From humming melodies at home to winning The Golden Voice of Goa – Season 2, Sparsh Verlekar’s musical journey is one that strikes a chord
RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT KURIOCITY
For Sparsh Verlekar from Canca, music has always been a part of life. With his father, grandparents, and late maternal grandfather all being musically inclined—he grew up surrounded by melodies. In fact, he fondly remembers his father sing Sonu Nigam and Mohammed Rafi songs while playing the harmonium and tabla.
His own bond with the stage began early. “I was six when I performed my first khyaal—‘Aaj Shyaam Mohan Bansuri Bajake’ in Raag Khamaj,” he shares. “My parents have always been my biggest supporters.”
But it wasn’t until the lockdown that he truly realised how much music meant to him. Although he hadn’t been too keen when he first began learning Hindustani classical vocals, when the classes came to a sudden halt due to the pandemic, the absence left a void.
“That’s when it hit me—music wasn’t just something I enjoyed, it was something I couldn’t live without,” recalls the Class 7 student of Saraswat Vidyalaya, Mapusa.
And winning the second season of The Golden Voice of Goa was a surreal experience for the young singer. “It felt amazing! My mom and I just started dancing when my school’s name was announced,” recalls Verlekar, who competed in the senior category. While he was confident of a top-three finish, hearing his name called as the winner was a moment of pure joy. “My heart skipped a beat. The applause still echoes in my mind.”
What stood out in his journey was not just his talent, but his dedication. “I gave it my 100%,” he says. “My dad would help me practise and correct me whenever I made a mistake. I didn’t have a particular strategy—just focus and hard work. During the finale, I could sense the audience connecting with my performance. Like the meaning of my name, I felt I had truly ‘touched’ their hearts.”
He also credits his mentor, Kunal D’Costa, for shaping his performance. “He helped me a lot, especially in finding the right scale,” he shares. Although most mentoring sessions were online, technical glitches were common. “We managed one offline session, and thatmade a difference. Since mentoring sessions were in the evenings, my academics were never affected,” he adds.
A believer in versatility, Verlekar refuses to limit himself to a single genre. “I want to try everything. I admire Sonu Nigam and Arijit Singh. I love 90s music, Marathi Bhaktigeet, and have participated in several Abhang Gayan competitions,” he says.
The teenager also plays the tabla, harmonium, and keyboard. In fact, he has completed the Prarambhik and Praveshika Pratham exams in Hindustani classical vocals and tabla. “I also love creating my own melodies on the keyboard,” he says.
With his recent win, he is setting his sights higher. He’s now preparing for state and national-level contests, with plans for a music video also in the works. “Let’s see how it goes,” he says.
