Hannah Montana turns 20: Mumbai fans talk about how the show influenced their lives

Hannah Montana. Pics courtesy/Getty Images

Miley magic

Diya Pingulkar

I watched the show in between school, tuitions and everything else. Until then, singing mostly meant Hindi songs, but the show nudged a shift towards English pop. Discovering Miley Cyrus's music, her performances, both as Hannah and as herself, influenced me and instilled confidence. It was reassuring to see an "ordinary 13-year-old" live an "extraordinary" life. I conquered stage fear; even now, being on stage and singing comes naturally.
Diya Pingulkar, 22, student, Chembur

Identity matters

Lenisha Dsouza

My older siblings introduced me to the show. Revisiting it later brought a different connection. I learnt from Miley to balance life as Hannah during my confusing teenage years. In moments when she felt lost, her godmother, Aunt Dolly (Dolly Parton) would appear with relevant advice. In Hannah Montana the Movie, the moment where she removes her wig and chooses to be herself, was significant, and raised questions about identity and expectations.
Lenisha Dsouza, 24, student, Mira Road

Sense of self

Ritu Desai

I began watching the show as a six-year-old, and it became an obsession, a world of American schools, friendships and daily life. With the Internet still expensive at that time, I typed out the lyrics, printed it, and shared it with friends. Her music was one of my earliest creative influences. I learnt music and wrote original songs.When I revisited her journey later, it brought a deeper sense of empathy about the difficulties of growing up in the spotlight. The friendships, the desire to live normally and the iconic wardrobe, left a mark.
Ritu Desai, 30, educator, writer, musician, Borivli