Assam's Anamika in top 12 in Zee's Li'l Champs

Guwahati, Nov 7 (UNI) Following in the footsteps of Debojit Saha and Amit Paul, little Anamika is now trying to win over the country with her melodious voice.

The singing champs from the North East have continued to shine at the reality talent hunt shows on television, with Assam's Anamika and Tripura's Smita hogging the limelight in Zee TV's Saregamapa Li'l Champs' latest edition.

The duo has made it to the top 12 of the competition, with participants from across India fighting it out with their little counterparts from all over the world.

The kids had entered the fray a few weeks back, with the judges (Sonu Nigam and Suresh Wadkar) still in the process of sorting out the best from the good before the audience take over the decision-maker's role.

Speaking to UNI over phone from Mumbai, Anamika's mother Subrata Choudhury said her daughter had made it to the top 12 contestants.

''Anamika has been selected by the judges among the top 12. Her hard work is paying off,'' she said.

Selection through telephone, SMS and internet voting will start after the top ten are selected after another week of elimination, with Mrs Choudhury keeping her fingers crossed for Anamika's selection.

She is also banking on the mass support participants from the NE have been getting after making the final cut in such shows recently.

Debojit Saha had set the trend in motion by winning Zee TV's 'Saregamapa Challenge, 2005' with unprecedented support from the entire region.

Amit Paul of Shillong had almost repeated the feat in Sony TV's 'Indian Idol III' this year, missing the top slot by a whisker.

Little Anamika, now a class VII student, had started humming along tracks since the age of two years and has been training under her mother, herself a trained singer, since the age of five.

Her mother said, ''Anamika would sing Ashaji's and Lataji's songs with such ease that we were taken aback. We realised her potential and are encouraging her.'' Anamika's maternal uncle Animesh has also contributed greatly to her musical endeavours by escorting her to all shows and competitions, as her working father seldom gets leave to be with Anamika during her tours.

With the judges rooting for Anamika among the top five, the journey to stardom has only begun for this young girl.

UNI