Sona Mohapatra talks to Ramya Palisetty about the evolving trends and massive disparity in the representation of women
How has the music scene evolved in the past few years in BollywoodIJ
We are regressing as we ‘progress’ and I would like to focus on one aspect of this point which is to illustrate the above statement. An average of only 12 in every 100 songs released in the mainsteam space nowadays has a female voice and the number of solo songs for women are even lesser, this in a country which could not put out a soundtrack without the Mangeshkar sisters! The country is still the same, loves women artists as much as male artists but the people within the industry have surely regressed. Big music festivals like NH7 Weekender have a clear sexist bias with single digit representation on their stages for female artists year after year and even premiere institutes like IIT’s and their festivals like Mood Indigo never inviting a solo female Indian artist headlining the evening. Award shows on television are pretty much the same. Women add colour and glamour to ensemble performances but are rarely the key highlight. One has to make things happen if one wants to forge their own identity as a female artist.
Your music and lyrics have always had deeper meaning unlike the lyrics that are garnering millions of views today. Do you think some of the Bollywood songs have degrading and vulgar lyricsIJ
I have always aspired to be part of music that is timeless and has deeper meaning. Having said that I am also open to groovy songs and don’t think that everything needs to be intense and deep neccessarily. My song paas aao na was licensed to a toothpaste campaign for close to a decade and still plays across several countries for the campaign for example, it is a simple, feel good pop song and has yet stood the test of time when it comes to being loved by millions and appreciated by most of my nerd friends. While mujhe kya bechega sends a message, piya se naina is a sufiana kalam, qatl e aam is a beautiful modern ghazal and jiya lage na is a modern thumri, not every song needs to be intense or deep. Even a pop ditty can be a meaningful piece of magic. Having said that, I have no patience for nursery rhymes posing to be songs. Also, I do not believe in painting a whole industry with one such brush. We have some of the finest writers, lyricists and popular culture ‘geniuses’ writing in the mainstream space today and I am proud to call them my contemporaries and friends, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Varun Grover, Swanand Kirkire, Munna Dhiman and Kumaar to name a few. Each of them have a distinct style of their own, a fine command over language, craft and great cultural insight. So saying that some songs have degrading lyrics nowadays is like saying some humans amongst us are colour blind or any such thing!
Your songs on Satyamev Jayate have been instrumental in changing perspective. Can you shed light
I have always believed in music having the power to bring about social change and being much more than just a mere creation of beauty and entertainment. Satyamev Jayate was a platform where we could work with multiple lyricists and a fearless producer like Aamir Khan to create that kind music that called out to the country and affect change. Ram Sampath composed each and every song on the three seasons of the show and that in itself was an achievement considering every second song on the airwaves nowadays is a regurgitated remix of an old song, with some inane chorus or new rap lines thrown in the name of making them ‘modern’. I was the producer on the music project of Satyamev Jayate and got the opportunity to also perform some of the most iconic songs on the show. I count my blessings for this milestone in my journey as an artiste.
How does it feel to be one of the few people working towards an equal and progressive societyIJ
It feels great! My heroes and inspirations have always been personalities who have gone beyond mere entertainment. Be it Kabir, Meera and Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusrau or in recent times, TM Krishna, Shobha Gurtu Harry Belafonte, George Michael, Nina Simone, Ismat Chughtai, Amrita Shergill to name a few.
As an artist, you are eager to play a role in shaping minds with your music, art and expressions. Is there a specific reason behind itIJ
I want to share my own evolution as a human being with my audience in each phase actually, the intention isn’t preaching to anyone, I am no one to do so. To paraphrase George Gershwin, ‘The job of an artist is to reflect the times they live in’.
Do you think women are starting to stand up for what is right with movements like #metoo garnering momentum across the countryIJ How has your journey been so far in the music industryIJ
Yes. Music is a lot more than just showbiz and there’s much more to me than being a singer. I was a merit student, always been a topper and completed my BTech degree and MBA with honours and scholarships along the way. I also learnt the ropes of working in the corporate world in a quite aggressive FMCG environment which had very few women. This background in education and work helped me set up a successful production house, Omgrown Music, in which I am the producer and where with my partner Ram Sampath, we’ve built a brand that makes cutting edge music for various media. I also believe in creating opportunities for the singer in me and not just waiting for others to offer me work or give me a ‘break’.
Started in 2006 by creating, producing and releasing my solo album SONA along with music videos like aaja ve, bolo na, abhi nahin aana and tere ishq nachaya that are yet talked about till date. I have attempted several innovative ways to release my work and be noticed as an artist independently since then apart from my Bollywood hits, including licensing songs like paas aao na to a toothpaste campaign across 22 countries, having the most viral performances on Coke Studio India. I have had the good fortune of finding allies like Aamir Khan along the way to reach out to an audience I never could have earlier and I am grateful for the opportunity, especially Satyamev Jayate.
This year I embark on a journey of rebirth as an artist to expand my expression beyond music with the launch of the show lal Pari Mastani. Using the alter ego of lal Pari Mastani, I have found a unique artistic expression. I have always wanted to connect music to art, film, fashion, social commentary and bridge the gap. I want to go beyond music and create content that celebrates the values I cherish. I also have a deep fascination for the colour Red. It symbolises many aspects of womanhood and has deep roots in our culture. I want to break the mould of being pigeon-holed as only a ‘singer’. I am much more than that and through lal Pari Mastani, I wish to express these aspects. So this year the audience will see not only new music releases, music videos, graphic art, travel films, photo essays, conversations for change but much much more.
With songs like ambarsariya, bahara and naina, you have always tried to add a different element in each of your songsIJ
Yes, they all depict a different side to my personality and interests.
Can you elaborate on the forthcoming show lal Pari Mastani and your association with a leading radio stationIJ
RED FM is a brand that I’ve always admired for their unique, innovative voice and the way they take a stand on issues. It is also a fun and entertaining channel having a wonderful connect with their audience, so it felt like the most natural collaboration. With my show lal Pari Mastani, I hope to raise my voice on issues that are close to my heart. I’m known to be outspoken on matters that I feel passionately about and with this show, I want to interact with the audience and co-create music, art and film. I’m keen to hear what people have to say and here, there will be spontaneous combustion, live on the airwaves! I also plan to get some interesting guests on the show and one will get to hear some live musical jams, real-time music creation and many other moments of magic. I want to make my audience part of the creative process.