Bengali sisters give Germany a taste of Bollywood

Two teenage NRI sisters, who had caused ripples back home after reaching the finals of a popular reality show in Germany, have lost, but not before providing the audience there a taste of Bollywood.

In the finals of 'Germany's next Showstars' contest broadcast on the European country's Pro Sieben channel late Thursday night, Debarati Mandal, 18, and Nabaneeta Mandal, 14, could not make it to the top three.

But, before making their exit, the Bengali siblings did create a fan base for Bollywood songs and dance there.

"Oh, my God! India was never so near to us, super sexy, full of mystery, exact, professional and your smiles reach us high up," DJ Bobo, one of the jury members exhilarated after their performance.

"Everyone, including the jury, was ecstatic after our performance. Although we didn't win the contest, we didn't lose either," Debarati said over phone from Frankfurt.

She said, "They (Germans) had heard about Bollywood, but had no idea how entertaining it can be. Our hip swings, which is so common in India, left the judges so fascinated that all of them came to the dancing stage and asked us to teach them the steps."

"We had never felt like celebrities here before. But now people recognise us everywhere. The old and young stop us midway in open crowded places and ask us for our autographs. The rest of them whisper among themselves: "Look, there go the two Showstar Finalist sisters," Debarati exulted.

Altogether 585 groups competed in the preliminary stage of the talent hunt show which began on May 4. Ten of them managed to get into the finals, which was won by Energetrix group.

The teenagers, who had named their group 'Indian Rhythms', gave a two-minute performance on hit Bollywood numbers -- "Dheem Ta Na Na" and "Mera Mahi Bada Sona Hain".

During their performance, the stage was decorated in a typical Indian style with two large stands carrying 105 candles, a garlanded Natraj statue and statues of elephants with flowers spread all over the stage. A curtain carrying the Taj Mahal filled the background.

"Immediately, after our performance, a German couple tossed elephant-dolls to us on the stage as a token of love and respect for our performance. The jury asked us about the significance of lighting so many candles.

"I explained that the light symbolises brightness, prosperity and happiness and in India, we dont blow off the candles, rather we allow them to light up the occasion," Debarati said.