Maya
Maya cuts her long story behind her journey into Kollywood short to say that it was her participation in Airtel Super Singer in 2006 that fetched her an offer to sing for music director Vijay Antony. “Though it was tough to get selected in the show, it gave me a lot of exposure to the singing world,” she says. Maya didn’t win the show though Vijay Antony spotted her for her unique voice to give her the first song, 'Un Thalai Mudi' in 'Kadhalil Vizhunthaen'. But it was the song Mobile-ah in the film 'Rendu' that was released first. “Many forget that they have to look for opportunities once they get a platform in reality shows,” she says. Besides playback singing, Maya has also been a part of re-recording for films. “Today, there is a overdose of reality shows with every channel copying the content from others,” she points out adding that many shows forget to focus on the talent but try to make such shows more dramatic.
Anitha
Chosen winner along with Nikhil was Anitha who received around 50,000 votes from the public for her performance. Though the show got her exposure and the much-needed recognition, it was her effort to grab offers in the film industry that kickstarted her singing career. Anitha’s first song was 'Marudhamalai Mamaniye' in the film 'Marudhamalai', music scored by Imman. Anitha has had experience in singing on-stage along with KJ Yesudas and Unni Menon, and this got her the confidence to sing in studios. She has also lent her voice for ad jingles for Saravana Stores, Ashirvad atta, title song for Zee Tamil television’s soap Azhagana Raakshashi besides keeping herself busy recording devotional numbers and private albums in Telugu, Malayalam and Urdu. Anitha’s voice can be spotted in the tracks for film 'Aiyandam Padai', 'Odipolama' and Gajendra (Kannada Film). She has also been a part of re-recording for films like 'Ghajini' (Hindi), 'Dasavathaaram' and 'Villu.'
Karthik
One of the leading singers in Kollywood, Karthik was also a particiapnat in 'Saptha Swarangal' in Sun TV back in 1998, though it was his friend’s cousin singer Srinivas who got him an offer with AR Rahman.
Following Srinivas’s advice for a year to continue with singing classes, he received a call from him to sing for Rahman and that began Karthik’s life as a playback singer. He began as a backing vocalist for a song in the Hindi film Pukar and his performance struck gold as Rahman offered him a chance to sing lead vocals for 'Nendhukittaen' for the Tamil film Star. Karthik has sung over 1,800 songs in languages Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam.
Naresh Iyer
Pushing him to participate in the show Super Singer organised by Channel V back in 2004, playback singer Naresh Iyer never imagined AR Rahman would pick him. Out of the 20,000 odd contestants, Naresh was shortlisted in the final 25 but was sadly rejected for the final round. Though it did affect him, the part that AR Rahman, who was the judge, told him that he would definitely offer him a chance to sing for his compositions, came as a consolation. Yet, Naresh was doubtful as he awaited a response from the composer. But soon he realised that the composer was serious about it. Naresh got a call from Rahman’s studio and that started his journey into filmdom. His first song being 'Mayiliragae' for the Anbe Aaruyire, it was the song 'Roobaroo' for the Hindi film Rang De Basanti that won him the National Award for Best Male Playback singer. Having lent his voice for over 70 songs in languages Tamil, Hindi and Telugu, Naresh is also the lead singer in a fusion band called Dhvani that is based in Mumbai. “A reality show takes you half way through to the start of a good career in singing but the rest depends on you,” he says. After the hit song in 'Vaaranam Aiyram'- 'Mundinam parthene'- the latest from him is 'Kala Kala Bhander' in Delhi 6 and a song in 'Ananda Thaandavam'.
Nikhil Mathew
Yet another singer chosen from the same episode of Vijay TV’s Airtel Super Singer in 2006, Nikhil Mathew, the winner of the show was offered a chance to sing for music director Harris Jayaraj besides winning with a Swift car. Out of 10,000 contestants, judges Srinivas, Unnikrishnan and Anuradha Sriram chose Nikhil after 19 to 24 rounds of singing in a variety of genres that include folk, classical and western. His first song was 'Enathuyire' in Bheema. Nikhil is now singing for 'Anandam Arambam', 'Poda Podi' and also for Sundar C Babu besides songs lined up in Malayalam and Telugu.