The Grand Finale for Indian Idol 4 is fast approaching. The Top 3 contestants, Kapil Thapa, Torsha Sarkar, and Sourabhee, are excited and nervous. They have recently returned to Mumbai after going to their respective hometowns to campaign for votes. Incidentally, or coincidentally, the fact that two of the top three contestants belong to the same region – Eastern India – has heightened the drama. Sourabhee is from Agartala and Torsha is from Asansol in West Bengal.

Right now, all three are bracing themselves and working really hard for the Grand Finale. Tellychakkar caught up with them to gauge their mood and find out who they think can be the next Indian Idol (apart from their own selves, of course).

My first question is the inevitable one: how does it feel to be among the Top 3?

Kapil: Feels great. I am ready to face the final challenge. I am glad for the love and support that I have received from the public.

Torsha: Surely feels good. I am only waiting for the final now.

Sourabhee: I am feeling good – and slightly nervous. Anything can happen now.

The voting system has been instrumental in getting you people so far into the competition. So, till now, it has worked to your advantage. But now, at this stage of the competition, do you still have faith in voting system? Does it make you more nervous now?

Kapil: Indian Idol is a talent show. It is not only about singing. It’s about overall performance. So, when a participant displays that kind of talent, the public is motivated to vote for that contestant. So, to that extent, I have complete faith in the system – which means I have total faith in the public.

Torsha: Yes. I have faith in the system. It has brought me here to this stage in the competition and I am sure it will help me at this stage as well.

Sourabhee: I would say it’s 50-50. Now, everything totally depends on the number of votes. After a couple of days, the public will have two weeks (day and night) to vote for us and anything can happen now.

Of the three of you, two are from the Eastern region. And the number of hometown votes can decide the fate of the contestant. Your thoughts on this? Does it bother you that the Eastern region would be divided in their votes?

Kapil: You may be right, but really speaking in all the places that I visited during my homecoming campaign, I have received an overwhelming response. A number of people came out to support me in places other than my hometown Dehradun. Places like Jaipur, Delhi, and Kolkata saw huge crowds.

Torsha: You are right. Hometown votes do account for a bulk of the total votes. But I am not excessively worried.

Sourabhee: Yes. Hometown votes are critical. And after having seen the video clips of Kapil and Torsha during their hometown visits, I am really nervous. Sourav Ganguly came out in support of Torsha. It’s a huge plus point to be supported by someone of that stature. Kapil’s supporters, too, are numerous. Makes me anxious as I think I don’t have as much support as them.

Of course each of you would want to win this contest. But apart from yourselves, who would you be happy to see as the next Indian Idol? And why?

Kapil: Sourabhee. Because she is a complete performer – a complete package.

Torsha: Sourabhee. Frankly speaking, I don’t care.

Sourabhee: Kapil. His voice quality makes him different. And apart from that, he is a wonderful human being.