Musician Sona Mohapatra is currently in one of the best phases in her career, having been part of 52 shows with her band in the last six months. She’s not pandered to the mainstream music culture and yet had nearly 2 lakh audience at her shows, she feels blessed. Live music has been her forte for its immediate reception and challenges, she equates it to her drawing room. “There’s no retake nor a revisit, you directly impact an audience. The bigger the crowd, the happier I am. The charm of stage craft is incomparable,” she says ahead of her concert in Hyderabad this weekend.
The singer bats for diversity in musical flavours across the country though her surroundings sometimes limit her. “From the gatekeepers to the media to the statemakers in Mumbai, many believe there’s only one celebrated form of music. I’ve always looked upto the South for its musical circuits.”
If one were to go by her social media presence, she’s used music to channelise her role as a social commentator. She calls spade a spade and is never known to mince her words. Internet has been my greatest ally, Mohapatra says. “I interact, fight with my environment on a daily basis, and have found an audience that knows my interests also go beyond music.”
Close to her heart
Sona Mohapatra
The musician has been in the news for her brainchild ‘Laal Pari Mastani’ recently, a series that celebrates the roots of Indian music and poetry. The colour red is a moniker that her fans identify with-on social media. She calls the project ‘ambitious’, celebrating writings and music of the likes of Amir Khusro, Mirabai and the roots of our culture. While she’d recently released a re-imagined version of a Mirabai bhajan shot in 360 degree at Vrindaavan, her larger aim is to create a social dialogue.
“My heroes have been Amir Khusro, Mirabai, Kabir, Andal. They’ve used music to be subversive, prodding you to think about their times and surroundings. We're looking to create music, short films, travel, photographic essays and celebrate art, artistry and opinion. Mirabai was singing in the streets of Rajasthan, where women are still expected to wear a ghunghat. She questioned norms through music, celebrated sensuality. I want to create content and expression from a feminine perspective, there's very little of that in mainstream media,” she points out.
Mohapatra doesn’t deny that film music defines the country’s popular culture and one that has ensured audiences for her shows. She finds great content coming through the medium, but insists it shouldn't be the only flavour of a nation. “If you only get to have chocolate flavour at an ice cream parlour everyday, it doesn’t excite you much. It limits you. Film music has been the soundtrack of my life, so did something like Satyameva Jayate. The most exciting indie-music is produced by the desi bands like Thaikkudam bridge, Kailasa, Avial, that create music of their land. The idea of indie music being mostly English bands won't help us.”
Social stance
Has her strong social stance affected her shows, popularity or music? “I believe taking a stance alienates a bunch of people, but you also meet allies. The majority always plays safe. Leaders of packs are always alone,” she avers. “The country is in a good place, the larger lot that loves you keep it to themselves, they aren’t the ones trolling you.”
As she rehearses for her Hyderabad gig, Mohapatra is happy to be playing for a ticketed audience. “Those are the fans that matter, they’re putting the money where their mouth is. Hyderabad is a city that knows to party and I promise a party of a lifetime. I’ve grown up here and I’m happy to present them some of the best lineups in my band.” The singer has done a large part of her schooling here, her elder sister lives in the city too. She intends to extend her Hyderabad stay for a couple of days and take her band around the iconic spots of the city.
“I customise each show according to the venue, there will be a section in the show that’s an ode to Hyderabad, the popular culture, you’ll have the Telugu numbers too,” she promises. (Fever FM’s Sona Mohapatra-Live and Unplugged is on at Shilpakala Vedika, Hyderabad on June 9, 7 pm)
