Cinderella Prakash

It is quite inspiring to watch people who can’t fight for themselves when young, turn out to be mighty, go-getters later. Cinderella Prakash’s story is no different. I heard her initially talk to youngsters at AG church at Hyderabad last year and was totally amazed at her crisp rhetoric and appalling courage. That’s also when I came about knowing she also featured on Satyameva Jayate, where she boldly admitted to Aamir Khan and millions others that she was abused as a child. Imagine saying that on national telecast!  One needs sheer guts. The aftermath repercussions of such incident could be stigmatic. Eyebrows would be raised. All sorts of questions popped. Doors of indifference thrown open. But I believe she took an unwavering stand on this one. Precisely the thing that’s sets apart the winners.

After what she had gone through as a child, if you thought she had only contempt for god and others, you are wrong again. She goes on to paint god’s love in hues you have never seen or heard. Admiration manifolds, when she describes the agony she fought back to pardon the individual who committed such a heinous and disgusting crime. She elucidates; forgiving that individual was near impossible but god compelled her to do that so can be totally healed.  What a transformation that has led to! When she walks on to the dais, you don’t see an abused child but an energetic lady that’s all ready to set fire to the stage.  Her ability to sing, her mercurial skills to turn the tables around, her talent in winning crowds and oodles of resilience & confidence …is simply enigmatic! 

The evening that day was organized as an interactive session with a couple of youngsters posing as interviewers and Cinderella as the interviewee. She took the questions head-on. Though the subject was rather sensitive, she threw some amazing curve balls that put the audience at ease and sometimes in splits. I still recall the googly the interviewer threw at her, “What is the strangest thing that happened after you featured on Satyameva Jayate?” She promptly replied, “I got tons of letters from guys asking me to marry! Gosh! That’s ridiculous, for god's sake; I don’t even know anything about these individuals! How could they even think of marrying me?!”

In between the interview, she sang some numbers on the guitar. 150-odd young crowd was a small gathering, I felt. She taught new songs, made feet tap to new rhythms, delivered some gyan on how to handle crisis situations.  

The evening was a totally enriching experience. Before it all concluded, the interviewers taking a dig at Cinderella’s earlier comments suggested those interested in talking to her can meet but should ensure that they don’t pop the question: “Will you marry me?” To which, Cinderella, turned in a quick repartee with a smile, “Those who are really keen on it, can meet me outside the church” amidst roars of laughter. I would say she charmed herself into everyone’s hearts. Hey, before it slips out of my mind, there’s this number “Mehfuz”, which she sang on Satyameva Jayate sans guitar. I guess it shouldn’t be too difficult to google it out if you are keen on listening to her sing.