I have been waiting for years to do a musical collaboration with art," says Sona Mohapatra, who is gearing up to release a music video inspired by the paintings of Odisha-born, globally acclaimed Delhi resident artist Asit Kumar Patnaik. Creating music inspired by works of art may have gained credence in the West — with Cold Play's Viva la vida being inspired by the work of Eugene Delacroix (representative painters of 19th French Romantics) and Rihanna's Rudeboy inspired by the Keith Haring's creations — but remains largely untapped in India.

"I connect deeply with Asit's work. His art holds a place of pride on my walls," says an ecstatic Mohapatra, who has been following his work for decades. "Few know that I have been an art student," says the singer who is glad that the music video is releasing when the world has slowed down during the pandemic. "Art galleries like Moma and the MET in New York are showcasing their work online for free to spread the joy, and healing that comes with art."