[Watch] Odia Singer Susmita Das’ ‘Creative Fusion’ On Climate Change Wins Accolades On World Stage

Bhubaneswar: Odia singer Susmita Das’ s United Nations-backed music video ‘Prithvi Manthan’ received accolades at two international festivals recently. The music video bagged awards at the Golden Sparrow International Film Festival and Austin Music Video Festival.

Defined as a ‘creative fusion’, noted lyricist Shivkumar Bilagrami has penned the song based on the theme of climate change and natural calamities.

Sushmita, who is known for producing songs on contemporary social issues, was inspired by her husband Siddhanta Das, former DG of Forest, Government of India, to highlight the perils of climate change through a musical composition. The song was released on Environment Day this year. Om Prakash Mohanty has composed music for the song. Actress Suryamayee Mohapatra has performed in the video. The dance sequence has been choreographed by Amit Nayak.

“According to mythology, Samudra Manthan happened first. We presented Prithvi Manthan as the second churning. To have a powerful impact, we associated the lyrics with Shiv Tandav. The song is very forceful, packed with mantras, and is rhythmic,” said Susmita.

The music video has been endorsed by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), and Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), a government of Karnataka-undertaking.

Earlier, Susmita had released ‘Ayigrinandini…’ based on Durga Strotram, on the theme of women’s empowerment. At a time when stage performances were restricted due to the pandemic, Susmita utilised the time to produce some theme-based music videos.

Her song ‘Nua Thikana Ku’ won awards at the Cambodia Independent Film Festival, Havelock International Film Festival and was adjudged the best music video by Golden Leaf International Film Festival. It also bagged an award at Madrid India Film Festival and was declared the best music video by World Film Carnival Singapore.

Again, her music video ‘Malhara’, which highlights the beauty of Koraput was adjudged as the best music video at Cannes Shorts Film Festival. It also bagged awards at Global Indian Film Festival 2021 and Little India International Film Festival. “I have done a lot of work during the pandemic even without hitting the stage. I am a musical person and I cannot sit idle,” the singer chuckled.

How does she make her choices? “I was inclined towards good lyrics since childhood. When I started my career in 2005, I got exposed to excellent pieces of writings by Mayadhar Mansingh. So, lyrics are important to me,” she said.

The singer’s latest release is a music video titled ‘cycle.’ “For most Odia people, a bicycle represents the bittersweet nostalgia of distant memories. It evokes the familiarity of acquaintances and paths. In this case, the bicycle plays Cupid for a warm love story,” explained Susmita.