For those of you who grew up in the 90’s – Shubha Mudgal may already be a familiar name. The vocal powerhouse and classically trained singer, delivered the most iconic rain song of all time, which also happens to be one of the most cherished tracks from 90’s indie-pop era – ‘Ab Ke Sawan.’
But what also sets apart Mudgal’s glorious talent is the way she used it to sing several unconventional tunes of our times, telling a new heartwarming story of eye-opening realities with each new collaboration.
In a span of nearly 2 decades, the powerhouse vocalist has lent her chops to sing some truly unforgettable songs on a number of socially-conscious subjects, ranging from women empowerment to child-labour.
Working with poignant songwriters like Gulzar and Prasoon Joshi and singing their tunes with a sense of conviction that only she could have wrought, Shubha Mudgal is definitely one of the greatest things that happened to the Indian Pop music scene.
Here are some of her most inspirational tunes over the years, which carry crucial social messages:
MANN KE MANJEERE
A song that deals with the true essence of female empowerment. A resilient voice of self-reliance and fighting against the odds. The confidence she projects while belting the lines, “Sun lo, ab na akeli hu mein, apni saheli mein, sathi hu apni mein” is sure to send shivers up and down your spine!
MUJHE PANKH DEDO
As part of the ‘Stayfree women for change’ campaign, this song talks about the emancipation of girls, allowing them to live, breathe and flourish as freely as their male-counterparts.
SEEKHO NA
A much-relatable tale of a shy wife, unable to convey her desires to her clueless husband. A story that resonates with so many Indian women – ‘Seekho Na’ is a song about a woman’s longing, interpreted in a beautifully understated manner.
SAPNA DEKHA HAI MAINE
A heart-wrenching song about the outcomes of child-labour, shown through the contrasting differences in the way children from varied backgrounds are treated differently.
MAATI
As part of a campaign to spread HIV awareness, this song does its job through the visuals than the lyrical content. Starring Mandira Bedi and Sameer Soni, the short music video conveys how an unfaithful relationship exposes a young couple to the disease.
PYAASI
A collaboration with soft-rock/fusion band, ‘Swarathma’ for the ‘Global Water Challenge’ initiative, this beautiful piece tackles the issue of water-scarcities in rural areas and excessive wastage of the same in urban localities.
Truly a goosebumps-inducing, spine-tingling experience, right?
There are a number of other equally fascinating and inspiring tunes from Mudgal’s catalog, and we’ll leave it up to you to explore it on your own.
Here’s to hoping the celebrated diva releases some new pop-fusion music soon!