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Jasmine Singh
Me too... everyone had more or less the same question for playback singer Sona Mohapatra, who was in Chandigarh to promote singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. However, Sona, who neither wanted to evade anything nor say something on it, couldn’t stop herself from moving around the periphery of the topic. She, who had to face a lot two years back when she spoke against Salman Khan, says she is ready to bear the brunt of sharing her story in the #Metoo movement. “Women have been called names, shamed for many things, and we’ve navigated through this. Now if someone is asking why now, I would say it is a totally stupid question.”
Wearing a yellow designer jacket designed by Shahin Mannan, Sona tries to make light of the moment as she shares how men are kind of scared of her now. “I can’t help call a spade is a spade, and this is how it is for me.”
Sad scenario
Out of the total songs that are being made, male singers get to sing 50 per cent, while 40 per cent are duets where a female singer will get to sing the last few lines; the rest 8-9 per cent of the songs are sung by female singers.
Big struggle
Life is a struggle and I like the uphill climb, but I have always been clear from day one that I am ready to struggle as an artiste; however, there is no room for compromise. Even during my struggling days, I was working so as to bring food on my table. I had to sell my Santro car to make the video of my song. This is okay as long as I am doing things on my own terms.
Don’t try to be Arijit
To all the contestants who look for overnight success, I want to tell them do not try to become Arijit Singh. The playback scene in the industry has changed. Contestants should develop their own personality and take inspiration from Punjabi singers. Even though I joke about the sameness of their songs, look how well they have built their industry that now Bollywood wants them.
No originality in B-town
This is my favourite topic but it’s true; there are hardly any original tracks in Bollywood, the singers are scared to explore originality, which is why they are remixing old songs.
Music beyond entertainment
I am inspired by Meera Bai and Amir Khusro for their work. This is why I have created my alter ego, Lal Pari Mastani, a project where along with my music composer husband Ram Sampath, I have released four singles online.
Batalavi, next
Somebody showed Shiv Kumar’s interview on TV and I was mesmerised by him. I started researching on his work, but somehow it was left mid-way, but this is still on my mind, and I would certainly do something about it.
Punjabi singers
I like to listen to Punjabi singers Barkat Sidhu, Hans Raj Hans, and I really appreciate song writer Munna Dhiman from Chandigarh. In fact, Munna has written my launch song for Sa Re Ga Pa.
jasmine@tribunemail.com
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