Meesha Shafi introduces her very own Rajkumaris

Meesha Shafi dropped her new song 'Rajkumari' on Women's Day (to everyone's delight and surprise) to celebrate South Asian women and featured six strong ladies to honour diversity and female power. Shafi decided to take a moment to talk about who these women in her video are and how each set was designed specifically to represent them.

The singer said she explored symbolism for 'Rajkumari' and shared a series of posts catering to each woman, explaining the elements in their wardrobe and set choices that highlighted the women's identities.

"The first Rajkumari we shot for the video, Huma Mobin, was all set to give birth a week later. She brought such glow, such beauty into each frame with her little, baby Rajkumari curled up inside," Shafi introduced and thanked Mobin for being a part of the project.

Sana Khurshid, who is in a wheelchair, was also featured in the video. She identifies as a disability advocate and consultant. "Rajkumari Sana Khurshid has the power to move mountains. Her resilient struggle is so inspiring, as she goes from door to door, filing petition after petition and endlessly raising her efforts and voice to advocate for accessibility in urban spaces/buildings for all those with disabilities, all the while being an absolute beauty queen!

"To highlight her cause, I wanted her to be seen sitting on a literal throne and for her, it had to have wheelchair access." Shafi revealed she'd asked art director Hashim Ali if he could design and make a throne with a ramp leading up to it. "A tall order, but as ALWAYS, the incredible Hashim Ali exceeded my expectations and the results are here for you to see."

The music video also featured transgender women Jannat Ali and Anayaa. Shafi said she and Ali wanted to dive deep into symbolism and express the struggle of these women through a poetic visual interpretation. "Transgender women are an embodiment of so many divine attributes. This setup aims to bring together the sun and the moon in one harmonious frame," she captioned the only post with two women in it, one braiding the other's hair.

"The braid, one infinitely connected, uninterrupted length of hair, shows them both woven together in their struggle and identity. Making someone’s hair and adorning it with embellishment is an intimate act which cements an unspoken bond. And so often, hair marks both the difference and similarity between gender identity across the spectrum," wrote Shafi.

The 'Hot Mango Chutney Sauce' singer said the contrast between the floor and a galaxy of stars as the backdrop symbolised how the women are a "part of the larger collective."

The last Rajkumari is poet and writer Zahra and through her, Shafi meant to show that "women are poetry in motion. Both literally and figuratively."

The singer introduced her as "a poet. A pen. A voice raising awareness around mental health. A need of the hour. All the while breaking mainstream beauty standards to show that women are beautiful when they just be."

Shafi added elements of literature and ink on paper in the set design in the form of calligraphic curtains designed and made by Ali to "immerse Zahra in the crisp quality of ink on paper".

"For her look, we referenced old black and white heroines of the silver screen. An ode to vintage, desi glamour which wouldn’t be complete without a sari and flowers in her hair," the singer added.

The music video featuring women with different forms and abilities was a power move on Shafi's part and to release it on International Women's Day was perfect timing. The message is loud and clear all women are superwomen, capable of conquering the world regardless of what they look like or how they identify. Here's to all the women out there, you deserve to be celebrated every day.