How Bias In Reality Shows Led This Teen Singer To Build Her Stage Online

In the small village of Sripur, Tripura—far removed from the bustling cultural hubs of urban India—music was once a quiet companion, a passion confined within the walls of homes and the boundaries of fields. For generations, the Debnath family carried an unspoken love for melody, yet never dared to dream beyond tradition. There were no conservatories to nurture talent, no grand stages to aspire to, only the unyielding reality that music could never be more than a fleeting respite from life’s demands.

However, when Anukriti Debnath, then just four years old, began humming folk tunes alongside her grandmother, her father recognised something extraordinary. Unlike previous generations, he refused to let circumstance dictate her future. Without relocating or abandoning their roots, he rewrote the family’s narrative, transforming their quiet devotion to music.

Today, at 14, Anukriti’s voice has transcended the borders of Sripur, captivating millions online with its authenticity and emotional depth. And while she sings, her father stays in the background, the man who refused to let his daughter inherit the silence he once lived with.

When singer Anukriti Debnath sat down with SheThePeople, she opened up about carving her own path, one that stretches a little further than her parents’ but still carries its own hurdles.

Anukriti’s love for music blossomed at four, “My family is also very into music. My father, my aunt, my mother, my grandmother, they were all into music,” she shared. Growing up in such an environment, Anukriti was naturally drawn to music. “My grandmother and mother are two of the biggest inspirations in my life. She taught me Indian classical basics,” she said.

Speaking about her first ever song, she said, “It was a song from the Disney Frozen movie. It was 'Let It Go' by Idina Menzel. I was just casually scrolling through YouTube and came across this video. As soon as I heard it the first time, I had to repeat it like 50 more times."

Anukriti also shared that her future plans are focused on pursuing Western music, a genre she feels more aligned with. “In my future, I want to pursue Western music because I am not very comfortable with Indian classics. I don’t know why. I feel like Western suits me better,” she shared.

Even though she’s in the 8th grade, she has already set her sights on a career in music. “I’m just thinking of pursuing music for now and for higher studies as well. It’s not like I’m bad at academics. It’s just I don’t feel like I might be able to build a future on academics only,” Anukriti explained. 

Facing Industry Bias & Finding Her Stage on Social Media

However, her journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Anukriti faced multiple rejections while auditioning for reality shows, largely because she preferred singing Western songs. “Many reality shows rejected me just because I sang English songs. They told me it really doesn’t work on Indian television,” she recalled. 

The industry, she realised, had specific expectations. “They told me to learn to sing Bollywood songs because that’s what works for reality shows in India,” she added, acknowledging the traditional norms she had to contend with. Despite these setbacks, Anukriti has continued to persevere. “I am practising now; I practise daily and learn to adapt to the singing style,” she said. 

At the same time, she has found an outlet to showcase her talent on social media. “With that, I am also showcasing my talent on social media. It has given me the exposure, the platform that the reality shows didn’t give,” she explained. Today, she has over a million followers on Instagram and 3 million subscribers on YouTube, “I sing songs and that gets uploaded on Instagram and YouTube, and I am really grateful that my voice is being heard and people are liking it,” she said. 

Talking about how she balances school, music, art, and even dance, she shared that sticking to an early-to-rise, early-to-bed routine plays a big role in keeping everything on track.  “Usually, I get up at around 6.30. My school starts at 8 a.m. So, I go to school. I come back at around 2.30 p.m. I have lunch, and I have either tuition or dance class.”

Dance, she explained, is more of a hobby. “I don’t have any siblings, so I don’t have anything to do in my free time. So, that’s just a side hustle. " Evenings are reserved for short but meaningful music sessions. “It’s like a half-an-hour, one-hour session of just selecting songs for the next cover or just practising the songs that we are going to record in two or three days.”

Why Having a Passion at a Young Age Matters

For Anukriti, having passions outside school is important, especially for young students. “Academics don’t work out for everyone. So, it’s always good to have an extracurricular activity on the side. If my academics don’t work out, then I always have something else to focus on and go back to.”

Though she’s active online, Anukriti keeps her digital habits in check. “Screen time: I set a goal to use three hours or less on social media and everything else, like getting notes and contacting friends and stuff.”  While she uses a smartphone for studies and personal use, her official Instagram, boasting a huge following, is managed by her father. “I don’t manage any of my official accounts. Everything is handled by my dad.”

On a closing note, Anukriti shared that her father wants her to make her own path, “He wants me to get proper training and improve my singing skills as much as possible, and turn this passion into a profession, something no one in my family was able to do.”