If you remember correctly, this season of American Idol began with not one but two Malakars: Sanjaya and his older sis, Shyamali. Shyamali, aged 19, didn’t make it past into the Top 24. This upset her baby bro, but he has trudged on and become the most controversial contestant in at least several seasons.

Shyamali and her mom are often found in the audience rooting for Sanjaya. Shyamali, who is only two years older than her brother, is very protective of Sanjaya. Perhaps, this stems from their parents’ divorce in October 1992 when Sanjaya was just three years old and Shyamali five. Vasudeva Malakar filed for divorce against Jillian Recchi.

The couple had been members of the Hare Krishna movement, according to Star magazine. At the time of the divorce, the family was dirt poor. “Jill and the children were living in a Seattle apartment, and her only income was $531 a month from welfare.”

Shaymali assures TV Guide that Sanjaya “does not worry about criticism” because “he does not care what people say.” This includes Simon Cowell. Shyamali admits that she “admires” Cowell for “being honest” but does not “know that he is right in everything he says.”

She also says that she didn’t expect Sanjaya "to get as far as he did, and I did not expect him to be such a phenomenon, but he could get as far as [the top] four or five.” In fact, she feels he has a shot at the finale against Melinda Doolittle which “would be crazy.”

Indeed!

Want to relvisit the siblings' auditions in Seattle? Here you go: