Antara Mitra

Antara Mitra (Bengali: অন্তরা মিত্র; born 10 July 1987) is a vocalist and Bollywood playback singer from West Bengal, India. Mitra was a contestant in Sony Entertainment Television's reality show Indian Idol 2 in 2006.

Mitra is from Maslandapur, a small town in West Bengal, near Calcutta, India. She exhibited a keen early interest in music, and her father inspired her. She was accepted as a contestant at age 18 on a national TV show and competed admirably as a finalist in both that show and a successive similar show Junoon.

At one time she considered studying medicine, but abandoned the idea in favour of pursuing a professional singing career.

Mitra literally grew up with music: her father is a music teacher. Since the age of three, Mitra would sing along with other children who came to her home to learn from her father.

When Mitra was eliminated from the contest, well-known music director Anu Malik offered her playback singing work, but Mitra returned to her home town and soon afterward (April 2006) she relocated to Mumbai to pursue a vocal-performance-for-film soundtrack career.

She also participated as part of the Bollywood team of vocalist contestants in another popular Indian TV reality show, Junoon - Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka, where again she was not the winner, however she considers both shows learning and career-development experiences, and expressed gratitude to the TV audience, producers and judges of both contests for allowing her opportunities to perform for the broadcast audience and judges while competing.

Mitra sings in multiple languages: Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, and English and is active in the Bollywood film soundtrack music industry.

Audition

• "Dama Dam Mast Kalandar" (Runa Laila)
  • The judges liked it, however Anu Malik was a bit hesitant.

Theater round

• "Kaisi Paheli Hai" (Parineeta)
  • Mitra was through to the piano round!

Piano round

• "Hume To Loot Liya Milke Husn Waalon Ne" (Private album) – Most votes
  • Mitra received good comments, especially from Anu, "I think I have found my playback singer," and made it through to the finals with the most votes.

• Woh Pehli Baar album – sang a group number and solo "Tu Rutha To".
• TV appearances have included specials (and soap operas) including Navarati, Thodi Khushi Thode Gham, Music Masti Dhoom, Kyunki, Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil, Kitani Mohabbat Hai, K for Kishore and auditioning contestants in Bhopal for Indian Idol 3.
• Was a contestant on Adnan's Bol Baby Bol show (won 200,000 for reciting famous song lyrics).
• Joined Nauman and Salman in Koi Aane Ko Hai, another Ekta Kapoor soap opera (broadcast on Colors).
• Was a semi-finalist (as a member of the Bollywood contingent) on Junoon – Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka singing contest (reality show on NDTV Imagine).
• Was a contestant who reached the final four in IPL Rockstar contest (reality show on Colors).
• Recorded songs in Bengali (Doshomi), Haryanvi (Tera Mera Vaada), etc.

Film songs