Exclusive | Indian Idol 16's Amritha Rajan on her bond with judge Vishal Dadlani: 'Everyone calls him strict but..'

Amritha Rajan

Indian Idol contestant Amritha Rajan is winning hearts not only with her voice but also with her infectious energy and honesty. Now among the Top 16, Amritha exclusively opened up about her emotional journey on the show, her memorable audition, and her heartfelt connection with the judges - Shreya Ghoshal, Vishal Dadlani, and Badshah.

Reflecting on her audition day, Amritha shared that she wasn't nervous, just too excited. "When I came to the auditions, I was not nervous but I was too excited," she recalled. "You can see it in my performance, I was dancing while singing! I had been waiting for that moment for so long, and when it finally came, I just couldn't hold back my excitement."

The young singer admits that her journey so far has been nothing short of overwhelming. "It's really overwhelming in a way that I'm literally bursting into tears," she said emotionally. "I have no words to express because it's only happening because of Indian Idol. I just want to thank all the people who are making all these things happen - I have no words."

When asked about the judges' feedback, Amritha said what touched her the most was their appreciation for her authenticity. "I was truly myself on the stage on my audition day, so they loved me," she said. "That's what I really liked about my performance."

On her bond with Vishal Dadlani

Amritha also spoke fondly about her bond with the judges, revealing that she feels a special connection with Vishal Dadlani. "Oh my God, that is a very tough question," she laughed when asked which judge she'd love to collaborate with. "I want to collaborate with all three of them, honestly, but apart from music, I think my vibe is more aligned with Vishal ji. Everybody says he's strict, but I don't feel scared of him, I love him, I love him, I love him!"

Amritha wants to learn rap from Badshah

The singer also hopes to explore new genres as her Indian Idol journey continues. "I want to learn from all three of them," she said. "I've tried rap before, but I haven't explored it in a big way. I would love to learn rap from Badshah sir. I also want to try classical music and tougher songs - this is the best stage of my life."

For Amritha, Indian Idol is more than just a singing competition; it's a journey of self-discovery. "In this journey, I want to explore different genres of music and experiment with new kinds of songs," she explained. "This platform is where I can learn and bring out the best version of myself. Even before my audition week, I learned a lot about who I am. That's the beauty of this show, it gives you the chance to grow. Basically," she smiled, "life is happening right now."