Looked up Pasoori after I saw Ali Sethi on Time's 100. As I searched for his channel on YouTube, I realized I had subscribed to his channel when I had landed on Chandni Raat sometime ago. I am always awed every time an artist speaks to an audience beyond boundaries and barriers. The visuals of folks from all walks of life and of all ages having to share a space and how humanity is found each time there is an event happening beyond the labels -- that is art and bless the hearts of artists who speak and spread love beyond labels. The last time I felt this moved by a song was when I listened to Ki Jaana Mohanaanga — The Thilang Connection by singer Srinivas.
While the search went on and after a few dance covers, I found the making video, sort of a behind the scenes video where Ali speaks about the idea behind the song, and a beautiful message that I thought is apt to share with the kids, especially youth!
Here's me trying to rephrase:
Like Ali said in the making video, [choose to] "be completely rooted [in your culture, heritage, the strong genes that brought you to this world, the wisdom of good teachers, etc. and yet] "be completely free and open"; "be local [embrace your identity and be proud of it] "and also be global" [because you know your audience is the world though your identity is local; so absorb and acknowledge the good around you--even if it's different--and use them in your words and actions carefully].
Choose to do--what your older self will be proud of--and make your best allies (your parents and grandparents) proud!
Now (until the time your brain is fully developed at the age of 25) is the time to study for knowledge is something no one can take away from you and that knowledgebase you get--will become the foundation of your successful future!
Gratitude to the artists who remind us of how human we are--how alike we are amid labels for we all bleed red and share the same emotions.
Article on Time:
Making video:
The song - Pasoori:
