The finals of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa were held in Goa a few days ago and everyone was mum on the outcome. But now that the show has been broadcast on Zee TV, everyone knows what happens, who sang what, and most importantly, who won.
Kushal Paul certainly stole the show, not just because of his performance with Benny Dayal but because he was a strong contender throughout. In fact, many chose him as the man to beat. Sadly, Rupali Jagga and Jyotica Tangri, as well as Sachin Kumar and Jugpreet Bajwa couldn’t do it, although they tried their best and left it all out there on stage.
The night saw many stars like Dayal, Kailash Kher and others grace the stage, along with a special appearance by the cast of Sairat. But the biggest part of the show was Kushal Paul winning the big prize.
--
#TGLIFe: What has been going on in your head ever since the win?
Kushal Paul: Well, it was mum’s dream for me to win Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. I’ve been singing since I was three years old, but no other competition ever thrilled me as much as this one, since I heard about it. It was always the goal. I see it as a great place to showcase your talent.
#TGLIFE: You must have been enjoying yourself on stage…
Kushal: Yes. That was what I wanted, to just have fun and really revel in the moment.
#TGLIFE: Going back to your mother, how big an influence was she on your early life?
Kushal: Well, let’s put it this way, I started singing when I was three and so my mother enrolled me for singing lessons. I did not know why I was going for classes at such a young age. But my mum and dad always believed that I could do something big.
#TGLIFE: Was this just singing lessons or did you formally learn to play an instrument?
Kushal: It was just singing, although I can now play the harmonium. I can play a little bit of guitar and piano too. In fact, now that I will have the time, I want to learn more instruments. I like to play instruments.
#TGLIFE: When it comes to entertainers, who is your favourite?
Kushal: Sonu Nigam, without a doubt. Soniyo is one of my favourite songs to sing. I love Sonu’s dedication and the way he has trained himself.
#TGLIFE: In a karaoke session or when just jamming with friends, what’s your go-to song?
Kushal: I don’t have one really. I make it a point to listen to everything but I do lean a lot towards classical music. I like singing easy music, like Bengali folk, or reggae. I am a bit fan of Bob Marley.
#TGLIFE: Why Bob Marley? What do you like about his music?
Kushal: I like the idea of spreading peace through music. I want to take forward what Bob Marley started and make changes in the world.
