Shanmukha Priya, finalist of Zee TV Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs live on Facebook @3p.m.

Know more about the sensational young singer Shanmukha Priya from Vizag, who is winning the hearts of India.

Tenth grader Shanmukha Priya has been wowing everyone, from judges to viewers, on ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs’. She takes some time off her busy schedule for a chat with us.

Wonderkid: Shanmukha Priya

Superpower: Singing

Growing up in a household where the parents are musically inclined, it is only natural that she be blessed with the musical gene too. Her proclivity was such that she even wanted to learn the tune that played on an alarm clock!

Performing since the age of five, Shanmukha Priya fondly recalls her first performance of ‘Annamacharya Keertana’ in 2008, with her father accompanying on violin. But it was her first TV debut, in the same year, on ‘Little Champs’that pushed her into the limelight. Since then, there has been no looking back for this versatile singer who sang the title song for the movie ‘Tejam’.

Being musicians themselves, it wasn’t hard for her parents to accept this career path despite the young age. Shanmukha Priya has not found the need to look for music gurus elsewhere as her mother is a music teacher and her father plays the veena and violin. With their massive and omnipresent support, she has learnt to juggle her academics and career like a pro. “I take along my books and study whenever I find the time during programmes. Through the years, I’ve learnt how to manage both,” she says.

Shanmukha Priya’s popularity on these singing shows is such that ever since her debut, she has been invited to participate in shows instead of the other way around.Be it ‘Super Singer’ and ‘Paaduta Teeyaga’ in Telugu, ‘Junior Super Singer’ in Tamil and even ‘The Voice India Kids’in Hindi – the organisers have always been the ones to invite her to participate. While asked if she was well-versed in Tamil when she participated in ‘Junior Super Singer’, she nonchalantly says, “No, but I learnt it for the show.”

Now, it is ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs’ that keeps the energetic singer busy. When asked about her experience there she says, “I’ve learnt something from every show I’ve performed for and it’s always a novel experience. I’ve sung songs on this show in particular with a twist to make myself stand out and the response has been great. I performed Jazz when A R Rahman Sir was a guest on the show, he even gave me some valuable tips. When Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor visited, I played an instrument and sang at the same time. In fact, Parineeti Chopra and Ayushman Khurana said they’d buy tickets if I ever held a concert when I sang western rock.”

Receiving such encouragement from the show, it is only natural that one wishes Vizag girl Shanmukha Priya wins the title and makes us proud. Come forward and interact with her on Facebook @3p.m, brought to you LIVE by Yo!Vizag