Patna boy shines in music contest in US

PATNA: A city boy and former student of DPS, Patna, Pallav Dayal (26), now settled in the US, bagged the first runner-up trophy in Chicago Indian Icon (CII) competition held early this week.
It was the first-ever Bollywood singing competition organized by an Indian event management group in 10 different states of the US. Altogether 250 persons took part in it.After several rounds, top three contestants were selected in each category of the vocal music competition. Pallav received a trophy and cash prize.
"I am currently working with Accenture and based in Hartford, CT (Connecticut's capital). I have always been interested in music and consider myself lucky to have been blessed with 'musical sense', which has helped me win numerous competitions without any formal training. I had always wanted to become a playback singer but born to doctor parents, I was strictly told that I could venture into music only after graduation," Pallav told TOI.
"My category was male (13-30 years). We were judged by some of the eminent personalities such as Sharda (titli udi fame), who has won Filmfare award twice, Grammy award winner Pt. Ronu Mazumdar and others. Shekhar Suman hosted the finale. The episode will be aired on various TV channels in mid October. The judgment criteria was vocal ability, performance and wow factor," Pallav said.
"I had taken part in a music competition for the first time in 2009 when I had participated in an interschool competition at DPS Patna and won the second prize," he said.
Pallav's father, Dr Daya B Dayal, professor and head, forensic medicine, Army hospital, New Delhi is elated. "I was the only parent to be called on stage by the anchor of the show, who said, 'dhanya hai aap maa baap jisne aise kalakar ko janam diya," he said.