Kenishaa Francis
' latest collaboration with professional dancer and Sandalwood actor
Matangi Prasan and rapper
Gubbi
gives
public transport
a push. "Honestly, it is not that difficult to use public transport, but in a city like Bengaluru we treat travel as luxury. Many artistes that I know have been using public transport even during the
pandemic
. Not only does it get you to your destination, but it also saves fuel and cuts down on pollution. Highlighting this was the idea behind this collaboration," says Kenishaa.
Interestingly, the team hopped on to buses across the city to shoot the music video. Speaking about her experience, Matangi says, "When Kenishaa reached out to me, the thought of meeting new people and performing out in the city excited me, so, I said yes. During COVID-19, I have only been doing online live performances and this collaboration was all I needed to hear. Also, I used to commute by bus to college, and my dance classes. I could have travelled by car, but taking the metro or bus has always been my go-to commute option. So, this theme of promoting public transport just connected with me. Of course, the idea of collaborating with a western rap singer was intriguing."
The video, Make That Change, focuses on making better use of Sarvajanika Sarige (public transportation), and somehow bringing our city back to its original beauty with lesser vehicles on the street and more greenery, explains Kenishaa. “The video is just under two minutes in duration, yet has the right feel to make an impact on listeners. I decided to keep it short, as I wanted people to remember every element of it," adds Kenishaa, who used
Bharatanatyam
music for a classic feel to the song. She, then, got rapper Gubbi to give it a final mix for the right balance of hip hop and classical.
As for the shooting of the video, the team managed with only five people at any given point of time. "We took all necessary precautions while shooting, like having masks on while moving from one location to another and sanitising our hands often," says Matangi.