Indian Idol Winner Anjana Padmanabhan Wants To TEAM UP With AR Rahman, Reveals Biggest Inspiration- EXCLUSIVE

Anjana Padmanabhan interview: From winning Indian Idol Junior as a child to making waves in Indian Idol 14, she has showcased her musical magic on the singing platforms, wooing the audience. At Filmibeat, we love interacting with artists who create ripples with their talent and performance. And as we talked to Anjana, we realised she is definitely a bundle of talents

In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat Chief Copy Editor Abhishek Ranjit, Anjana revealed her biggest inspiration and shared her dream collaboration with a musical legend. Is she willing to become a judge on Indian Idol like Neha Kakkar? Her answer is definitely worth reading.

Here are excerpts from the interview-

1) From making waves at Indian Idol to getting ready to rock the stage at New York's Times Square, how would you describe your journey?

Answer: The journey has truly been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, and I wouldn't want it any other way. There's so much I've learned throughout this entire journey. From the time I won Indian Idol as a kid, to participating in Indian Idol again now, and finally performing at Times Square every step has taught me something new. I've had incredible opportunities, met so many amazing people, and I'm deeply grateful for every single moment. Back when I was a kid on Indian Idol, I never imagined that one day I'd be standing on a stage like Times Square. Performing there was beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of, truly unimaginable and absolutely amazing. This journey has been very, very special to me. I'm so excited for this performance, and I really hope everyone enjoys it and has a great time.

2) Who has been your dream collaboration? Any upcoming projects you'd like to talk about?

Answer: When it comes to dream collaborations, there are actually quite a few artists I've always wanted to work with. In India, it has always been a dream of mine to sing for legends like AR Rahman Sir and Anirudh Ravichander. Getting the opportunity to work with them would truly be a dream come true. Apart from that, as an independent artist, I've always wanted to collaborate with artists from the West who I have looked up to for a long time. There's so much amazing music coming out of the West in America. If I had to name one dream collaboration, it would definitely be Ed Sheeran. I would love to do a song with him someday. As for upcoming projects, there are some really exciting things happening this year, and I'm honestly so thrilled about it. I've been working extremely hard for years to build this story and bring it to life, and now it's finally coming together. There are a couple of film songs I've sung that are set to release soon, along with some of my independent tracks. I also have a very special EP of my own on the way. I can't reveal too many details just yet, but there's a lot to look forward to and you'll all know very soon.

3) You won Indian Idol Junior and later participated in Indian Idol 14. Do you see yourself as a judge on the show someday, like Neha Kakkar?

Answer: I would genuinely love to be a judge on the show. For me, both seasons of Indian Idol Junior and Indian Idol 14 had Shreya Mam as a judge, and she's always been such a huge part of my journey. Every time I see her, there's this special aura around her. What she's created, and the kind of person she is, is truly beyond words. She's honestly one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Every time I've interacted with her, whether on the show or outside, it's been phenomenal. The experience always leaves me in awe. It's a feeling I never quite get out of. I haven't really thought too much about being a judge on Indian Idol as such, but if I ever got the opportunity, I'd love to go back to where it all began. For me, Indian Idol has always been home. Whoever I am today and whatever I've achieved is because of that platform. So yes, if the opportunity came, I'd love to do it, though honestly, I haven't given it deep thought yet.

4) Who has been your biggest inspiration?

Answer: When it comes to inspiration, it's something that has really evolved over time. There have been so many people who've inspired me at different points in my life. Some constant sources of inspiration have been Asha ji, Shreya Mam, Lata ji, and Sunidhi Mam. These legends will always remain my inspirations. They are the reason I started singing as a child. Honestly, the reason I even began listening to music was because of them. Beyond Indian artists, I've also drawn a lot of inspiration from international musicians like Whitney Houston, Adele, and Alicia Keys. Their music has moved me deeply at different stages of my journey, and they've played a huge role in shaping my artistic sensibilities as well. So for me, it's really a balance of two worlds, being inspired by incredible music created by artists both in India and across the globe.