Published: 09-05-2017 Updated: May 8th, 2017 INDIA’S SINGING STAR – LV REVANTH For someone who has had no formal training in music and faces the linguistic barrier of not knowing Hindi, winning the Indian Idol title on national television is proof that passion and hard work can achieve just about anything. LV Revanth Kumar, the Vizag boy who was crowned the Indian Idol shares his story with Yo! Vizag. Driven by Passion The Rockstar Tag Born and brought up in Srikakulam, Revnath’s Even before he wowed the audiences on the family shifted to Vizag when he was still studying show, LV Revanth had garnered quite a fan-base in school. Growing up in a typical traditional joint as a singer and performer. Impressed by his style family, LV Revanth Kumar was driven by music. In on stage, he was often called a ‘Rockstar’. spite of having no formal training as a child or no Explaining the tag he says, “Singing and musical background in his family, he took part in performing are two different aspects. And, singing singing competitions right since his fourth form. and performing at the same time during live shows, is quite difficult. I took it up as a challenge; “I do not have a musical background, and am not as I concentrated on singing well, I also worked on a trained classical singer. In primary school, we my presentation, and developed my own style of were taught the Vedas and the Bhagavat Gita. In performing on stage.” my opinion, the advantages in my favour were my voice, family backing, good fortune, and, I believe, chanting of the Vedas that I did in my early school “My performance style was so well days. My ‘music school’ was the many competitions that I took part in. Irrespective of received, that people started whether I won a prize or not, I always calling me a Rockstar.” participated.” “Wherever I went, I let my singing and my voice prove my worth.” Keen to prove his mettle, he took part in television reality shows like Sapta Swaralu and Super Singer. Being the winner of Super Singer opened avenues for him in the southern cine world. “The first song I sang as a playback singer was for the movie Maryada Ramana which was followed by Badrinath, Rajanna and many more. MM Keervani Garu offered me many opportunities.” He attended Intermediate at the Dr VS Krishna College. That is when he seriously committed himself to making a career in music; he took part in many competitions including State-level singing contests. Acknowledging that his family was his strength he says, “Throughout, my family was very supportive. They had once asked me whether I wanted to sing or study; ‘sing’ I had answered. And accordingly, they encouraged me to pursue my dream. In fact, when the dates of an intermediate exam paper to be written in Vizag clashed with a singing competition in Chennai, the elders in my family advised me to sing rather than write the exam. Their view was that exams could be written even next year. If I am a singing success today, it is all thanks to the support I received from them.” The Indian Idol Gambit Citing his reasons for entering the Indian Idol But childhood was not a cakewalk for the young competition he says, “After a lot of struggle and singer, “I lost my father even before I was born”, requests to dozens of people, I managed to get he reveals. Though he never knew his father, he singing gigs in Hyderabad and south cinema, but I was brought up in a large joint family of six was frustrated by the lack of opportunities in the maternal uncles, maternal grandparents, his South.” mother and elder brother. “No matter what I achieve, I can never forget my roots. I know the “I realised if I wanted to make it big, value of money, I know the value of a person and I I needed to make my voice heard know the value of hard-work”, says the National- level winner. in Bollywood.” Hence, I resolved to learn singing equally well in He goes on to describe the apprehension he had Hindi, and make a mark on the National stage. before the competition; “As a south-based singer That’s when I decided to participate in the Indian taking part in a national level singing competition, I Idol competition.” made sure not to miss any opportunity to develop myself right from day one. Before every song, I His main drawback was his lack of fluency in Hindi, would tell myself that ‘This was my first and last but he was determined to at least give it a shot. performance, I have to rock!’ and after every “My reasoning was that if I succeed, then there round, I would target just the next level. Anu Malik would be no turning back. And if I did not win, at and Farah Khan gave me a lot of moral support least I would have reached a certain level which and encouraged me throughout the competition. would open more opportunities for me. Ironically, Just as Lord Hanuman, my favourite deity, when people tried to dissuade me saying that I becomes better every time he is encouraged, I couldn’t even understand Hindi, I became all the believe I could also do better every time they more determined; it was that anger which actually boosted my morale. But what I truly cherished propelled me forward and prove all my detractors about the show, was the fact that since the first wrong. I wanted to gain a foothold in Bollywood, day till the finals, I had the opportunity to dance even if it meant risking it all”, he says describing and interact with every celebrity that came on the the turmoil he felt before he flew to Mumbai. show.” Truly accepting that music transcends all, he says, “Since childhood I have always believed that for music there is no language; for language, there is The win no barrier. You do not need to know the language Still getting used to being the National-level Indian to sing in that language. In fact, during the Idol, LV Revanth confesses that the highpoint was auditions itself I announced that I do not know when his mother and brother were recognised and Hindi, but I was aiming for Bollywood! It was that acknowledged. Attributing his win to many factors positivity which impressed the selection team. I did he articulates, “I believe it was my apprehension, have doubts about my ability to sing in Hindi, but humility and sincerity that kept me grounded, and once I would take the mike in my hand, all those helped me in the end. Armed with my faulty doubts would just melt away and my voice would language skills, my style of presentation, my take over.” performance and my singing, I am happy that I could win over the judges and the audience alike. Though in my personal opinion, all those who reached the finals were winners. If I won today, it is The Experience all thanks to the votes I received, my hard work, Before leaving for Mumbai he candidly says that the support and blessings I received from my his mother advised him to be unassuming. “Do not family… and above all, the media.” go there as a mini-celebrity, a south-Indian playback singer or a Rockstar; leave all your attitudes in Hyderabad and leave for Mumbai as a simple contestant, you will definitely get selected, Grateful to Many! she had advised me. Accordingly, only after I Messages from the many celebrities, politicians passed the selection stage did I reveal that I was a and dignitaries, both from Andhra and Telangana playback singer. Even then, the whole team there was very gratifying for the Telugu lad. Expressing gave me a lot of support and help. The music his gratitude, he says, “People from different masters, Anant and Anand Sharma too were very aspects of society encouraged me. I am very helpful and taught me very well, they even helped grateful to each and every one who supported me, me with diction, ensuring that every song was and specially I want to express my gratitude to the perfect. As I crossed each stage and rose to the many music directors from the Telugu cine next level, I always wondered, was my singing industry, who gave me opportunities and helped really good or was it my performance style that me improve my singing. I owe a lot to Shri M. M. was helping me advance? I was assailed with Keeravani as he moulded me and taught me a doubts regarding my singing at every stage, and great deal. I am also thankful to Ashirwad Luke tried to improve my singing with each song.” from Vizag for his tips and advice whenever I visited his studios for recordings.” “In fact, the supposed ‘style’ that many people appreciated was never an act; it’s the way I am. It is my identity and the way I perform.” Nostalgic about Vizag When asked about Vizag, his voice raised a notch higher with excitement, “I love Visakhapatnam, I love my Vizag. Presently my mother and brother are living with me in Hyderabad, but all my relatives and grandparents are still in Vizag, so I do keep visiting the city. The city is full of sweet memories; it is where my singing actually took off. I also sang in many temples in the city,” he professed.