Antara Mitra

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Antara Mitra
Background information
Birth name	Antara Mitra
Also known as	Antara Mitra
Born	July 10, 1987 West Bengal
Origin	West Bengal

Antara Mitra (born July 10, 1987 in West Bengal, India) was placed fifth, and was the last female, in the reality show Indian Idol 2, broadcast by Sony Entertainment Television.

Antara Mitra was voted out of the show on 7 March 2006.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Piano Round 1.2 Gala Rounds 2 Indian Idol 2 performances 2.1 Audition 2.2 Theater Round 2.3 Piano Round 2.4 Finals 3 Discography 4 External links

[edit] Biography

Antara Mitra hails from Maslandpur, a small village in West Bengal, near Calcutta, India. She exhibited a keen interest in music early, and her father inspired her.

At one time she considered studying medicine, but abandoned the idea in favour of pursuing a professional singing career.

Mitra grew up with music: her father is a music teacher. Since the age of three, Antara would sing along with other children who came home to learn music from her father.

When Antara was eliminated from the contest, Anu Malik offered her work, but Antara returned to her home town. She moved to Mumbai in April 2006.

[edit] Piano Round

In the Piano Round, which was the first round when the viewing public voting was invited, she sang the song "Rangeela Re" from the film Rangeela. On the next day of the TV show, it was announced that Antara had bagged the most votes.

[edit] Gala Rounds

Indian Idol's official competition stages had started! Antara for the first time performed in front of the podium, with the three judges and the millions of TV-viewing audience nationwide looking and listening on. Antara sang the song "Ruki Ruki Thi Zindagi." She got decent comments, Anu Malik telling her that she should not worry, because she will come to the next round "for sure." Farah Khan said her performance was that of an international superstar and that Antara looked like an "international superstar." Sonu told her to not move around as much, but said that it was very good.

In the second gala she sang "Tu Ruta To," and she got a few positive comments, however Sonu Nigam felt she did have more to offer. Next gala, she showed improvement with the song "Tere Bina", and all the judges gave her good comments. But it was her performances of "Zara Zara" and "Morani Baga" that the judges were most impressed with.

Her next performance, of "Bairi Piya" was liked by the judges (Sonu Nigam thought it was very good but said that she is capable of better with that song) and her parents had also come to the Mumbai studio watch her for the first time to surprise the young singer, which led to a tearful family reunion on camera, especially between the mother and daughter. In the Results episode that followed, it was declared that, for the first time, she was in the bottom three (in danger of leaving the competition)! She was with NC Karunya and Meenal Jain there, and with Meenal in the bottom two. However, she made it to the final five, as Meenal was eliminated.

The following week Antara was the last girl left. She sang Mere Haathon, for which she received negative comments. Sandeep Acharya (the eventual top winner) and Antara were in the bottom two, and with the lowest number of votes she left, leaving 4 males in the competition.

Antara Mitra was the last female standing and competed to reach the Top Five contestants. She had the most impressive record of not being "in danger" on the Indian Idol 2 TV series: she was only in danger once! Also, in the galas, she received the most votes three times... specifically for her performances of "Ruki Ruki Thi Zindagi," "Zara Zara," and "Morani Baga."

Antara made a great impression on judges and viewers alike, and her camaraderie with other contestants also went well. She was one of the youngest contestants in this competition, even junior in years to also-young Karunya, Sagar, Sandeep, Monali and Meenal, and a year older than Neha. She formed friendships with the series runner-up male vocalist NC Karunya, as well as female co-contestants Meenal Jain and Neha Kakkar.

[edit] Indian Idol 2 performances

[edit] Audition

• "Dama Dum Mast Kalandar", Runa Laila
  • The judges liked it, however Anu Malik was a bit hesitant.

[edit] Theater Round

• "Kaisi Paheli Hai", Parineeta
  • Antara was through to the piano round!

[edit] Piano Round

• "Rangeela Re", Rangeela - Highest votes
  • Antara received good comments, however Farah Khan found it "strange", and was through to the finals with the highest votes!

[edit] Finals

• Week 2: "Ruki Ruki Thi Zindagi", Mast
  • Antara received fairly good comments from the judges.
• Week 3: "Tu Rutha To", Jawani
  • The judges liked her performance, but said that it could improve.
• Week 4: "Tere Bina Jiya Jaye Na", Ghar
  • She got good comments from the judges.
• Week 5: "Zara Zara", Rehana Hai Tere Dil Mein
  • The judges loved Antara's performance, and it was her best performance to date.
• Week 6: "Morani Baga Ma Bole, Lamhe
  • Antara received rave reviews from all the judges, and they were all extremely appreciative.
• Week 7: "Bairi Piya", Devdas (Bottom 2)
  • The judges all liked her performance. Sonu Nigam said that it could have been a bit better, as her voice was capable of taking that song to greater heights.
• Week 8: "Mere Haathon Main", Chandni (Eliminated)
  • For the first time, Antara received mostly negative comments from the judges for her song selection.
• Grand Finale: "Woh Pehli Baar", "Ek Main Ek Tu, Jawani Jaaneman, Oh Saki Saki, "Right Here Right Now" (With NC Karunya and Meenal Jain)
• Concert: Woh Pehli Baar, Salaam Namaste, Agar tum Miljao, Saki Saki

[edit] Discography

• Woh Pehli Baar album - sang group number and then solo Tu Rutha To

[edit] External links

• Indian Idol Official site

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