Anushka: dramas don't have to talk about the revolution

Artist Anushka Cairo – Marwa Yehya   Artist Anushka appears once again in a new TV drama “Naji Atallah’s Group”, thrilled to be starring alongside Adel Emam. She tells us that the new comedy drama is greatly disparate from the events of the revolution. The singer spoke to us about her reasons for not singing for Egypt and the revolution as well as future projects.
*Well, firstly we would like to know how you were nominated for the TV drama “Naji Atallah’s Group?
I had a meeting with producer Safwat Ghattas and once we sat down together he made a phone call where he told the person on the other end that I had arrived, only to find out that that person was Adel Emam. I think this is a huge new step in my career and the drama is brilliantly written. Also, director Rami Emam is known for his special work, he’s brilliant and I’m so happy to be working with this team. I was so happy with this role that I used to find myself feeling serene and centered every time I would visit the set.
*There was a huge delay in filming your scenes. Why is that?
You’re right, I was meant to start filming months ago but due to security reasons after the revolution we had to change filming locations and some scenes had to be modified. Getting permission for those locations took a very long time.
*What’s your role in the drama?
To be honest with you I can’t really talk about it. Adel warned all of us not to say anything as all our characters are linked to one another. But I play an Egyptian Lady who works in a Diplomatic environment and the drama is comedic as you would expect of a show with Adel Emam in it. I appear in the 15th episode of the show and I consider myself lucky as all my scenes are filmed with Emam.
*Are there any preparations for the character?
For sure; every character is different from the other and has its own look. I play a Diplomatic character so I have to look formal and dress in chic clothes, nothing casual. I currently go to the set and we do hair, makeup and wardrobe rehearsals until we reach the final look for my character.  
*Did any changes take place in regards to the script or characters after the 25th January revolution?
No, not at all. They are two separate things. We can’t and shouldn’t put scenes that weren’t already there just because the revolution took place afterwards and especially because this is a drama in the comedy genre; it’s just illogical. Adel Emam’s work is famed for its comedic style and he’s delivered messages through his works before such as in “Hasan and Marqas” and “The Embassy in the Building,” so we don’t necessarily have to talk about the revolution in every work that is taking place.
*But many dramas included the events of the revolution in their work as they worried people may be still be living those events. What do you think?
I’m really against this- you shouldn’t just include unrelated scenes in a drama that has nothing to do with the revolution. The revolution has great importance and we should be more respectful of it than filming scenes at every opportunity, even when it is obviously irrelevant. We need to think twice before doing that.
*Does that mean you’re against all the productions that included the revolution?
No, with all due respect to anyone who sang about the revolution, I personally don’t like singing for  specific occasions or events. Although I do feel happiness about the comeback of songs about my country, and raising the flag for a purpose other than football games, so I’m not against singing about it, it’s very nice of them to do so. Loving our country should be constant and running through our blood, not only when something happens. For example when I sang “Kind Country” with Mohammed Monir and “Zahret El Awtan”, it wasn’t for any specific reason.
*How come you included a national song in your 2001 album “I wish I could be,” even though it was a commercial album?
I did do that yes, and I got a lot of criticisms for it; I did it because I liked the song and really felt its meaning, so I truly enjoyed singing it. Their criticisms didn’t affect me though because I think it was a good step on my behalf and it’s a good thing to put a national song in a commercial album. I do what I feel is right and this was a portrayal of my love for my country. Therefore there’s no reason to say those who went to Tahrir Square are patriotic and those who didn’t are not. The reason I didn’t dedicate a song for the revolution is because I think it is a much bigger thing than a simple song dedication from myself.
*What do you think of Arab singers who sang for the Egyptian revolution?
It’s expected to sing for Egypt, it’s the “mother of the world” and it doesn’t mean other Arab countries are of any less value.  Naturally, each person loves their own country we can’t deny that Egypt is the mother of all countries and a base for artists. It is smart of them to sing about the revolution because they know Egypt is the place to market themselves but Egypt deserves the world’s respect and whoever wants to sing for it should.
*Do you think those who have only wanted to get famous?
No, I didn’t mean that, everyone is free to express themselves how they want. For example if I was intensely following the revolution’s events everyday in front of my TV screen then that is my way of expressing it. But I can’t deny that there are people who sang just for fame, not many of them though, but I blame the media for unfair and inaccurate coverage of the events. I wish our media was honest and would actually appreciate Egyptian citizens without fabricating the facts.
*What do you mean by “appreciate Egyptian citizens?”
I mean Egyptian media should change and give Egyptian artists priority over foreign artists and treat them the way they should be treated. I have nothing against Arab artists who work in Egypt but I believe that they get much more attention and rights than Egyptian artists do.
*You haven’t released a new album since your last one in 2001; how come?
I paid all expenses for producing my last album, which was uploaded on the internet only 10 minutes after its release, meaning I lost all my money. TV stations demanded 2000 Egyptian pounds for each of songs that they play on TV, and coming from a small production company, I can’t afford these costs so I stopped. I do live concerts in the Egyptian Opera House but there aren’t any TV stations that broadcast them so it feels like I’m always missing from the music scene which isn’t true. Artists who are signed up with production companies have the privilege of having their concerts and performances broadcast the whole time, as many of their production companies own those TV stations.
*Why did you only act and not sing in the dramas you were a part of?
Because I treat “Anushka the actress” as purely an actress; and put all my energies into acting. I don’t want to show myself as a singer who’s trying to be an actress.
*What’s your opinion on selecting Ashraf Abdel Ghafour as the Head of Acting Professions Union?
I respect and value him and everyone else who worked in the Union.  Ahmed Maher or Ashraf Zaki each had a lot to give, positive and negative, and I’m sure has a lot to offer in future.
*The first thing he did was to repeal the law which prevents other Arab actors from working in Egypt; what’s your take on that?
I didn’t know about this decision, but if they’re able to work here then we should be able to work in their countries as well. But this has to be studied carefully, for example we can’t stop someone from working with a certain actor, and we should give priority to Egyptian actors not Arab actors who have been in Egypt for a very long time and are considered Egyptian.
*Have you ever thought of playing out another artist’s biography?
Yes, I would have loved to play and present the biography of Tahiyya Karioka, however actress Wafaa Amer will be playing her, but I wouldn’t want to play someone who’s already been played before. If I do get offered that role I will reject it, even though I was going to portray her in a different way. But what’s important to me is that the biography is written honestly and shows the negatives before the positives. When I watch Wafaa Amer playing Karioka I won’t be watching her imitate Karioka, I will be watching the actual events in her biography.
*What are your newest works for the future?
I am currently preparing for a whole album of all the old classic songs, like Najat and Abdelhalim Hafez and others. Additionally, I will be working on another song called Sinjil by Khaled Munir and composed by Ahmed Naser and produced by Ashraf Mahrous. But I don’t really want to talk about the idea in detail as I’m worried people will steal my ideas.