I don't know when I lost interest in drawing and music became my passion. After school, I began doing local shows. I auditioned for radio and television and was selected.

As I am Bengali, I am inspired by Rabindra sangeet. I have learnt a lot from old Hindi songs too. I am a big fan of Kishoreda (Kumar) and always sing his songs. My favourite song, however, is Ai Zindagi Gale Laga Le from Sadma, sung by Suresh Wadkar. Listening to them all, I have formed my own style.

I married Bandana Paul three years ago. She insisted that we settle in Mumbai. My wife is a fashion designer and, before we were married, she worked in Delhi while I was in Assam. It was a love marriage. We connected with each other because of music. We met at a function and started going to each other's houses. Though there was nothing between us when we met, we gradually started liking each other. My wife is a classical singer too, and she liked my singing.

I proposed to her in 2001. After marriage, everything in my life changed. I never thought I would leave my government job and come to Mumbai ever. But my wife was ambitious and always thought of coming and making it big here. After our marriage, she forgot her career and started taking an interest in mine. We left Assam and came to Mumbai. We had to struggle a lot for the first six months, until she got a job.

It has been almost three and half years since I came here. I tried searching for a job too, but my wife told me that doing anything apart from singing made no sense as we had left everything to come to Mumbai. So, getting a singing assignment was a one-point program. She was very supportive. After my parents, if there is anyone who has changed and influenced my life, it is Bandana.

YALGAAR HO!!!!!!

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If that is true why does he always cry when he gets less votes. Now that he knows that he is going to win, he is giving all statements. BS.....

Originally posted by: Jalapeno

If that is true why does he always cry when he gets less votes. Now that he knows that he is going to win, he is giving all statements. BS.....

How would Debu have known before the results that he would win for sure?? The author of the above article (Patsy) appears to be making a mere speculation based on voting trends.

Vinit admitted after the finals that he was shocked and disappointed with the results because he was hopeful of a victory! Your comments on that?

Well........ Many of us here already knew that Assam will vote for him like crazy. I was 100% sure that he was going to win.

Hemu and Nihira are the best and they never gave wierd statements and also they never brought their family problems into picture...... This is just my opinion.

Originally posted by: Jalapeno

Well........ Many of us here already knew that Assam will vote for him like crazy. I was 100% sure that he was going to win.

Hemu and Nihira are the best and they never gave wierd statements and also they never brought their family problems into picture...... This is just my opinion.

Debojit was the only contestant from the North-east, has become the admiration of all eyes. At first, all the excitement was limited to his home town, Silchar. But as Debojit progressed from one week to the next, emotion and sentiment have been running high all around and that what have made all NE to be united and stand behind fellow man. People of NE did not have a big celebration on musical arena since Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. The deprivation theory has turned what was earlier support for Debojit into euphoria and finally, frenzy. A different kind of campaign fever has gripped the state, and its reverberation can be heard not only in north-eastern states as well Kolkata Orissa and Bihar.

He is very humble, modest, shy, low profile, devout and down-to-earth as he was at the beginning of his career. A man of few words he believes in singing and his hard work will do all the talking. He prefers not to argue fighting it out on numerous controversies. His personality is summed up in his favour of respect and avoiding all kind of hypocrisy that is an everlasting beauty for his success. Believe it or not Debojit became big Topics in USA also and we admire his hard work, sincerity and the way he had improved week after week. It was not his fault as because people love him so that is why he ha s became the Voice of India.

YALGAAR HO!!!!!!

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