lil champs contestant earning $100000

A NINE-year-old Fiji student is today walking on sunshine after winning a $100,000-plus contract to sing for a global television audience of over 500-million people in 130 countries.

The elfin Class Four student of Suva's Saint Anne's Primary School is determined to top that by becoming a Bollywood babe and promoting the virtues of her adopted country.

Rupali Mohindra has been flown to Mumbai, India, with mum Madhvi for the sing off in Film City, the studio renowned for churning out generations of Hindi movie and music stars.

She has been signed by Zee TV for its popular musical reality show Sa Re Ga Ma program that is regularly aired here on pay television services.

For Rupali, who came to Fiji as a three-month-old infant in her mother's arms, it is a dream come true and the proudest moment of her young life.

Equally proud is dad Vikram, who brought his family to Fiji from India six years ago to take up a work contract with a Suva-based chemical firm.

As Rupali and mum celebrated making the cut in Mumbai, dad Vikram and elder sister Mrinalini, 14, who won a Kula Film Award two weeks ago, toasted them from the family home here.

The nightingale-voiced Rupali has chosen Tumhi dekho na from the Hindi movie Kabhi Alvida Na Kahena and Jungle me bole koyal from the movie Taal.

An obviously excited but nervous Rupali said before leaving for the final auditions in India last week, "I practice every morning and sometimes I rehearse with the harmonium at home.

"I chose these two songs because I feel I will be able to bring out the feeling in them.

"My friends at school know about this and they are very excited for me," she said.

Rupali said her parents heard about the competition aired on Zee TV and encouraged her as she was forever singing away at home.

So the family pitched in, dad Vikram organising the recording of four songs on an audio compact disc.

That demo disc was sent to Zee TV Singapore, which looks after the Asia-Pacific region.

The Little Champs competition sponsored by the Indian-based Hero-Honda motorcycle joint venture, targets children from nine to 12 years.

With over 500 entrants from across the world, Rupali and her family were over the moon at the all expenses paid to Mumbai. Just making the cut meant a one-year contract with Zee TV and the equivalent of $100,000 in rupees.

She flew out on October 3 to take part in a series of auditions that weaned the final 50 contestants down to nine.

Early Friday morning, dad Vikram took the call from his little darling that she had made the cut as one of nine winners.

Yesterday began the start of the sing-off as shooting started for Sa Re Ga Ma.

People subscribing to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) pay TV can watch the elimination round live this week. Viewers on Sky Pacific have to wait a fortnight before Rupali's segment will be aired.

Sa Re Ga Ma usually airs at 7.30pm on Sundays and Mondays.

"It is with great pride Rupali is telling one and all she is from Fiji," Vikram raved in Suva yesterday.

"We will give her all the encouragement she wants.

"It may mean she will have to stay in India until January. After that we will have to decide our future but I am already thinking of settling here permanently," the operations manager with Gremm Chemicals said

But Rupali's success comes as no surprise. Mum Madhvi has a Masters in Classical Music and is the Hindi program director with PBS.

Sister Mrinalini impressed ZEE TV executives as well but missed out because of the 12-year-old ceiling set for the Little Champs competition.

She too is testing her vocal skills after winning the Kula Film Award.

The Sa Re Ga Ma is a popular singing contest where the lucky few proudly proclaim where they come from.

During the show contestants are divided into groups of three or four and asked to sing a number that starts from the last word of the song the contest host has sung.

Each week, over nine weeks, a contestant will be eliminated from the show until only the best is left.

He or she is then guaranteed a TV deal and a fast-track to Bollywood. And that is Rupali's dream.

Originally posted by: Jaadoogar

Already won the contract.. 😕

i guess all the top 9 are put on channel contracts
like they have for top 3 of lil champs 2005