Sona Mohapatra

Sona Mohapatra is an Indian singer, music composer and lyricist. In addition to her own material, Mohapatra has recorded remixes of songs by David Bowie, with "Let's Dance", and INXS, with "Afterglow", with the latter proving particularly successful.

Background

Sona is from Odisha, born in an Odia family. She did B.Tech. engineering graduate from the Odisha University of Technology and Research in Mechanical Engineering. She also obtained an MBA degree from Symbiosis Centre for Management & HRD, Pune in marketing and Systems. In 2009, she released the single Diljale & Paas Aao Na in the same year. She sang the song "Bedardi Raja" in the movie Delhi Belly for Aamir Khan Productions and did a cameo in it. She has also sung the theme songs "Mujhe Kya Bechega Rupaiya" and "Ghar Yaad Aata Hai Mujhe" for the TV show Satyamev Jayate.thumbnail

Sona Mohapatra came to mainstream prominence with the talk show Satyamev Jayate with Aamir Khan, in which she frequently appeared as a lead singer and performer. She was also the executive producer of the musical project on the same show. Her cameo performances recorded more than 9 million views across sites as per the latest digital count. She confessed in a 2012 interview that the project was all consuming in terms of the emotional and physical energies invested. It involved multiple lyricists, unconventional subjects, and lots of brainstorming on the songs, lyrics, shoots and recordings. To top it all, all songs were translated and recorded in multiple languages. According to Sona, "Odia influences in Bollywood are rare as yet – unlike an overdose of Punjabi, Rajasthani, Bengali and even Southern music". The song "Mujhe Kya Bechega Rupaiya," sung by Mohapatra, was composed by Ram Sampath and was aired on the third episode of Satyamev Jayate, based on celebrating women's freedom. The song has received over 26 million hits on T-Series' YouTube channel.

Personal life

Mohapatra is married to Ram Sampath, a song composer and music director in Bollywood. She first met him in 2002, while she was still working as a brand manager with Marico. They were introduced by director Ram Madhvani, with whom Sampath was working for Let's Talk (2002); they married in 2005. She is partners with Sampath in their music production house OmGrown Music and reside in Mumbai, where they also have their own studios.

Controversies In October 2018, she accused Kailash Kher and Anu Malik of sexual misconduct. In 2019, Mohapatra received a death threat after she lashed out at Salman Khan for constantly taking digs at Priyanka Chopra for leaving Bharat.

Documentary Mohapatra released a documentary film based on her life called Shut Up Sona which won multiple awards at different film festivals.

Discography

Bollywood FilmYearSongComposer(s)Writer(s)Co-singer(s)Ref. Family 2006 "Lori" Ram Sampath Sameer Jumbo 2008 "Chayee Madhoshiyan" Israr Ansari Sonu Nigam "Chayee Madhoshiyan" Aagey Se Right 2009 "Daav Laga" Munna Dhiman I Hate Luv Storys 2010 "Bahara" Vishal–Shekhar Kumaar Shreya Ghoshal Delhi Belly 2011 "Bedardi Raja" Ram Sampath Akshat Verma "Bedardi Raja" "I Hate You (Like I Love You)" Keerthi Sagathia, Shazneen Arethna Talaash: The Answer Lies Within 2012 "Jiya Laage Na" Ram Sampath Javed Akhtar Ravindra Upadhyay Fukrey 2013 "Ambarsariya" Ram Sampath Munna Dhiman Bajatey Raho "Khurafati Akhiyan" Jaidev Kumar Kumaar Purani Jeans 2014 "Dil Aaj Kal" Ram Sampath Prashant Ingole Khoobsurat "Naina" Amal Malik Kumaar Armaan Malik Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami "Ghoor Ghoor Ke" Ram Sampath Sandeep Nath Hunterrr 2015 "Chori Chori" Khamosh Nath Arijit Singh Raman Raghav 2.02016"Qatle-E-Aam"Ram SampathVarun GroverYash Divecha Global Baba"Holi Me Ude"Angel Roman &

TV Satyamev Jayate – Mujhe Kya Bechega Rupaiya, Ghar Yaad Aata Hai Mujhe, Chanda Pe Dance, and Bekhauff

Studio album Sona (Songs – Bolo Na, Aja Ve, Tere Ishq Nachaya, Abhi Nahin Ana)

Compilation Love is (2007) – Afterglow Teri Deewani – Ishq Nachaya Aao Ji – Aja Ve Soulful Sufi (2009) – Abhi Nahin Anaa

Video Dekh Le (2013)

Covers

"Zalima" (from Raees)

Non-film songs

"Mon Ke Bojhai" with Sahil Solanki "Ghane Badra" "Aigiri Nandini" "Piya Se Naina" "Anhad Naad" "Piya Se Naina" on Coke Studio Season 3 "Rangabati" on Coke Studio (India), 2015

Awards and nominations YearCategoryNominated SongFilmResultRef Screen Awards 2014 Best Female Playback Singer "Ambarsariya" Fukrey Star Guild Awards 2014 Best Female Playback Singer "Ambarsariya" Fukrey BIG Star Entertainment Awards 2013 Most Entertaining Female Singer "Ambarsariya" Fukrey Mirchi Music Awards 2014 Female Vocalist of the Year "Ambarsariya" Fukrey 2017 Indie Pop Song of the Year "Ankahee" - Global Indian Musical Awards (GiMA Awards) 2013 Best Female Playback Singer "Jiya Laage Na" Talaash: The Answer Lies Within