2009. Indian Idol Season 4. Anu Mallick had adjudged him the best singer the show had till then. Armed with a deadly combination of a mature voice and an infectious cute smile, this young lad had turned into a teen singing sensation then. Four years later, Rajdeep Chatterjee, at just 22, has already lent voices for superstars Salman Khan (Bodyguard) and Akshay Kumar (Khiladi 786).
‘’I feel blessed. I am getting to do good work and doing shows all over the globe, having already covered 13 countries. I couldn’t have asked for more,’’ he admits while being in the city for an event in Puri. With his mom being a good singer and dad playing the tabla, Rajdeep was introduced into the world of music from a very early age of two.
Rajdeep has already graduated in Hindustani Classical. ‘’I am still learning as music is like a vast ocean,’’ the young singer from Jamshedpur confesses. Though he is presently, pursuing BBA final year, Rajdeep has made up his mind to make a career in music. ‘’Initially, my parents were not very happy that my whole focus is on music, both of them being highly educated but now when they see me doing well, they are proud of me though my mom keeps telling me to study hard,’’ he winks.
Besides being among the Top 4 finalists in Indian Idol season 4, Rajdeep was the winner of reality show Fankaar (ETV Bihar) when he was barely 11. And, had also made it to the Top 15 in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs but had to quit the show for his board exams. But it was Indian Idol that pushed him to limelight. ‘’Yes, that was a great platform for me. My happiest moment was when I recorded a song for the God of Music, Rehman Sir for one of his shows in Germany just a couple of days after I was out of the show,’’ he recalls.
Talking about his Bodyguard and Khiladi 786 experience, he attributes all of it to Himesh Reshammiya who gave him a chance to sing for the title tracks, both chartbusters.
‘‘At the moment, I am happy with all the concerts. I recently did one in Canada. I am getting offers for playback singing. I have already sung in Tamil films and have just wrapped up a song for a Marathi film.
But most importantly, I am composing music. I want to become established as a composer too. With my partner in Kolkata, I have already created a bank of songs and hoping to get the right platform soon,’’ he concludes.