Prakriti Kakar: I am happy I started the year with two songs

Prakriti Kakar on making her Bollywood singing debut Katra from Alone.
How did Katra happen?
Ankit Tiwari (composer) had seen me perform with my identical twin sister Sukriti at fashion shows. He asked us if we could be a part of his shows as female vocalists. We started travelled with him for shows in mid-2014. So, he knows what my zone is. He did the scratch and final recording for Katra (Alone) on the same day.I had to sound very innocent, like I am in love but at the same time, it was a song where I am seducing a guy so it had to be sensuous. The first thing Ankit told me was, ‘This is a song you’ve probably never sung in your whole life.’ I couldn’t wait to know what the song is like. When I heard it, I fell in love with it instantly. He gave me a lot of freedom. I designed my own little inflections and variations. I couldn’t have asked for a better debut. The recording was done in two hours. I didn’t even take a voice note, so when the song released two months later, I couldn’t recall the entire song. People are comparing it to Zara Zara (Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein) and Aa Zara (Murder 2).
What is your equation with Ankit Tiwari?
He is humble, he is very down-to-earth. He is somebody I learn a lot from. His command over music is great. He is a fabulous singer, and very hardworking. Even on shows, he outdoes himself so much that I have something new to learn every time. Both your sisters Akriti and Sukriti are playback singers. How does it feel to belong to such a musical family? We draw inspiration from each other. My weakness is my sister’s strength. The atmosphere at home is musical at all times. We are each other’s biggest fans and critics. I get to learn a lot from Akriti. I have seen her grow. She is very encouraging. My mom is a music teacher too so we get honest feedback at home.
READ: Injured Akriti Kakar quits Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa
You perform on stage with your sisters too.
I’ve been performing with both my sisters as the Kakar Sisters Collective for the last four years. Sukriti and I have been a duo for three years now. We have a crazy telepathy on stage. I can scan what she’s going to do and vice versa. She can tell when I’m going to miss a line so we cover up for each other. Every time we perform, people have tweeted or messaged us, saying, ‘We love you, Supra.’ We are planning to call ourselves that.
How does it feel to become a Bollywood singer at 19?
I am like this little baby right now. I’m a two-song-old singer in the industry and it just feels great, because people sing so many songs and still don’t get noticed. I am happy I started the year with two songs. The fact that I am being recognised for my own voice is a huge deal for me. It has given me the push I needed to work even harder and be as versatile as I can get.
Listen to songs of Prakriti Kakar on Gaana.com
How did music happen?
Everybody in the house sings, except dad. When mom realised our calling is music, she insisted that we learn from another guru because if the mother is teaching the kids, she will be a little lenient. Akriti also suggested that I trained in classical music so I did that for seven years. I play the keyboard too. Western music came very naturally. I never learnt it but that’s how I started singing in school and college. My early influences were Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. I was born and brought up in Delhi. My sister Akriti wanted to sing in Bollywood and since there is no scope for Bollywood in Delhi, she came to Mumbai with my dad. The rest of us moved here later. When I came here, I was told that we are going to Bombay for a holiday. I was in school back then. Imagine my surprise when I was enrolled in school here and realised we were here for good. This city was a culture shock for me.
Do you plan to compose songs?
Sukriti and I have actually composed a few songs, but we haven’t done much with them. We are experimenting with EDM sounds blended with folk and filmi tunes.
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WATCH: Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar Official Showreel