Indian Idol

Season 1 (2004-2005)

Abhijeet Sawant

Abhijeet Sawant (born (October 7, 1981) is an Indian singer. He was the winner of India's first Indian Idol, a show very similar to Pop Idol and American Idol, on March 5, 2005.

Biography
Abhijeet Sawant was born in a Maharashtrian Buddhist family. Originally from Mumbai, Abhijeet beat Amit Sana for the title. He won a contract worth Rs 10 million (or 1 crore) from Sony and a luxury car. Both the finalists also won a weeklong trip to Switzerland with their families. His most famous song, Mohabbatein Lutaunga, was the song he sang on the final episode. His first solo album, Aapka Abhijeet Sawant, was released on April 7, 2005. The album contains songs sung by Abhijeet, Amit Sana and Prajakta Shukre. The first Indian Idol was considered to be even bigger and more extravagant than the original American version, in terms of not only the votes cast and the people watching it on television, but also in terms of talent. Sawant was used to promote many other shows and products related to Sony in the following months. He even released an album for another Sony show Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin in June 2005. Sawant was also seen singing and sometimes acting in many other Sony-produced shows, including CID. His first grand concert after winning Indian Idol was the Yaaron Concert in Delhi.
The show was broadcast on television on 17 July 2005. He was accompanied by the 11 Gala Round finalists of the TV show.He has been touring India and abroad doing many shows and being a big part of many others eg. Asian Lifestyle Show, UK. His album, Junoon, his comeback released on 10th July, 2007. It was projected to be another massive chart topper, like the singers first album, Aapka Abhijeet Sawant. His Song 'Junoon' from his latest album is a hit.

Season 2 (2005-2006)

Sandeep Acharya

Sandeep Acharya (born 4 February 1984) is an Indian singer.
Sandeep is from Bikaner, Rajasthan was crowned the winner of Indian Idol (season 2) on 22 April. Acharya is the winner of the second season of Indian Idol while the first was won by Abhijeet Sawant. Acharya beat judges favorite, 19-year old NC Karunya in a glitzy function in Mumbai. Along with the title of Indian Idol, Acharya walked away with Rs.1 crore contract from Sony BMG, a music album contract and a brand new Maruti Baleno car. Sandeep was criticised throughout most of the competition; in his audition, theater round, piano round, and Top 12 through Top 5 galas, he sang only songs by Udit Narayan, about which judge Sonu Nigam was very unhappy.

During the 2005-2006 Indian Idol series, Acharya sang: Nasha Pyaar Ka - Highest Votes Janam Dekh Lo Papa Kehte Hain Kaun Hai Jo Sapnon Mein Aaya Tere Naam - Bottom 3 14/02/2006 Mitwa Main Nikla Gaddi Leke Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna - Bottom 2 07/03/2006 Holi Khele Raghuveera Rut Aa Gayi Re Kaho Na Pyaar Hai - Highest votes 04/04/2006 Jhalak Dikhlaja - Highest votes 04/04/2006 Is Pyaar Ko Mai - Highest votes 04/04/2006 Zindagi - Highest votes 04/04/2006 Dekha Na Haye Re - Winner 22/04/06 Mere Jaisa Koi Kahaan - Winner 22/04/06 Hawao Ne Yeh Kaha - Winner 22/04/06 Eena Meena Deeka - Winner 22/04/06 Aye Dilruba Mera - Winner 22/04/06 Aye Watan - Winner 22/04/06 GRAND FINALE: “Sitaron Ki mehfil” (Babul Supriyo, Kaho Na Pyar Hai), “Raja Mayya” (Daler Mehndi), “Ruk Jaa Oh Dil Dewane” (Udit Narayan, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le), “Tumse Milke Dil Ka” ([[hello my name is dipt Acharya signed off with the song “Jaana Hai Mujhko” made by music director Sandeep Chowta and Lyricist Sameer for the Indian Idol.Indian

On 27th of May, Sandeep did his first ever solo concert along with actors from indian television. At the end of the concert his first ever music video, "Jaana Hai Mujhko", was premiered and released. It opened at at no.1 on the next day on channels like V-Channel and MTV India.

Discography

Sandeep Acharya's album cover

• Woh Pehli Baar album - sang group number and then solo Papa Kehte Hai
• Mere Saath Saare Jahaan
• Mhare Des Mein
• Ishq Ho Gaya
• Yeh Kaise Deewanapan
• Dhol Dhol
• Sagar Jaisi Aankhon Wali
• Papa Kehte Hain
• Mere Saath Saara Jahaan - 2

Season 3 (2007)

Prashant Tamang

Birth name	Prashant Tamang
Born	January 4, 1983 (age 24)[1]
Genre(s)	Pop, Classic
Occupation(s)	Police, Indian Idol season 3 winner
Years active	2007-present

Prashant Tamang (Nepali: प्रशान्त तामाङ) is a Kolkata-based singer and winner of Indian Idol season 3. He is the first contestant of Indian Nepalese origin to make it to the final rounds of Indian Idol and finaly win it. He is also the first person from the Indian police force to enter the final rounds. His father had breathed his last while serving for Indian police in an accident related to the same. After this tragic yet patriotic demise of his father, Prashant, who was still in school, had to leave school and join Indian Police Force to support his family. So, he could not receive any formal training in singing. He was an overwhelming favorite to win II3 partly due to strong backing from the people of Nepali origin and the Indian police force. Even as the results were yet to be announced on television, several news sources had reported Prashant's winning the competition.

Early years

Prashant Tamang was born in Tungsung, Darjeeling, West Bengal to Rupa Tamang and Late Madan Tamang. He spent most of his early life there and studied in St.Roberts school. After the demise of his father, Madan Tamang, in an accident, he joined the Kolkata Police Force, succeeding his father. In Kolkata Police, he sang for the police orchestra. His family includes his grandmother, mother and his sister.

Indian Idol

According to the program commentary, Prashant tried out for Indian Idol because his friends told him that his voice is very good. He auditioned in Kolkata. He is considered to be a decent singer. Javed Akhtar, a commercial poet, commented him that his lack of training gets exposed when he tries some difficult songs. However, according to the comment of other judge on his page in Indian Idol, he is an uncut diamond and a good performer. Prashant has maintained good friendship with Amit Paul and his room mate, Abhishek Kumar who thinks Prashant should be the next Indian Idol. He is the only contestant to have never been in the bottom 3 or 4 of the galas. He made it to the top 2 of Indian Idol 3 along with best friend Amit Paul, before eventually winning the title.

Indian Idol performances

Song	MovieOriginal Artist Music Director Lyricist
Ya Ali	GangsterZubin Garg Pritam Sayeed Quadri, Rahat Indori
Aye Kash Ke Hum	Kabhi Haan Kabhi NaKumar Sanu Jatin-Lalit Majrooh Sultanpuri
Yaar Ko Maine	SheeshaKunal Ganjawala Sen Brothers Maya Govind
Kehna Hai Kehna Hai	PadosanKishore Kumar R D Burman
Yeh Hosla	DorShafqat Amanat Ali Khan and Salim Merchant Salim-Sulaiman Mir Ali Hussain
Main Hoon Naa	Main Hoon NaaSonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal Anu Malik Javed Akhtar
Yeh dosti	SholayKishore Kumar and Manna Dey R D Burman Anand Bakshi
Aao twist kare	Bhoot BanglaR D Burman Hasrat Jaipuri
Do you want a partner	PartnerUdit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Kunal Ganjawala, Suzi Q Sajid-Wajid Shabbir Ahmed
Bheege Honth Tere	Murder

Media
Prashant Tamang has become a celebrity in West Bengal, Sikkim and Nepal. Prayers for his success are expressed even in website of Tamang Society. Nepalese and non-Nepalese newspapers, websites, forums, blogs etc are filled with stories related to him and support for him.
The mayor of Mirik, T.B. Rai, has vowed to spend Rs.10,000 in SMS for voting Prashant and his staff have also vowed to spend a month's salary on SMS for voting Prashant. Police staff of India have also vowed to spend a month's salary on SMS for voting Prashant. Nepalese people working in Brunei, UK, Hong Kong, UAE are reported to have been sending money to SMS for him.
Rallies are organized in Darjeeling and Kharsang in his support, some of which are attended by his sister, mother and grandmother. Pokhara, Nepal located Radio Annapurna 93.4 MHz campaigned for collecting donation and the collected sum of NRs.70000 was sent to Darjeeling through its representative to vote for Prashant. A signature campaign for his support was organized by Himalayan Darpan Newspaper of Darjeeling. Schools, clubs and police of West Bengal are found asking people to support Prashant who have named him ' Pahar ka Gaurav ' (Pride of the Hills). Sikkim Cabinet Minister G M Gurung and S B Subedi planted tree saplings at Singtam to pledge the Sikkimese support to Prashant and to show the unity between Nepalese community in Sikkim and Darjeeling.