MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television's 'Indian Idol 9' contestants got the opportunity to interact with someone special. The person behind this encounter was a vocal coach, Anand Sharama who is the reason behind their well trained and melodious voice. He surprised the contestants by organizing a meeting with Shri Pandit Jasraj Ji, a mesmerizing classical singer and also his grandfather.

It was a moment that would remain with them forever. A visibly excited LV Revanth said, “I feel blessed to have received a chance to sing in front of Pandit Jasrajji and learn from him and all this was possible only because of Anand Sir and the crew of ‘Indian Idol’. He is a legend and showed simplicity, humanity and hospitality. Panditji patiently heard each of us. A tip he shared with us was that in this world, no one is perfect. Keep working hard and practice harder because there is no winner or loser. I sang ‘Laal Ishq’ in front of Panditji and he told me, ‘Jeete Raho’. As a token, he gave us all a shawl which is more like an Oscar or my first Bollywood Award.”

Malvika Sundar says, “Myself and fellow contestants received the golden opportunity to sing before him and this was possible only because of Anand Sir. I sang a Carnatic piece and he loved it and after I finished the song he said, ‘Jio’. His whole family was extremely down to earth and we had the privilege of having dinner with him. Meeting such a legend and his humbleness taught us how grounded and thankful we should be in life no matter how big we become. In the end, he said that winning the Indian Idol title aside, the focus and main thing is to keep trying in life and that talent this time is like never before.”