Inside Out 2 features RJ Malishka as ‘Anxiety’. Malishka is a well-known voice, not only from her morning broadcast but also from a few Hindi-dubbed movies. She talks about her new series and provides some fascinating anecdotes about being the voice of ‘Anxiety’ in an exclusive interview with The Pioneer.
Riya Kommineni
Mumbai Ki Rani,” with her hit show Morning No. 1 with Malishka, RJ Malishka Mendonsa, has been a well-known voice that brightens residents’ mornings. Not only that, but she has provided the Hindi voice of characters in films like The Incredibles and Thor: Ragnarok.
The radio host attended multiple auditions early in her career because she always thought she had what it took to be in show business. “I was accepted at the first radio station I applied to,” she declares. Her first radio station, Win 94.6 FM, shut down after two years because she was so devoted to it. She then joined Red FM, where she has been for a number of years.
Mendonsa believed she had a lot of promise, even though she faced tough competition. The host has been able to combine her personal interests with a variety of themes through her show.
The Tumhari Sulu fame always loved to sing and dance and saw herself as a performer when she was little. She was able to assume this job and integrate this element of entertainment with journalism through her radio show. She claims that the show is a collection of important topics. “It’s love, it’s emotion. It’s all of it. Because we’ve been so well-known over the years for doing these things, our listeners and guests inevitably like having them on the show.”
Her first animation performance was in The Incredibles, when she provided the voice of the seductive villain Mirage (known as Mona in the Hindi version). Having gone through that, she was asked to try out for the role of ‘Anxiety’ in the Hindi adaptation of Inside Out 2.
Riley, a recently prometed teenager, is reminded of Inside Out 2 by Disney and Pixar. Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust play the same parts as they did in the first movie. But as Riley enters high school and progresses through puberty, feelings of embarrassment, envy, anxiety and ennui surface and he battles with the first feelings. For Riley’s welfare, they must put aside their differences and cooperate. She relied on her personal experiences during her exclusive interview with The Pioneer, saying, “At least once a day, you feel a little bit too anxious about something, whether that be your future or something unknown. I therefore directed that energy onto the microphone, simulating the sensation of being highly apprehensive and stuttering somewhat.”
She says that they worked with the dubbing directors to make the necessary changes so that portions of the movie didn’t get lost in translation from English to Hindi. But dubbing isn’t just about literal translation. The voice of ‘Anxiety’ claims, “The directors and voiceover performers must also take into account Indian context and customs and incorporate two cultures in a way that the audience can understand.” The interviewee goes on, “She believes that Inside Out 2 is a motion movie that depicts the reality of growing up and navigating unfamiliar and novel emotions.”
Malishka also says, “When you’re first born, your parents are your safe haven. Everyone loves you and you’re the focus of attention. But as you get older and attend school, you have to adjust and grow up a little bit. You have to gain social skills and develop a mild obsession with getting along with people—if I don’t, something bad will happen. Riley’s experience with trying out for the hockey team, moving to a new school and having to make new friends is covered in the film similarly to this. I think most people who suffer from anxiety would agree that it’s not fun. But according to Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 fame, ‘Anxiety’ is a necessary feeling that aids in mental regulation, rather than being portrayed as a villain in the film. ‘Joy’ is a good emotion to convey the sense that everything is alright. Although anxiety might make you feel bad, it can also serve as a shield. We all eventually discover how to control our feelings and integrate them all under this roof so that we never feel out of balance.”
The radio host has acted in a few live-action films in addition to dubbing. She is scheduled to star in Nikhil Advani’s next series, Freedom At Midnight, as poet and independence warrior Sarojini Naidu. She exclaims that she is thrilled for its release and has enjoyed every step of the process, without giving away too many specifics.
“It’s a different thing to shoot for a regular project,” she says as our fascinating conversation draws to a close. “Due to the use of prosthetics, the Freedom at Midnight look test is very unique. Sarojini Naidu is one of my favourite liberation fighters and I’ve learned so much from her poems, so this is really wonderful.”
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