JEDDAH — Ankita Mishra, the singing sensation of Indian Idol 3 fame, will perform at the closing ceremony of India Festival, organized by the India Forum under the aegis of the Indian Consulate, on Friday, Jan. 25 at the auditorium of Indian International School, Jeddah (boys' section). The passionate 22-year-old singer believes that teachers and gurus with patience and a sense of duty give one the gift of knowledge. It was Mishra's parents whose love for music imbibed in her the passion of singing. Mishra remains indebted to all her gurus, especially her mother, who recognized and nurtured her talent from the tender age of four. Her educators helped her flourish and grow into a versatile and accomplished singer. Mishra is among the very few fortunate ones who had the opportunity to be mentored by some of the music industry's most established music directors, iconic classical singers and acknowledged playback artists. It was under their guidance and support that Mishra took her first steps as a playback singer for the Indian film industry. A self-driven individual, Mishra is passionate about everything she does. She was not a trained classical singer but upon realizing its importance in music, she went ahead to polish her singing in that genre. On Indian Idol 3, Mishra won the hearts of not only her audience but also of poet, lyricist Javed Akhtar and music director Anu Malik. Fond of reading and enthusiastic about bikes and cars, Mishra loves dancing and has won many state level competitions. A graduate from the Delhi University, Mishra credits her parents for her upbringing and instilling high values and morals in her. The talented singer enjoys the appreciation, love and encouragement of her fans. Their support is what keeps her motivated and gives her the confidence to try out different styles of singing in various genres of music. Appreciating the presence of her fans in her life, Mishra promises to make them happy with her gift of singing. — SG
