PTI
 
New York, Feb 17: Seventeen-year old Sanjaya Malakar became the first Indian-American to make it to the semifinals of the 'American Idol', a nationwide talent hunt in the US for the best singing voice.
 
He is the youngest among the 12 male contestants with the next being eight years older to him. The finals of the highly-rated Fox television show are slated for May.

The 24 -- 12 men and 12 women -- are the cream of the thousands who auditioned across the nation for the contest which could get the top artistes highly lucrative contracts.

Sanjaya, who says overcoming shyness was the toughest obstacle in his life, has been singing right from childhood -- "once I stopped crying" as he puts it.

Sanjaya, from Lacey, Washington, had entered the contest along with his sister Shyamali, 19, who is now out of the race for the top spot.

Talent hunters closely watch the show which brings together young singers from diverse fields and backgrounds.

Sanjaya said his father was a classical Indian musician and "they were raised around music."