Spotlight on 'Shanka' by Arun Sood

Melody maps the voices of the displaced

Shankha focused on cultural displacement, recovery and the ongoing search for identity. Through Satnam's evocative interpretation of the traditional Punjabi folk song 'Jutti Kasoori' the film partly explores the emotional weight of migration and the journey towards self-discovery.

A graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire, Satnam has spent years blending North Indian and Western musical traditions. Her work with her band, Kinaara, as well as her community-based programmes promoting health and well-being through music, further reflect her dedication to connecting cultures and generations through melody.

Satnam Galsian: The journey of 'Jutti Kasoori'

"Jutti Kasoori is a traditional Punjabi folk bridal song, or suhaag," Satnam explains. "It tells the story of a woman walking to her in-laws' house after her wedding, wearing shoes that don’t fit her properly. She’s on an unfamiliar road, unable to speak out of fear. The lyrics express the anxiety and uncertainty of the future as she steps into a new life. It’s about leaving behind one’s childhood home and the discomfort of the unknown."

When Arun Sood approached Satnam about Shankha, the film's themes of power, class, partition, post-independence India, loss and longing resonated deeply with her. "It made me immediately think of suhaag songs like 'Jutti Kasoori'," Satnam says. "These songs convey a similar emotional landscape, especially for women who, at the time of marriage, were faced with leaving their homes and stepping into a new world."

For Shankha, Satnam decided to retain the original Punjabi chorus but altered one word to better align with her interpretation. "I changed the word walk 'turna' to 'rulna', which means wandering in an uncared-for way," she says. "The imagery felt right for the theme of displacement."

Writing the lyrics: A personal reflection on migration

In reworking the verses, Satnam drew inspiration from her own experience as a British-Asian individual raised in the UK, as well as the experiences of her grandparents, who migrated to the UK in search of a new life. "I thought about what it must have been like for my grandparents, leaving their homeland to build a new life in a different country while trying to hold onto their cultural roots. I also reflected on my own experience of growing up in the UK, where we often find ourselves navigating between two identities — one of being part of the local community, and the other of feeling like an outsider."

The lyrics Satnam wrote for Shankha encapsulate these complex feelings of dual identity and migration. In addition to the original folk chorus, she wrote verses in English that explore the themes of belonging and dislocation:

utti kasoori pehri na poori, haye rabba vay sanu turna peya
Jinna raaha deh saar na jaana, ohni raahi ve sanu rulna peya

Displaced and isolated
Left their homes and the land they knew
They found ways to make a new life
Whilst holding on to their values
Hearing stories from our elders
About life in the motherland
We seek connection through their memories
And through the lines on the palms of their hands
Navigating double lives
Westernisation and heritage
One with friends and one with family
Not knowing quite where we fit in
Past, present and the future
Children of migrants we remain
Longing and belonging
We experience every day.

These lyrics echo the emotional journey of the displaced, reflecting personal stories of migration and universal struggles of identity, belonging and the pull of heritage. Satnam is currently working on this song with her band Kinaara, so it has life beyond Arun Sood's film screening. They're hoping to record it at some point this year for their album.

A bridge between generations

For Satnam, music is more than just a performance — it's a bridge that connects generations. In her work, particularly in Shankha, she seeks to highlight the voices of those who might otherwise be unheard. "I believe that music has the power to communicate complex emotions that words alone can't fully capture," Satnam reflects. "This project is an opportunity to give voice to the displacement and fragmentation that many families, including my own, have experienced. It’s about finding new ways to connect with the past while also navigating the present."

Through her collaboration with Arun Sood, Satnam has not only contributed to a powerful piece of art but also to a broader conversation about migration, identity and the role of folk traditions in preserving cultural narratives. Shankha serves as a poignant reminder of how music, history and memory can come together to tell stories of loss, resilience, and hope.

The film is part of The Box’s Reimagining the Film Archive initiative, which aims to bring new perspectives to historical film archives, encouraging contemporary artists to reinterpret and respond to past narratives.

Find out more about Arun Sood's work and The Box's Reimagining the Film Archive project.

Image credit
Video stills from Shankha, Arun Sood, 2025, courtesy of the artist.