Articles..REHMAN in the finals/city nightingale

City girl Abhilasha Chellam is ecstatic about making it to the top three finalists on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa

Her voice has mesmerised the city ever since she was just a toddler. Be it in reality shows, cultural concert stages or in the confines of her home, heads have nodded to her tunes and hands have applauded her excellent command over rhythms. And today, she has kept listeners across the country glued to their seats, their minds drowned in the sweetness of her voice. Twenty-one-year-old Abhilasha Chellam is one of the three finalists of music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV and she has immersed herself in practice sessions for the big day. The finale episode will be aired on December 25.

The competition has been a tough, roller-coaster ride for her. "All the contestants were so good and everyone was out to prove their mettle. The competition has been really tough. Of course, I too put up a tough fight, which is why I've made it to the top three finalists! But there were several instances when I thought that the opportunity to win is going to just pass me by or that I am going to blow it! Thankfully, that didn't happen," she reveals.

The show has given her some of the most memorable and challenging times. One can sense the excitement in her voice as she recounts the time when A R Rahman was on the show. "I was so excited," she says, wonder-eyed. "He appreciated my singing and that turned out to be a very pretty lucky day for me overall," she smiles, happy that her talent has helped her share the stage with renowned names in the world of music.

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