Amazing Kids with Amazing Future?

I must admit — I was once completely hooked on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs on Zee TV. My love for the show wasn’t because I’m a musician or because of any professional interest. It was something more emotional, more instinctive.

It was the children.
Children with voices that could melt the hardest hearts. Children whose performances often put adult singers to shame.

What amazed me more than their talent was the background they came from — many of them not born into privilege or wealth. And yet, their commitment, their hunger to achieve, and their ability to shine under pressure was breathtaking.

As a mother, I witnessed that world firsthand.

My daughter was once a participant in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs International, and I took a long leave from work in Fiji just to be by her side in India. From choosing the right songs to rehearsing tirelessly, from emotional highs to nerve-wracking results — every moment was intense. Each day stretched from sunrise to midnight, with stress woven into every note.

And yet, there was joy.
Pride.
A belief that maybe, just maybe, our child might make it.

But After the Spotlight?

That’s where my questions begin.

What happens after the lights go off?
After the last applause fades and the reality show ends?

Where are the voices we once clapped for — Pawani, Sanchita, Diwakar?
How many of them have sustained visibility, let alone success, in the highly competitive world of Indian music and cinema?

Yes, Shreya Ghoshal is a shining example — but how many Shreyas are truly allowed to rise?

We often forget: the Indian entertainment industry is one of the biggest in the world, but the talent pool is even bigger. There simply isn’t space for everyone. And when these children are no longer in front of the camera, we rarely ask:
Where did they go? What became of them?

Is Talent Enough?

The reality is harsh.
No matter how brilliant these children are, without sustained support — financial, emotional, artistic — many fade away quietly.

Their families sacrifice everything: jobs, time, savings.
The children themselves carry the burden of dreams far too heavy for their age.
And after the final episode, they are often left with recognition, but no roadmap.

So, What Can Be Done?

I don’t claim to have all the answers.
But I do believe this:

We need to create platforms that go beyond the show,
Mentorships that last beyond the season,
Support systems that don’t just showcase talent — but sustain it.

Because talent is not enough.
Visibility is not enough.
Care is what converts potential into legacy.

Let’s not allow these young stars to become forgotten credits on an old YouTube video.

Let’s ask — not just “Who won?”, but
“Where are they now?”
And more importantly — “What can we do for them next?”