Voice of India Debojit Saha looks ahead to the New Year with high hopes...

It’s the end of yet another year. Time to take stock of the days gone by and look ahead optimistically. I can only say that the year 2007 has been a big learning curve, a time for me to find my moorings in the mammoth and competitive world of Bollywood.

Though it seems quite a long time since I won the Voice of India title, in Bollywood I am still a newcomer.

Here, winning a title is not enough. You have to prove yourself again and again just to get a toehold. But I am not unhappy — nor unduly frustrated.

It is not an easy job sticking around though, waiting for the right people to notice you at the right time. But this is part of the initiation process. Only the best go through this gruelling test, at least mentally. I will not call myself the best but I have faith in myself and know that my time has come.

I recently lent my voice to a new Bollywood film, Jimmy, which will also launch Mimoh, son of actor Mithun Chakrabarty.

I have got some more playback offers in new projects and am looking ahead to 2008 with an open mind, hoping that I will finally be able to break into the big league.

This New Year’s eve, I will be performing in Jaipur, which, I have been told, is one of the most beautiful places in the country.

I have performed almost all over India but Jaipur was one place I had never been to.

I had crossed the city once on my way to Udaipur. So I am quite excited about my first show at a place steeped in history. I know that the people of Rajasthan have a deep understanding of music. I was once asked to judge contestants of a musical reality show called “Voice of Rajasthan”, for which I was in Udaipur.

I also have a few performances lined up, some of which are outside the country.

Finally, a few words on my performance at Panchkula recently about which I had written in an earlier column.

It was a great experience performing live in front of cricket fans during the first semi-finals of the Indian Cricket League.

It was a completely new experience for me and all I can say is that I came back a very satisfied man.

I take this opportunity to wish all my fans and well-wishers a very happy New Year and hope that the coming year will prove to be memorable for you.