All of us are born with dreams of becoming something. Some of those are easily achievable and some are not. But as we grow up, those aspirations change due to the problems we face in our lives. And even if some of us are able to keep those dreams alive, it’s a whole another task to bring it to fruition. Nevertheless, as the goal is to never give up, one 25-year-old is doing just that by singing his heart out at Churchgate station in Mumbai.
According to the Indian Express, Navin Poddar is a resident of Mumbai who had moved from Bihar in August 2017. Since January, he has incorporated his singing into his daily routine, which includes everything from Mohammed Rafi to Shirdiwale Saibaba. He says,
“When I first came here, I did not know anything about he city. I did not know anyone here. Some friends know that I sing well and suggested that I sing at Churchgate.”
Navin usually performs outside the pedestrian subway that lies opposite to the Western Railway headquarters. His set-up isn’t anything flashy and is comprised of karaoke speaker, a mic and his melodious voice.
Navin works at a call centre in Churchgate. However, that doesn’t stop him from spending a few hours singing before he heads home to Nallasopara.
“This is my way of meeting new people and getting to know how to make a living in Mumbai. Right now I do not know where to go if I want to establish myself as a professional singer. Some people have told me that some film studios are located in Goregoan. That is how I am able to understand now where to go and whom to approach.”
Navin sets up shop at around 7 PM and goes on till 10 PM. And even though those are rush hours, his angelic voice usually catches everyone’s attention, compelling them to drop everything and listen.
Thankfully, Navin’s public performances have opened up a few opportunities for him. But since those aren’t a thing yet, he tries to appear regularly at Churchgate to keep his dream alive.
“Singing is an addiction for me. When I sing I feel a lot happier. There have been times when the police have asked me to clear out. But each time I have managed to persuade them to let me stay and sing. I don’t make a lot of noise and do not disturb anyone.”
Despite not receiving any formal training in singing, Navin’s voice is heavenly. He was recently invited to sing at a wedding in rural Maharashtra. Additionally, as his colleagues are aware of his talent, they invite Navin on a regular basis to bless them with his singing.
You can listen to one of his songs here:
Despite all the difficulties in life, it’s truly heartening to see Navin pulling all the stops to keep his dream alive. We hope that someone from India’s music industry notices Navin’s talent and gives him his day in the sun.