Sona Mohapotra: Panchamda’s music was our window to world music

Sona Mohapatra is elated. Currently preparing herself day and night for her performance with the Philharmonic Orchestra on the occasion of RD Burman’s75th birth anniversary in London, Sona is extremely happy that she was the only Indian singer to be invited to this event. As she gears up to perform Panchamda’s eternal songs on the big day, we speak to her about her connect with RD Burman’s music.
RD Burman has been known for mixing disco and rock elements with folk music? Do you feel inspired by that? Panchamda’s music was our window to ‘world’ music and his music continues to inspire us to this day. He introduced us to Latin American and African rhythms and also experimented with jazz and many more styles. He was, in that sense, a true musical iconoclast and a pioneer. I hope to bring all my influences to his music, so that it feels more like a fresh interpretation rather than just a tribute. RD Burman’s songs also form the song book of my life. I have enjoyed singing songs like Bolo Bolo (Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai) and I’ve also sung semi-classical songs like Jiya Lage Naa (Talaash) and my own song Piya Se Naina, which carry Panchamda’s spirit for fusing Indian music with world sounds. I have done this to make a universal musical statement, a musical identity that transcends borders and classification. To get the opportunity to perform his songs with the London Philharmonic Orchestra makes it even more special for Panchamda’s love for harmony and cadence. I hope to do him and his many illustrious collaborators proud.
Which songs you will sing at the concert? It is a two-and-a-half hour concert and I am planning to sing from a range of his films, from Aandhi to Zehreela Insaan (O Hansini). But since I will be singing many of Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale songs, I will interpret them in my own way on stage. Kishoreda’s songs were in a different key and I don’t want mine to sound like covers. This line-up of the concert season is designed to include artistes and bands across different genres and includes dance band Clean Bandit, and the comeback of Culture Club.
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What makes a good live performer? I’ve always seen the stage and live performances as my true calling. I believe that my total lack of inhibition, absolute surrender, genuine joy and unbridled love translates into a connection with the audience, every time I perform. When you’re singing on stage, you’re not only combining language and music; you’ve also got to deal with spatial awareness and be aware of the people around you. You need to evaluate the size of the performance space and think how much energy you will need to fill that space.
What is the difference in Indian and global audiences? Global audiences have a genuine reverence for Indian culture and philosophy, which we tend to take for granted. You won’t hear a cell phone ring in the middle of a concert abroad! Also, the west appreciates the art of live singing. It’s unlikely that you will hear any artiste ‘mime’ and ‘lip sync’ to a track at the Grammys and get away with it.
What is it that impresses you about international artistes? Their element of showmanship. Their concerts feel like epic events. Stagecraft plays a huge role as does presentation.