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Pratichee Mohapatra and Anushka Manchanda on Nancy Drew, Harry Potter and reality shows
‘You need luck or you’ll just stay gifted’
Photo: K. Ramesh Babu
Singers and former band mates of VIVA, Pratichee Mohapatra and Anushka Manchanda take the definition of being ‘best friends’ to a whole new level. One starts a sentence and the other finishes it. They meet everyday, live a few miles apart, share everything about their lives and are almost inseparable. So much so, that they feel that they can soon get married and have each other’s children!
With a combined work portfolio that included singing for movies like “Chak De”, “Cash”, “Shootout at Lokhandwala”, “Golmaal” and forthcoming movies like “Kabootar”, “Devdali Chakkar” soon and a soon- to- be- released private album, they’re currently one of the singing sensations of the industry. As the dramatic Pratichee and enthusiastic Anushka jibber-jabber away on the reality show they did together, their love for clothes and shoes, Nancy Drew and Harry Potter and how tomboyish they both are, Renuka Vijay Kumar listens in complete disbelief at their 10-odd parallel conversations.
Anushka Manchanda: Is there anything we disagree about?
Pratichee Mohapatra: The only thing different about us is that you’re extremely friendly and you know too many people and I don’t.
Anushka: But you have also become mean now, Pratichee.
Pratichee: I’m not mean. Now don’t say that. You’re making its sound like I’m this mean, mean person. I just like my own space.
Anushka: Yeah. So I also like that. It’s rubbed on to me. I also don’t let people take me for granted anymore.
Pratichee: Yeah, which is good. It’s about time. There were people who were just walking all over you.
Pratichee: But yes, we disagree on time. It’s not like you don’t reach on time. You’re always just making it on time.
I reach on time. Like aaram se. There is no stress. You’re always hurrying here and there. With you it’s like… (imitating Anushka huffing and puffing panting and saying) ‘OK… OK... What’s the time? What’s the time?’ And in the process probably missing just one person, and avoiding banging his head and sending someone to an early grave. Anushka: But I haven’t killed anyone yet…
Pratichee: (bowing) Thank you very much. Aap ne hum par ahesaan kiya hai, ki aap ne kisi ko bhi nahi mara abhi tak. By the way, why didn’t you wear my skirt for Halloween?
Anushka: Cause it looked like a balloon, (pause) on me! It looked as if like seven children would pop out.
Pratichee: (laughing) I knew you were going to say that. We can complete each other’s sentences. What do you think of the new reality shows? I think they’re a great platform and if I had known how big it was (Channel [V] Popstars) I would’ve made better use of it. But if we had a choice today, I would not have liked to live together.
Anushka: The whole thing hit me only after the shooting had finished.
Pratichee: ...only after the band had disbanded did we realise how big this whole thing was. All the reality shows that came later were based on that one.
Anushka: Which one did you like better? Pratichee: I have fonder memories of Fun on the Run any day. But then, we were not friends. Let’s be honest. On Fun on the Run we had fun and we made great friends. And we were like little boys, we enjoyed all the physical activity and it was good to know how hard we could push ourselves and each other.
Anushka: The first one did more for us. But for this we’ve been all rounders. We composed and sang the title song for this show, as well as participated in it.
Pratichee: I always say, however talented you are, you need a little bit of luck, or you’ll just remain talented. You have to exploit that talent. By the way, Anushka, would you like to get the band back together?
Anushka: No
Pratichee: Why?
Anushka: Because…
Pratichee: You don’t want to sing with me Anushka?
Anushka: No…because only two of us will be in the focus. Mahua is also there…and one is in Hong Kong and is married.
Pratichee: The other one was responsible for the band breaking up.
Anushka: Who is she?
Pratichee: (laughing) The one who’s name we cannot remember! The one ‘Who must not be named!’
Anushka: What do you think should happen now in Harry Potter? Ya...but there should be more books now. For god’s sake, Rowling wants to write mystery or detective novels now. Please, after Harry Potter…
Pratichee: You never know ok. There’s a Nancy Drew movie coming soon and it is completely not the way I had pictured Nancy Drew. I was extremely upset when I saw the trailers. She’s a wimp, skinny, no personality thing.
Anushka: Yes… I agree
Pratichee: As a kid we all read Nancy Drew and you have this image of someone who’s sure and confident of herself and solves all these cases.
Anushka: Cooler for gods’ sake!
Pratichee: Yaaaaa….someone cooler. This one looks like a 13-year-old who should be told, ‘Go to bed! No supper for you tonight.’ I don’t think we’ll watch that movie.
Anushka: No no. Of course we’ll watch it. Why don’t you come with me for No Smoking?
Pratichee: I’d rather sit at home and be on Facebook. What a sterson. It’s been a long time since we made a new word na?
Anushka: Ya, like Stool…stupid fool
Pratichee: What a stool!
Anushka: I like that, I like that!
Pratichee: Even ‘sterson’ is nice. Like a cool ‘sterson hat.’
Anushka: Sterson is ‘stupid person’ na? What about foopid?
Pratichee: Ya…I like our new language for lazy people. Like ‘botter’ for bottle of water.
Anushka: Ok, no don’t share anymore. But all the other lazy people after us will thank us.
Pratichee: And they will be eternally grateful for our hard work.
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