Meet the SRGMP Finalists!!!

The eight finalists of Zee TV's reality show, Zee SaReGaMaPa Challenge are busy these days, attending press conferences, giving interviews, recording, rehearsing, and giving promotional shows outside Mumbai.

As the singing competition gets tougher, Rajul Hegde finds out more about the final contestants.

Sumedha Karmak, Chattisgarh

She is popularly known as Barbie doll of the show, thanks to her outfits.

She did her schooling at Weidner Memorial High School in Chattisgarh and went to college in Chandigarh, when she auditioned for the show.

In Mumbai, Sumedha was given a green card and a direct entry to the final 10.

"My confidence level was low, as I didn't get a chance to perform like other participants," she tells us.

She has been training in singing by guru Sameer Bhattacharya. She says, "I have learnt a lot from the past months. Everyday is a learning experience."

As for her most memorable moment, Sumedha says it was when (host) Aditya Narayan came on the stage after the first episode with an envelope containing a letter from Mahesh Bhatt, which said that he would give her a chance to sing in his next film.

But it was Asha Bhosle who made her cry tears of joy. "Ashaji is my idol and I was so happy to meet her when she had come as Maha judge," she recalls.

Now life has changed for Sumedha. When she returned to her hometown, Chattisgarh, she got a great reception at the airport. "A lot of people and friends were there to welcome me with drums and garlands. I attended a lot of parties and press conferences," she says.

"My friends tell me that they save canteen money just to send SMSes and vote for me which just shows how much they really love me," she adds.

"This is a wonderful opportunity and I really want to win the contest. I have already sung for Bappida (Bappi Lahiri) for the film, Tere Sangh. I will shift my base to Mumbai, learn classical music and work hard," she promises.

When Asha and Himesh fought over a song

Mussarat Abbas, Lahore

Mussarat is a big fan of Kishore Kumar and R D Burman.

"I have not gone through any formal training and started singing at the age of 10 after listening to the songs of Ghulam Ali," he says.

Mussarath auditioned from Lahore for SaReGaMaPa. "My friend told me to give the audition. I had typhoid but did not wanted to miss this opportunity. It was Ghulam Ali Khan who selected me," he says.

Mussarath has completed his degree in journalism and is now doing a diploma in music. He couldn't give his third semester exams, thanks to the show.

"When I first came to Mumbai and gave my first performance in SaReGaMaPa, I got a good response. Himeshji (Reshammiya) selected me for his gharana. I performed well every week and was in final 10," he adds.

"I went to Lahore recently and met my family and friends. My family was happy, though my friends complained that I do not call them. But they are happy for me," he continues.

He says every day is a learning experience. "I have learnt the techniques of singing here that I wouldn't have learnt anywhere else."

"Ashaji (Asha Bhosle) felt I was singing in the same style. She and Himeshji had a small argument over that. Finally, when I sang a song of her choice she was happy."

His most memorable moment was when Viday Balan, Salman Khan and Dia Mirza came on the show. "Vidya gave me the best compliment," he says.

He says he doesn't have any offers yet but if he does get one, he would sing only after getting permission from Himeshji.

Regarding the controversy when the Pakistanis refused to sing the India patriotic songs, he explains, "We had decided Pakistanis will sing Pakistani patriotic songs and Indians will sing Indian patriotic songs. I don't know where the media got the news that we refused to sing the Indian patriotic songs.

"I just want my fans to support me like they have been doing all this while," he .

I don't like how they did sumedha's hair
she looks better with her hair down
thanks for sharing

^^I know, that hairstyle would look better on me 😆 😆 Just kidding, Wheres the rest of the finalists? 😳