Tamilian, North Indian in Marathi music show final

Mumbai: True to the saying that music knows no language and transcends all boundaries, for the first time, two of the three finalists of the music reality show, Marathi Sa Re Ga Ma, are non-Maharashtrians.

While finalist Abhilasha Chelam is a Tamilan, Rahul Saxena is a North Indian. The only Marathi in the fray is Urmila Dhangar, from Badlapur on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Both Abhilasha and Rahul admit that though initially Marathi was all "Latin and Greek" to them, now they have fallen in love with the language.

"I had auditioned for the show just memorising seven Marathi songs," said Abhilasha, who moved to Mumbai a year ago.

"However, as we furthered in the show, thanks to our research team, now I know lot more Marathi songs with their meaning," she said adding, "I am impressed with the language."

"Our research team used to explain its meaning, the conditions in which it was recorded, and the situation in which it was filmed in the movie," Abhilasha added.

Rahul, who came to Mumbai seven years ago, said, "I was always attracted to Marathi songs and culture. I used to sing Marathi songs on casual basis. Now that I understand its meaning, it all the more fun," he said.

Rahul is a winner of Golden Voice Hunt of Hindi Sa Re Ga Ma and a finalist of Indian Idol while Abhilasha, too, had participated in Voice of India.

After participating in Marathi Sa Re Ga Ma, both are interested in making their careers in Marathi playback.

"For sure, I want a career in Marathi playback," Rahul said.

Besides playback, Abhilasha has other plans too.

"Once the show is over, I want to go to Chennai to learn Carnatic music. Besides this, I also want to take up playback project including those in Marathi," Abhilasha said.

Meanwhile, unfazed by any competition is the Marathi girl Urmila who believes in the saying that "let the best man win."

"All three of us are working hard. There is a healthy competition. But there would be only one winner. And everybody wants that he or she should win," Urmila said in a lighter vein.

The winner of the show, which is decided on SMS-based voting and marks by judges, Avdhoot Gupte and Salil Kulkarni, would be declared on January 31.