by Subhash K Jha

It was a special day, and a special episode. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa couldn't have chosen a better star-judge.

Priyanka Chopra, a singer in her own right, flew down from Delhi to specially join the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa team to record their Republic Day special.

"It was exhausting," the stunning Chopra concedes. "But it was worth my effort. I've been a Sa Re Ga Ma Pa fan ever since I can remember. In fact my dad (who likes to sing) and I were on the Baap-Beti special of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. So when I was invited to be on the show I couldn't say no. I rushed from Delhi on Sunday afternoon and went straight from the airport to the recording."

Priyanka had as much fun listening to the contestants as they had having her around. While Hemachandra will be seen singing Ae watan tere liye (Karma) and A.R Rahman's Vande mataram, Debojit will croon Ae mere pyare watan (Upkar) and Shankar Mahadevan's Suno gaur se duniya walo.

Vinit stunned Priyanka with his rendering of Zindagi maut na ban jaye(Sarfarosh) and Kar chalen hum phida (Haqeeqat)

Himani and Nihira who were part of the special episode sang Ae mere watan ke logon.

Exults Priyanka, "They were all s-o-o g-o-o-d! I was supposed to select my favourite from the contestants. But I just couldn't bring myself to do so. I quietly wrote down one name and gave it to Gajendra Singh for future reference...I'm surprised at the amount of singing talent in this country. Since I'm fond of singing myself I felt so happy being with these truly gifted boys and girls."

Incidentally Priyanka has taken singing lessons. "In fact." She confesses with a laugh. "I sang for Bluff Master. But I didn't like what I heard. So we finally dropped it. Maybe some day again."

As far as the boys and girls on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa are concerned, they're willing to sing to Priyanka's tune any time.

The Republic Day special of Sa Re Ga Ma on Thursday with Priyanka will be interspersed with footage of the contestants at the Republic Day parade.