It is 6.30pm and the house lights are about to dim. The Thursday crowd is shuffling steadily into Science City auditorium. A few minutes later, strains of Tere ishq nachaya fill the packed house. Sona Mohapatra has arrived and slowly she cranks up the volume to 11 and keeps it there for the next two-and-a-half hours . “I have a long process of meditation and riyaaz before a concert. It’s a preparation I deeply cherish as I perform and sing non-stop for close to four hours at times!” she told t2 after the concert. 

The first show of the third edition of Emami Cultural Fiesta was not an ordinary one because Sona is no ordinary singer. She throws in a story here, a fearless statement there. The 39-year-old ensures that every gig is different.
Here are some of the things t2 learnt about supergal Sona during and moments after the February 11 gig. 

Good versus Hit
When we were growing up, Bollywood music was about good music, today it’s about hit music, which has more to do with marketing than any really musical pedigree or conviction. As a result of this, it’s harder than ever before to get quality music out for the audiences. 

All choices or decisions are... testosterone-driven
I feel the entire economic scenario is down to negotiation. If someone values you, they’ll pay you what you think you’re worth, male or female. Sexism is rampant in the industry, but that’s an extension of our society and that is the case across the globe, including Hollywood. One can’t change without the other, but being the front runners in gender equality would only reflect well on us.

You might be surprised to know that hardly any solo female artiste with or without a band gets to headline college campus festivals and more so in our esteemed IIM and IIT campuses. All the choices and decisions are subconsciously or otherwise testosterone-driven. Unless we as a society and media take note of such matters, we cannot expect our inherent gender biases to change.

Rewind to Gauhar Jaan
I was reading Vikram’s (Sampath) book (My Name is Gauhar Jaan!) in between recording the song. She (Gauhar Jaan) was among the only women in society at that point who had her own money and was truly independent. She was also a powerful and individualistic artiste. We’ve come a long way from those times, but much more needs to be achieved.

Asked to pursue Tina Turner school of songs
But my persistence won! I really like the sound of my singing voice, so I continued learning music seriously. My mother was always a supporter and committed to my cause of singing. Then I started winning music competitions in Hyderabad which gave me the confidence that I was on the right track. My musical hero as a teenager was Shubha Mudgal as she had a big, strong, classical voice and had made a mark in the mainstream. I came to Mumbai, worked as a marketing manager for five years while I kept playing my demo to music directors, that’s how I got here.  

The playlist

• Tere ishq nachaya
• Piya re piya re
• Aaja ve
• Rangabati
• Shundori komola
• Piya se naina
• O ri chiraiya
• Rupaiya
• Jugni
• RD Burman tribute: Chaand mera dil, Bolo bolo kuch toh bolo, Meri soni meri tamanna, Aaja piya tohe pyar doon,  Puchho na yaar kya hua, Ab jo mile hai to
• Jiya lage na
• Aaj jaane ki zid na karo
• Abhi na jao chhod kar
• Abhi nahin aana sajna
• Naina
• Bedardi raja
• Folk medley: Kava kava, Genda phool, Taar bijli sey patley hamare piya, Resham ka rumal
• Ambarsariya
• Bolo na kya hua
• Dama dam mast qalandar