Ishmeet in Young age
Ishmeet with Guru's
Ishmeet Singh was an Indian singer. He was the winner of the first season of Star Voice of India, a highly popular Indian Television singing competition on Star Plus channel. He shot to fame after he won the title. He was the only Sikh who made a mark in the glamour world.
Ishmeet was born on September 02, 1989 to Gurpinder Singh and Amritpal Kaur. He was originally from Ludhiana. He was a second year student of the MNC College in Mumbai.
He was a true fan of well-known Indian playback singer Shaan and considered him as his idol. He also admired popular Indian music director A. R. Rehman and his dream was to sing for him.
Ishmeet had also participated in Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar, a singing competition on Star Plus channel and represented the Champions team. He was eliminated on June 20, 2008.
He died due to drowning in a pool of a resort on July 29, 2008 in Male, Maldives.
The teenager had captured the nation’s imagination with his voice and devotion to singing. His death is an irreparable loss to the Indian music industry.
The tragedy has cut short a promising life but Ishmeet will live in the memories of his fans who will best remember him as the Sikh boy who sang in the long golden brown coat to pick up the Voice of India trophy.
We'll miss you greatly Ishmeet and may God give peace and solace to your eternal soul and strength to your loved ones. Your voice touched our hearts deeply. We mourn your loss and hope that others will gather to share their memories and thoughts to honor your life.
During the contest, I remember being called Mumbaichi mulgi. But after what has happened to Toshi, I take no pride in being called by that name. I feel that Mumbai is not safe anymore. Toshi has been a friend and I know the amount of hard work and struggle that he faced. A few days ago he was saying, 'Sumitra maa ki yaad aa rahi hai! Ghar ka khana yaad raha hai!' I told him to call his mother which he did. His mother had just come to Mumbai a few days before the incident and I can't imagine her plight. I visited him at the hospital but did not have the courage to see him in that condition.
When I heard about Toshi being assaulted, I was shocked! I immediately called him the next day. He said that he had no idea who was behind the assault. I even spoke to his doctor yesterday afternoon. They told me that Toshi's condition was stable but serious. Although we were together for over six months, I didn't interact much with him except for the occasional masti-mazak that happened while rehearsing or while we were backstage. We were well aware of the fact that we had to compete with each other so helping each other was out of question.
Toshi has been a friend. The incident that comes to my mind instantly is, when he attempted to teach me a Sufi song. I can't sing Sufi songs that easily. He always helped me and said, 'Now since I have taught you to sing a Sufi number you teach me to sing Kishoreda's numbers.' We shared a very good rapport! As far as the attack is concerned, I think the incident has happened because of some personal vendetta and has nothing to do with the contestants.
The police had called me for interrogation. They asked me general questions about our friendship and my interaction with Toshi. They also questioned me about Toshi replacing me for the show at Jodhpur. But I must clarify that all the deals of the show are executed professionally in advance. So there's no question of anybody getting replaced at the last minute. The story that the organisers selected Toshi over me is not true. I have known Toshi as a contestant and it was my duty to cooperate with the police.
The days that I have spent with all the Voice of India contestants have been the best days of my life. Toshi and I became friends over a period of time. It was then that he confided in me about a personal matter. He told me that his financial condition at home was bad and how he had to sing at bars and clubs to make a living.
The days that I have spent with all the Voice of India contestants have been the best days of my life. Toshi and I became friends over a period of time. It was then that he confided in me about a personal matter. He told me that his financial condition at home was bad and how he had to sing at bars and clubs to make a living.
"The name of the winner is Ishmeet," legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar declared, reading out the name after Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit Nene opened the envelope, to the delight of the huge crowd at the Andheri Sports Complex on Saturday evening.
The Punjabi singing sensation defeated Harshit Saxena of Uttar Pradesh on the basis of audience votes. However, the total number of votes received by each competitor was not disclosed.
Both the finalists also received 18 kg gold and diamond studded watches of Swaranjali, as a token of love from Lata.
"Usha and I have especially designed this watch for these wonderful kids. We have incorporated a musical key in them to keep these music lovers linked to music," said Lata.
Ishmeet, attired in a white suit, received the trophy from the nightingale of India. He also received a three-year music contract with Big Music, a cheque for Rs 1 million and a gorgeous red Chevrolet car.
"I don't know what to say. I thank God with whose blessings I am here today. This is the biggest day of my life. I will never forget this moment," said Ishmeet, with tears of happiness in his eyes.
Harshit bagged 55 per cent votes in south zone, 52 per cent in east and 60 per cent in west. But the percentage of votes received from the north zone, where both the singers belong, was not announced.
"I had worked very hard for reaching where I am today. I am sad that after reaching so far... However, I am overwhelmed by the love I received from across the country," said a visibly upset Harshit.
The Grand Finale kicked off with a power-packed performance by the 10 eliminated contestants of the Bemisal Barah (unique 12). They sang Show me your jalwa from Madhuri's new film Aaja Nachle.
Later Ishmeet and Harshit joined them with the title song from Chak De! India.
The jury members including Alka Yagnik, Jatin Pandit, Adesh Srivastava and Lalit Pandit conferred the special jury award to Abhaas Joshi of Indore.
"The audience has very closely watched every episode, the progress of this programme and how talented this 17-year-old boy is. Hence our unanimous choice is Abhaas," said Lalit Pandit.
Abhilasha was also conferred a surprise award, a car from Adesh Vijeyta Shankar Foundation.
"I don't know why girls get less votes despite the fact that they sing so well. It is very important to encourage them. Hence, based on the potential and voice quality we decided to give this special award to Abhilasha," said Alka Yagnik.
As the evening moved to its end, the finalists—Ishmeet and Harshit—sang duets with jury member Alka Yagnik and host of the show and evening Shaan. They also competed with each other in singing a medley of their respective regional folk songs.
Silenced Forever: Ishmeet Singh Sodhi
Shocking reports have emerged of budding singer Ishmeet Singh Sodhi, winner of Star Voice of India 2007, drowning in a swimming pool yesterday evening 29th July, around 5pm. The charmingly-polite singer was on a promotional tour with fellow singers in the Maldives when the tragedy struck. Renowned playback singer Shaan, who was also present at the Male’s Chaya Dhonveli resort at the time, said that his cries for help were mistaken to be a prank by his fellows, and by the time they realised and rushed him to hospital, it was too late.
Ishmeet’s body was flown to Delhi today, with the Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal promising to make arrangements to airlift the singer’s body to his home town of Ludhiana. His family are said to be inconsolable.
He was due to perform for the Star Voice of Maldives event on 1st August 2008, and had travelled to the Maldives with an events management group. Upon his return to India, Ishmeet was scheduled to sing for the Nana Patekar flick Horn Ok! Please, under the direction of Star Voice of India judge Lalit Pandit, of Jatin-Lalit fame. The song was to be picturised on supermodel-turned-actor Muzammil Ibrahim.
Shy Ishmeet, who was one of two finalists in the musical contest, beat close friend and rival Harshit Saxena to the crown title in November 2007. Barely 20-years-old, the humble teenager had succeeded in winning the hearts of the Indian and International public with his humility and hard work. After winning the contest, he had promised to fulfil his mother’s dream of achieving a degree in Architecture, since he had just fulfilled his father’s aspirations.
Many of us will remember Ishmeet Singh Sodhi for his superior voice and his sensitive nature; after sharing his ups and downs for months every weekend, his death seems a loss very close to home. And although his voice may not make it to the big screen as he had hoped, he will no-doubt forever be remembered for everything that he stood for.
Om Shanthi Om Shanti Shanti.....................Shanti>........
