Prashant Tamang, the winner of a reality music show tells NT about his sojourn till date, the winning moment and the path ahead
Amidst euphoria and screams of joy, Prashant Tamang, walked away with élan-- ending the monthlong anxiety, which kept the entire nation glued to their television sets-- thrice a week. Though it's been about 60 hours since he was declared the winner of a reality show, Prashant says, "The feeling is yet to sink in."
Celebrating victory
Post victory, Prashant spent the entire night celebrating at the lavish party thrown in his honour. Sharing his first experience as a celeb, he says excitedly, "I enjoyed all the attention I was getting. I am not used to it. People were shaking hands with me and congratulating me. And when the party was over, there wasn't a trace of sleep in my eyes. How could I sleep when there was a whole new world of opportunities waiting out there for me?"
Grueling session
Victory wasn't easy for this 24-year-old sepoy of Kolkota Police. During all those grueling months of training, Prashant faced moments of dejection and inferiority complex. "All the participants, other than me, were trained singers. My dressing sense and mannerism did not match their 'cool' attitude. At times, I was rebuked for my 'shabby’ attitude. Judges' ruthless remarks too pulled me apart, but then I gathered myself and concentrated on improving my performance." He philosophically adds, "Let bygones be bygones. Those things don't matter to me now."
Tough days
Prashant lost his father when he was just ten. The financial problems only increased and his mother took up work at a local hotel and opened a small daily needs shop at home. "She waited eagerly for me to turn 18, so that I could take up my (late) father's job with the Kolkata Police," says he. Joining the force did give him a sense of satisfaction when it came to sharing his mother's burden, but then somewhere the singer hidden within-- felt suffocated and his desire to study further, too came to an end.
'Reality’ beckons
When he decided to try his luck at the reality show, he probably did not dream that he would make it to the top. He says, "I couldn't afford experimenting with life. So when I joined the police force, I joined its orchestra too. Whenever I got time, I would listen to the radio. My seniors, especially the Additional Commissioner of Police, Zulfikar Hassan, encouraged me to go for the auditions and special leave was sanctioned."
Support from the Hills
"I know the people of Darjeeling and my colleagues had been watching every show. Not many people have mobile phones in Darjeeling. But in order to vote for me, a lot of people collected money and bought cell phones. They even performed puja for my victory. I owe my victory to them and my mother," says an overwhelmed Prashant.
The path ahead
Ask him, what he plans to do and he says, "There is a new world waiting out there for me. I want to give my mother the best of everything. I always wanted to be a singer and now I will use the opportunity to surge ahead. Maybe I will be a famous playback singer one day."
Lady Luck and love
Is there a young lady back home waiting to welcome him with open arms? Without divulging much he says that the one he loved is now a married lady, but he hasn't lost hope. He says, "Right now it's Lady Luck smiling on me, but soon-- love will also happen." And is he waiting to zoom off in his brand new car? Prashant says that he will first have to learn to drive.
