19th November, 2024
28th October, 2018After receiving global critical acclaim for her debut album 'Journey to the Sun', Pragnya Wakhlu, a musician, composer, and activist based out of New Delhi is breaking new ground with her sophomore album 'Kahwa Speaks'.
As a concept, the award winning album (that brought home the title for Best Folk Fusion artist at the Radio City Freedom Awards 2018), looks beyond the terror-stricken portrayal of Kashmir, venturing deeper into the metaphors, cultural figures and musical styles that continue to enrich the state of J&K.
The album's title track 'Kahwa Speaks' uses Kahwa (a traditional Kashmiri tea) as a metaphor for human life. In the same way that the various ingredients of Kahwa come together forming a beautiful brew; the song questions, “Can we do the same as a society and bring a more positive, emphatic and prosperous human paradigm with more acts of love and kindness?”
Influenced by the unique singing style of a Kashmiri bard called Ladishah, the song takes on a lilting story-telling style that alternates between poetry and music.
The music video for Kahwa Speaks, explores the by-lanes and villages of Kashmir, with Pragnya sharing her music and interacting with the people of the valley. Directed and shot by local filmmakers, Rumaan Hamdaani & Xulkarnain Dev; the video uses Kahwa as a metaphor for life and gives the viewer a glimpse into the daily life of people in Kashmir and their love for community, through an unconventional lens.
The innocence, laughter and smiles of the children and the elderly alike are a heart-warming sight. It is refreshing to see that the music video intentionally stays away from the run of the mill portrayal of beautiful valley vistas, cosmetic tourist friendly shots and (disappointingly) popular messages of strife, terrorism and unrest in the Kashmir valley.
In totality, the video explores the human side of the people living in an inherently beautiful region torn apart by political agendas; mixed messages; and media hype. Wakhlu’s ode through Kahwa Speaks serves as a reminder that there is more to Kashmir than what meets the eyes and ears.
Here is the link to the video -
