The road to success is often described as lonely, where one has to travel alone. This romanticizing of melancholic solitude in the name of success, however, steers us away from stories that prove this stereotype wrong.
A successful path doesn’t always have to be a solo walk through thorn fields and dark alleys. Instead, with the right person, it turns into something more bearable, if not easy. And the best example of this is the musical journey of the Nandy Sisters, Antara, and Ankita Nandy.
The dynamic duo has won people’s hearts with their music in recent years. They are a formidable pair who have enchanted the world with their Ukulele and vocal prowess. Despite being a public figure, very few know about the sisterhood they share among themselves, which is shaped through music.
HFM, however, was lucky enough to interview them and get an insight into what the Nandy sisters are off the stage and behind the screen. This is their story, a testament to the transformative power of music and the extraordinary strength found in shared passions. So, sit back, relax, and let their melodies guide you on a journey that celebrates the magic of sisterhood, the beauty of shared dreams, and the music that binds us all.
How did it all begin?
This is the first question that pops into anyone’s mind whenever they witness the Nandy sisters perform. They share such an incredible bond that it makes one curious about their journey, not just as singers but as sisters who found a mutual love in music.
The answer to this question might surprise you. “Our journey started quite differently,” is the response in unison by Antara and Ankita. They further explained that coming from a family of scholars and engineers, music was treated as an incentive for studies, and only Antara, the elder sister, was lured by it. Ankita, on the other hand, from a young age, was too distracted to recognize her calling at a tender age.
Hence, those thinking the sisters had it figured right from the beginning might be completely wrong. Earlier, it was only Antara who was passionate about discipline. So much so that she says, “Since the day I gained consciousness, all I thought I could do was music; there was no option B.”
Antara was somewhat of a prodigy in the sense that she started early. At the tender age of four, she was already getting her recitals and learning the ropes of classical music. By 9, she had appeared in one of the country's most prestigious singing reality shows, Sare Gama Pa Lil’ Champs, and made a name for herself.
Little did she know that her younger sister was also getting passively influenced by her singing. Ankita, the younger sibling, was subconsciously catching up to her. Her talent was not realized until she corrected Antara during a dubbing session, and the beautiful journey began.
The Sisterhood of Melody
The sisters came together to sing for the first time during the COVID lockdown. Stuck in Kolkata during the nationwide quarantine, the sisters decided to turn to music for their pastime.
Their first video on Instagram was not even planned. Talking about the same, Ankita said, “We just randomly shot a video and put it on Instagram. And it went viral.” Giving birth to what would be known as the phenomenon called Nandy Sisters.
Following their viral video, the sister duo decided to make more videos on social media. They later named the series Balcony Concerts, where they uploaded more than 30 videos.
The real catch of these videos was the different languages in which the sisters sang. Even this was not planned. “After the first video blew up, we saw people commenting: why don’t you sing in our native language? So, we ended up singing in all these languages, including Bengalese, Assamese, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, and Konkani, to name a few.”
These videos gave Ankita some confidence to come out and embrace music as her identity as well. Antara explained that this was the first time her younger sister took music more seriously. In her own words, the reason behind it is that “Antara’s sister wasn’t her identity anymore; it was Ankita Nandy” who was coming out in front of the people and performing her heart out.
Following the success of their online acts, they traveled the world with a new identity. They were the Nandy Sisters, the duo that performed Indian folk with Ukulele.
The support system
What follows any internet trend or trending personality is a bunch of unsolicited advice, comments, and trolls. And they’re strong enough to break even the biggest and bravest out there. However, they couldn’t breach the bond shared by the sisters.
When asked about the challenges they must face in the industry, the first one was being compared to one another. It didn’t affect them, though, as Antara and Ankit have had each other’s back since childhood. They don’t see each other as sisters; their relationship has transcended that status. They look at each other like teacher and disciple.
Talking about looking up to her sister, Ankita says, “If I’m singing today that’s because of her (Antara). If she had not made me sit and do my recitals, I wouldn’t be here.” Antara also shares the same bond and feels proud to see her sister achieve greater things in life.
Together, they have overcome different challenges in life. Hence, overcoming trolls on the internet was not hard either. They became each other’s support system and embraced the fact that each of them was unique and different, and that’s what made them who they were: The Nandy Sisters.
Fitness and Music
It takes some mental fortitude to overcome the comments made by random people on the internet. Still, mental fitness and strength are not the only prerequisites for a successful singer. According to the Nandy sisters, physical fitness also plays an essential role in the singer’s life.
“For a flutist, their instrument is the flute. For a vocalist, your instrument is your entire body,” explains Antara when asked about the importance of fitness in their lives. Ankita also shared an anecdote of how Shantanu Mukherji (famously known as Shaan) also leverages physical workouts to enhance his singing skills.
She explained, “Shaan sir has a gym right beside his recording booth.” Antara chimed in and told us how Shaan could not hit a particular note while singing, and he went for a quick workout to warm up his body. It helped him reach the pitch he was aiming for. Hence, it is safe to say that physical fitness is a vital aspect of a singer’s life.
Advice to the world
Although they have been in this industry for over three years, the duo has some valuable lessons. The biggest is about how to treat online trolls and comments. “Try not to take every comment seriously” is what Ankita Nandy believes in. While Antara has a more interesting way of dealing with the trolls, which her mother helped her develop.
“The moment you stop looking at trollers like trollers and start looking at them like you, your joint family, the effect vanishes,” is Antara’s mother’s advice. She further explains how sometimes family members have their viewpoints, trollers can be the same, and not all of them can be satisfied.
One of the key takeaways from their journey is their emphasis on not becoming a copy of someone. In Antara’s words, “duplicates are sold at a cheaper rate.” This is why the sisters worked hard behind what would work for them before they came up with the idea of singing in multiple languages or with a Ukulele. It was also their way of showing naysayers that Indian classical and folk music can also be performed on a Hawaiian instrument.
The journey of Antara and Ankita Nandy is not just a story of musical success; it’s a testament to the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. Through their shared passion for music, they’ve enchanted audiences worldwide and supported each other through every challenge and triumph. As they continue to inspire with their unique talent and resilience, the Nandy sisters stand as a shining example of the transformative power of music and the enduring strength found in sisterly love. Their story serves as a reminder that with the right companion, any path, no matter how challenging, can be traversed with grace and harmony.
Nandy Sisters: From Viral Hits to Bollywood Debuts
The Nandy sisters, Antara and Ankita, rose to fame with their innovative "Cup Song" videos in 2015, gaining validation from musical giants. Their lockdown "Balcony Concert" series, showcasing their multi-lingual singing and ukulele skills, stole hearts.
Stepping into Bollywood, they debuted with "Nakku Nakur" in the 2023 film "Raktabeej." Antara Nandy also made notable contributions to Mani Ratnam's blockbuster "PS-1" (in 3 languages) and its sequel "PS-2" as a playback singer.
Their current series, "'Gunguna Le,'" features popular actors like Mithila Palkar and Sudanshu Pandey, offering a unique blend of music and acting. The sisters have even spoken at Josh Talks and represent "My Voice, Me TV" in Australia.
More than just Bollywood song covers, the Nandy sisters are passionate about Indian music. They explore and reinterpret folk and classical traditions on their ukuleles, captivating audiences with their versatility and talent.
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