ANOTHER LUCKNOW lad is within striking distance of musical fame in the world of talent hunt contests on television. First, it was Vinit Singh in SaReGaMaPa and now it is Ravi Tripathi in Indian Idol 2.
Among the top six boys selected for Indian Idol 2, Ravi’s talent gets an emphatic stamp of approval from his guru Suresh Wadkar.
“I think Ravi is lucky to have got the Indian Idol platform. And I think he is going to make it very big in the world of music one day,” says Wadkar.
So, watch out for his performance in the Gala Round on Monday. As for Ravi, he expressed satisfaction with his performance in the Gala Round.
On the eve of the telecast, he says, “I had butterflies in my stomach before the performance. But once I started performing, I became so immersed in the song that I became oblivious to everything else. And my journey in Indian Idol so far has been very good.”
“I was preparing for medical entrance exams when I realised that I did not want to pursue a career in medicine. I felt music was my calling. Despite all opposition, I left medical coaching and came to Mumbai, where my brother stayed. All this happened eight years back,” says Ravi.
{{/usCountry}}“I was preparing for medical entrance exams when I realised that I did not want to pursue a career in medicine. I felt music was my calling. Despite all opposition, I left medical coaching and came to Mumbai, where my brother stayed. All this happened eight years back,” says Ravi.
{{/usCountry}}He adds, “In Mumbai, I met Suresh Wadkar. He liked my singing and I came under his tutelage. Two years later, I shifted to his house and started staying there and became a part of his family.”
“My initial years in Mumbai were full of struggle. To reach my teacher’s house at 7 in the morning, I had to get up at 3.30 in the morning and change three trains. This went on for almost two years.”
Ravi’s father Shri Krishna Tripathi says, “I am very happy for Ravi now, though initially I was very upset about the fact the he dropped out of medical coaching. I am happy that I am now known as Ravi Tripathi’s father.”
Ravi has also imparted lessons in music to young children. His favourite tracks are: Dekhi Zamane ki Yaar from Kaagaz Ke Phool and the title track from Kal Ho Na Ho. Ravi has also sung for All India Radio (AIR).
“I would like to be recognised as a singer and want to people to support me. I want to devote my life to singing,” he says.