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Reaching the stars

M. P. Arun Raj and Kavitha are the winners of Asianet's `Idea Star Singer'

STAR VOICES M. P. Arun Raj and Kavitha

For M.P. Arun Raj and Kavitha, winning the title opened the door to fame, fortune and dreams coming true. It was with bated breath and a trembling heart that they awaited the results. Relief and joy was what they felt when they were announced as winners of Asianet's `Idea Star Singer.'

In his genes

"I have always wanted to be a singer," says Arun, who is a final year student of Performing Arts at Swati Tirunal College, Thiruvananthapuram. In fact music is in his blood. "My mother, Vasumathi Raj is a music teacher and my father, Prem Raj, a sound engineer." Trained in music since childhood, Arun joined the contest by chance.

"I was about to enter the examination hall when one of my college mates, the college union secretary, told me that such an event was taking place at a hotel. He told me to skip the examination and attend the event. I did," says Arun who hails from Kannur. "Unlike the others, I wasn't prepared. I did not come ready with a kitty of songs." His support system throughout the six months of grind was his friends. "As my parents were in Kannur, they could not come down due to the distance. They came only on the day the results were announced. It was my friends who helped me pick the right songs and gave me tips on how to carry and perform."

Kavitha, a final year engineering student at College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram was never a serious music student. "I enjoyed singing, but was never a regular student in my music class." She saw the advertisement in the newspaper and decided to try her luck.

Both Arun and Kavitha are now looking forward to the assignments that are coming their way. Arun is keeping his fingers crossed for his album, `Sunday' which features new comers. There is also an untitled album in which Arun has done the scores. Both Kavitha and Arun will be doing an album with music director M. Jayachandran.

LIZA GEORGE

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