How did Saba Azad master the Kashmiri accent in her latest film?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Saba Azad faced challenges in mastering the Kashmiri accent.
- The film is inspired by the life of Raj Begum.
- It showcases two distinct time periods.
- The role required specific phonetic accuracy from Srinagar.
- Collaboration with the director was key to her performance.
Mumbai, Aug 30 (NationPress) Actress Saba Azad, who features in the newly released streaming film ‘Song of Paradise’, has opened up about her journey of mastering the Kashmiri accent for her role.
‘Song of Paradise’ draws inspiration from the life of Padma Shri awardee, Raj Begum. Saba Azad plays the lead character alongside Soni Razdan, depicting two different eras. The film provides insights into the life of this esteemed awardee.
In a conversation with IANS during the film's promotional activities, Saba shared that while she had some familiarity with the Kashmiri accent, the film required her to delve deeper into its phonetics.
As a voice artist, Saba had knowledge of a different Kashmiri accent, but this role specifically called for the accent from Srinagar. She admitted that mastering the character's diction was quite the challenge.
She stated, “It wasn’t a cakewalk; there was certainly a challenge. There’s a tendency to exaggerate since everyone has some awareness of the accent. As Indians, we encounter numerous languages and accents daily in a bustling metropolis. You meet people from West Bengal, Punjab, and Kashmir, so all these accents linger in our subconscious.”
She added, “The real challenge is to avoid overdoing it, which is where Danish (the director) played a crucial role, guiding me to stay true to this specific region.”
“It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and I truly relished the opportunity to immerse myself in it. I hope more projects like this come along for all actors,” she concluded.
Produced by Excel Entertainment, Apple Tree Pictures, and Renzu Films, ‘Songs of Paradise’ is now streaming on Prime Video.