Indian Idol Junior winner: Thank you for liking me!

Bangalore's Anjana Padmanabhan, 10, was crowned winner of the first season of Indian Idol Junior on Sunday. None other than megastar Amitabh Bachchan arrived on the show to do the honours.

Anjana doesn’t speak Hindi, but her powerful and melodious rendition of Hindi songs won the audience’s heart. And to add one more magical moment to her life, she made her acceptance speech in Hindi: “Maine yeh expect nahin kiya tha. Main bahut khush hun (I didn't expect this. I am very happy)."

“Although we were competing against each other, we were like a family filled with unique characters and had our moments of joy and sorrow. I am thrilled at having been chosen the nation’s first Indian Idol Junior. All I can say is a big, heartfelt thank you for liking me,” said the confident youngster after winning the competition.

"I have grown as a singer, made friends and have learnt Hindi after coming on the show. Even now, I hardly understand the meaning of the lyrics but I manage to learn and sing,” she says.

The phone hasn’t stopped ringing after she has won the Idol title.

“My parents are very proud of me. Teachers, friends, relatives all are very happy, and I have been getting calls and messages after the results,” he adds.

So, what’s the first thing she wants to do after going back to Bangalore?

“I want to eat idli, masala dosa and pani puri,” comes the quick reply. But you get the best pani puris in Mumbai, she is told. “I like Bangalore pani puris,” she insists loyally.

The first winner of Indian Idol Junior received prize money of Rs 25 lakh from Sony Entertainment Television, a Nissan Micra car, a fixed deposit of Rs 5 lakh from Kotak and Rs 2 lakh from Horlicks.

She says she has given the money to her parents, but would like to use some of it to visit Disneyland or Wonderla Amusement Park in Bangalore.

The student of Delhi Public School took lessons in Hindustani classical music for three months from Shriman Pandit Hegde before appearing on the show. She wants to continue learning with him after returning to Bangalore.

The judges of the music reality show were singer Shreya Ghoshal and music composer duo Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani. Karan Wahi and Mandira Bedi played host.

In her previous interview with rediff.com Anjana had mentioned that Shreya Ghosal is her favourite judge but she hadn’t got an opportunity to take her autograph.

“Finally, I managed to get her autograph. I will show it to all her fans in my building,” she smiles.

And her career goals? At 10, they can be anything. Anjana wants to be “a playback singer or a pilot.”