Aapka Apna Guitarwala Tugs At The Heartstrings

Bhubaneswar: From romantic notes in ‘Te Amo’ to a hint of subtle naughtiness in ‘Samundar Mein Nahake’, the weekend rendition pushed him to the Top 11 slot of the 10th edition of Indian Idol. Odisha’s Biswajit Mohapatra is inching towards success and slowly but surely leaving an impression on TV audiences.

Music has always been a passion for this Mass Communication student who belongs to Bhawanipatna. He won over the judges with his falsetto singing and has been trying a different genre in every weekend show.

The judges, music composer Anu Malik, singer Neha Kakkar and music director Vishal Dadlani, seem to be enjoying his renditions.

Already a well-known singer in Ollywood, he has lent his voice in more than 12 Odia films.

This is the second time that Biswajit is trying his luck in Indian Idol. He had reached the Top 40 in its previous season in 2016. Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam, who was then a judge and Anu Malik were so impressed with him that they couldn’t resist joining him on the stage to croon the Odia super hit number ‘Puchuki Gaali’ and dance on it.

The 26-year-old was also the runner-up of ‘Voice of Odisha’ Season 2 in 2012.

In a chat with Odisha Bytes, Biswajit spoke about his journey and life so far.

Why are you called ‘Aapka Apna Guitarwala’?

I always take my guitar wherever I go. Initially, people used to find it strange and even rile me. Later, they started appreciating both me and my voice. My guitar has seen me through my struggle. It is my constant companion. With time, everyone started calling me, ‘Aapka Apna Guitarwala’.

When did you start singing?

I have been singing since childhood. My mother, Jayanti Mishra, a singer herself was my first guru. She taught me Hindustani classical vocal music. Later, I honed my skill under the tutelage of Guru Santosh Kumar Jha and Chittaranjan Panigrahi. I also learnt a lot from Ollywood music director Premanand. He helped me work on my vocal chords. I am currently training in western music from Sharmi Chakraborty of Kolkata.

How did you balance your passion with studies?

I never faced any problem. I gave equal importance to both. There is an idol of Goddess Saraswati at the front gate of Utkal University. I have her blessings and that is why when I got admission here, I got many platforms to sing.

I participated in Voice of Odisha in 2012 and won it in the second position. My singing career took off from here.

I made my debut in Ollywood with music director Premanand’s movie, ‘Jaga Hatare Pagha’. I have sung in around 12 Odia movies, besides many album songs.

What has been your experience in Indian Idol so far?

We had gone to Vishal sir’s music studio once. He gave us an insight into the music studio set up. It was such an eye-opener for me.

What has been your most memorable experience?

Salman, Abanti and I were selected to visit Salman Khan’s ‘Dus Ka Dum’ shooting set. That was the most memorable experience for me.

What was your funniest moment during Indian Idol?

My roommate made a video of me snoring while I was fast asleep. That entertained everyone the whole day yesterday.

And who is your favourite judge?

It is very hard to choose among three. All of them inspire me. Vishal sir inspired us a lot in his studio.

Who is your toughest contender?

No one is a contender here. We are like a family. I am very close to my roommate, Soumya Chakraborty. I don’t see anyone as a competitor. We are all very good friends and enjoy a lot together.

Which performance do you consider your best so far?

Every song, I have performed here is the best. Since I am a playback singer, I don’t have any special genre of singing. I have also lent voice to sad songs in Odia movies. I am facing new challenges during every performance and growing in experience with every song.

Have you experimented with your style of singing on the sets of Indian Idol?

Always. I draw inspiration from bruzz music. My mentors also appreciate this style of mine.

How do you impress the judges?

I dance while singing on the stage. But that is not necessarily to impress them. I like to do it and this way, I also get over my stage fear.

How you select the songs?

They are picked by mentors every week.

What next after Indian idol?

I have some singing offers from Gujarati movies and for some Hindi albums too. I want to be a successful singer and musician.

Any message for budding singers?

Love music with all your heart to the point of madness. To be a singer, it is important to be a musician first. Try to learn all the nuances.