Anasia doing what she loves most
PARODY queen Anasia Govender set the stage alight at the premier of SA’S Got Talent last week.
Govender, who is also known as Annalakshmi (her alter ego), sang a her famous Chilli Kadhai song – which made her an internet sensation earlier this year.
She had the judges and audience in stitches with her humour, talent and a plate of potato samoosas – which she made especially for judges Shado Twala, Jamie Bartlett and DJ Fresh.
Govender, 41, the owner of an Indian restaurant, Chilli Kadhai in Briardene, said she entered to show off her particular brand of entertainment and hoped to win the R500 000 prize.
“On stage I was just being Annalakshmi. I responded and reacted the way she does – in a candid, direct manner,” said Govender.
“I have been doing different accents since I was 12. I listen to people and learn; observation is key.”
She sang a parody of English singer Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, which has become popularly known in Durban as the Chilli Kadhai song.
Govender, who was born in Chatsworth and now lives in Malvern, said she had been writing parodies to market her restaurant since 2012.
“I never sang in public, but when I heard Ed Sheeran’s song I fell in love with it and decided to write a parody and this time sing it out loud,” she said.
Govender’s comedy character Annalakshmi was born within the Sathya Sai organisation, under the guidance of Dr Rajen Cooppan – who is her physician and mentor.
“After being retrenched from my admin job five years ago, I knew I didn’t want to go back to another admin job. To supplement my income I took up Mcing, stand-up comedy and started Chilli Kadhai.
“People suggested I open a restaurant because I cook well. I would do comedy skits using different accents, but the Indian accent proved to be popular – I suppose because it’s believable,” she said.
She said entering SA’S Got Talent would help her get more opportunities to empower people in a positive way. Edutainment was her passion and she aimed to inspire others to believe “dreams do come true”.
She attributes her success to her husband Satha, 46, and three children, Kamalan, 23, Virusha, 16, and Yuveshan, 11.
SA’S Got Talent is screened on e.tv every Sunday at 6.05pm.