KATHMANDU: Menuka Poudel, who secured the 11th position in Nepal Idol, faced an “unexpected journey” in the 14th edition of Indian Idol.
The visually impaired artist’s presence intrigued many, capturing hearts with her rendition of ‘Tumhare Bina Hamare Kono Nahin’ during the selection round, earning her the title of ‘Sakshat Devi of Music.’
Emotionally moved adjudicator Bishal Dadlani expressed, “You are the music I worship. Your singing will now add a new dimension to my music creation.”
Judge Shreya Ghosal broke down in tears, and Menuka’s melody touched every judge, earning her the first ‘standing ovation’ and the coveted ‘golden mic.’
Menuka’s inclusion became a key element for Indian Idol and Sony Television to boost TRPs.
Reports suggest a decline in Indian Idol’s TRP after her elimination, emphasizing the impact of her presence on the show.
Describing the Indian Idol stage as a sacred temple, Menuka appreciates the environment where irrelevant topics such as physical abilities and nationality are excluded from debates.
Born in 2055 BS in Nepal’s Jhapa district, Menuka is currently at the pinnacle of her career.
Despite falling short of the ‘top ten’ in Indian Idol Season 14, Menuka aims to globalize her music.
Her song in the film ‘Salar’ has paved the way for her entry into Bollywood.
Reflecting on her journey, Menuka recalls the challenges she faced growing up blind in a farming family in Jhapa.
“I used to wake up at 4 am to practice music when I stayed in Durga Higher Secondary hostel in Jhapa. I was only 7 years old at the time,” she recalls.
The memory of earning 75 rupees for singing in school remains vivid for Menuka.
“I used to study at three, and though I forgot who gave it, I received the money.”
With persistent dedication, Menuka has proven her ability to lend her voice to Bollywood films.
She credits Indian Idol for providing the platform that led to this success.
While remaining reserved about many aspects, Menuka shares glimpses of her Indian Idol journey with Khabarhub.
Menuka’s Journey of Devotion and Musical Serenity
When Menuka arrived in Puttaparthi, India, for the darshan of Saibaba, her plans to participate in the Indian Idol competition during the thirteenth season came to a halt due to a mismatch in vibes.
She mentions, “Well, I didn’t know at the time. I only learned about it later when others told me. What can I say? But everyone watched the video with respect, and that was good.”
Believing in devotion, Menuka is unsure about how she unexpectedly secured the opportunity to compete in the fourteenth season.
She acknowledges the challenges for contestants from other countries, emphasizing the difficulty she faced as a competitor from Nepal.
Describing the Indian Idol stage as a sacred temple, Menuka appreciates the environment where irrelevant topics such as physical abilities and nationality are excluded from debates.
She emphasizes, “There is no room for unnecessary things. Only singing takes center stage. I didn’t sense any impact from other factors. The atmosphere behind the scenes, as depicted on TV, is genuinely musical.”
Menuka shares her experience of the busy life of contestants, living together in the same apartment, and how the focus on competition leaves no room for gossip.
She commends the humility displayed by Indian artists, emphasizing that it’s a place where art is highly respected.
Expressing satisfaction with her Idol journey, Menuka extends gratitude for the support she received from the Satya Sai Organization throughout her venture.
Before gracing the Indian Idol stage, Menuka had already showcased her talent on ‘Nepal Idol’ and the Indian reality show ‘Saregampa.’
Despite facing challenges in securing a spot in the ‘Top Ten,’ she was unfortunately eliminated in the ‘Top Eleven.’
However, in Indian Idol, Menuka successfully crossed that barrier and earned her place in the ‘Top Ten.’
Despite initially being considered a frontrunner for the season, some believe that her forgetting the lyrics in the last two episodes led to her elimination.
Addressing the first instance where she faltered, stopping mid-song due to an increased heart rate, Menuka explains, “My vocals were off that day. I couldn’t sing; I was unwell. The pressure was intense as the songs required extensive practice. The vocals were strained, and my throat wasn’t cooperating, possibly damaged, causing an increase in heart rate. That’s what happened.”
When questioned about forgetting the lyrics for the second time and whether it was scripted, she responds, “I can’t discuss the specifics of forgetting the lyrics.”
In a notable performance, Menuka sang ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ when Indian actor Ranveer Kapoor visited the Indian Idol set to promote the film ‘Animal.’
She is currently pursuing a music diploma in India, emphasizing her commitment to leave a lasting impression on the Indian audience after putting in considerable effort.
The spotlight turned on her when a video clip of Ranveer touching her feet and praising her as the goddess of music went viral.
Menuka, however, claims she only found out about it later.
She mentions, “Well, I didn’t know at the time. I only learned about it later when others told me. What can I say? But everyone watched the video with respect, and that was good.”
She also reveals that Ranveer gifted her glasses after the performance.
Furthermore, not only did judge Kumar Sanu commend her, but the kingpins of Bollywood music, including Udit Narayan, Anuradha Paudwal, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam, Richa Sharma, Amit Kumar, renowned composer Anand Milind, director Mahesh Bhatt, and others, elevated her voice to the stature of Lata Mangeshkar.
Menuka received a pair of AI-powered glasses as a gift from a doctor during her time on Idol.
However, false claims circulated that these glasses enabled her to see.
Despite their assistance with reading, Menuka explains that adapting to them is challenging.
She clarifies, “These are smart vision glasses. It doesn’t restore sight when worn. The glasses have a camera, and when connected to a mobile app, the camera scans and the app reads the text aloud.”
Menuka points out the drawbacks, mentioning that the glasses, due to the attached camera, become hot and heavy, making them uncomfortable to wear.
In terms of her journey on Indian Idol, Menuka expresses satisfaction even though she was eliminated from the top ten.
She considers the opportunity to broaden the scope of her talent a significant achievement.
She reflects, “I received more than I expected. My social network continues to grow with daily additions of Indian followers. It is my responsibility to make the most of what I have received.”
Reflecting on the recording process, Menuka shares, “Salar is a one-take song for me, but it took three days to record. Singing line-by-line songs lacks emotion, so I put in extra effort to infuse the song with the necessary emotions.”
Looking ahead, Menuka plans to dedicate 70 percent of her time to Indian audiences.
She is currently pursuing a music diploma in India, emphasizing her commitment to leave a lasting impression on the Indian audience after putting in considerable effort.
While currently in Nepal, Menuka intends to return to India soon.
She reveals plans for a world tour with the Indian Idol team, spanning six countries, including Mauritius, the UK, America, and South, starting in April.
She attributes her inclusion in the team to popular demand, expressing excitement about the upcoming international tour.
Menuka is currently relishing excellent opportunities to lend her voice to Bollywood film songs.
She reveals that several songs are on the verge of release, with offers pouring in for others.
Shortly after gaining popularity on Indian Idol, Menuka had the chance to record the song ‘Suraj Hi Chhawan Banke’ for the movie ‘Salar.’
She considers this song to be a milestone in her career.
Reflecting on the recording process, Menuka shares, “Salar is a one-take song for me, but it took three days to record. Singing line-by-line songs lacks emotion, so I put in extra effort to infuse the song with the necessary emotions.”
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