Shilpa Raju gets to sing a duet with Najim Arshad

Chennai: Being a finalist in a reality TV show has paid rich dividends for Shilpa Raju who has managed to get a break in Mollywood with a duet in an upcoming movie `Just Married.`The recording of the song, a duet with popular singer Najim Arshad, was over in December last year, she said.

She was a finalist in the Asianet `Idea Star Singer` 2011-12 season and the hours of practice for the event finally paid off. In between, she got to record a song in an album composed by music director Deepak Dev. The song `Melle, Melle` was a hit on radio stations. She got to record the song as part of being among the top contestants in another TV programme. Her rendition drew praise from visually challenged composer Afzal Yusuff who has her crooning for him in the movie `Ee Yathrayil.` "She is a talented singer and I have no doubt, she is going to go places," said Yusuff, whose works came in for special mention from the Kerala State Film awards jury this year. "Hers is a solo composition, a melody, and the lyrics by veteran Yusufali Kechery," Yusuff said. Though she has rendered fast numbers as part of reality shows, Shilpa Raju feels her voice is suited for melody numbers. "I have a penchant for melodies." A graduate in literature, she wants to pursue her studies as well as her singing career.