Sona Mohapatra and Ram Sampath’s song “Senti Akhiyaan” was inspired by Freida Kahlo
Renowned music composer Ram Sampath and singer Sona Mohapatra collaborated on a song called “Senti Akhiyaan,” which was inspired by Mexican painter Freida Kahlo.
Sampath had the notion to create a music video in which the icon and Mohapatra meet.
Mohapatra declared: “The great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo has long inspired me with her brave personality, creativity, and distinctive style.Even as a student, I framed postcard images of all of her paintings and hung them on the wall of my dorm room, long before fashion editors came across her work in our art and lifestyle section.”
“Loved that she sported bushy eyebrows, wore colour unabashedly and flaunted her roots and identity as a Mexican with pride and aplomb.”
She said that Sampath, her boyfriend, came up with the concept for the music video, “I meet the icon Frida.”
“He felt that the Senti Akhiyaan composition and music arrangement had a strong Latin American flavour, and it was fitting to draw inspiration from her imagery and in a sense also pay homage to our common love of celebrating our roots vs blending into the generic landscape of what is considered pretty or glamourous in the larger public eye.”
The song explores the idea that the eyes are the gateway to the soul and was inspired by the lyrical thoughts of teenage poet Roshanaara Qureshi. “The first-time young lyricist of the song Roshanara is also a rebel and firebrand also made us both believe that this would be a perfect fit for firebrands!” the song says.
“The fusion of guitars, kalimbas, harmonium, and percussion infuses the song with an organic Latin plus feel,” she stated, discussing the tune. Desi swing contributes to the laid-back and contagious mood of the song; if Frieda were still around today, I think she would love to dance to it.”
Musically, ‘Senti Akhiyaan’ combines classic Indian songs with a Reggaeton groove, with Tanmay Deochake’s Hindustani harmonium interludes adding a touch of spice.
