Bahrain and Toronto-based musical sensation Miraya Varma has dropped her latest single Fire, which honours women and the sacrifices they make for their loved ones, writes Melissa Nazareth.
The millennial artist wrote and composed the Tamil track, released under Indian record label T-Series, drawing inspiration from the women in her life.
The release followed International Women’s Day, which is annually celebrated on March 8.
“The song celebrates generations of women, from young girls discovering their spark, to women building their own paths, to mothers whose silent strength and resilience shape the future,” the creative entrepreneur told GulfWeekly.
“At its heart, the song is about resilience, inner power, and breaking free from expectations that society often places on women. I wanted to create something that felt like an anthem for women everywhere reminding them that the ‘fire’ they are searching for has always existed within them,” she added.
One of the central ideas behind the song, which has a pop-rock sound, is the message that ‘the fire was always hers’ – a message that deeply resonates with Miraya, who believes that empowerment comes from within and that it’s only a matter of recognising and embracing it.
“There are powerful high notes in the song where I sing about how my eyes sparkle and my heart burns with fire when I am in survival mode. Even during the most difficult moments, women often carry themselves with grace, confidence, and strength, holding everything together even when life challenges them. That reflects their true power,” she explained.
The video was filmed in Kerala, India, over a week, and features more than 100 women and girls in mundane setups, as well as famous South Indian actor Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran.
“Filming the video was an incredibly meaningful and emotional experience. Right from the beginning, we wanted the visuals to feel authentic and relatable rather than staged.
“We filmed in forests, on the beach, inside studios, and in many beautiful natural settings that visually captured the emotional journey of the song. One of the most important creative choices we made was filming in the slums of Kerala. This allowed us to capture a sense of rawness and reality that reflects the truth of the song that women everywhere share strength regardless of their background,” noted the owner of a local art, music and dance academy, who is passionate about nurturing young artists.
Miraya’s songs have topped global charts like the BBC Asian Network and have received millions of streams to date. She embarked on her musical journey at a tender age and by the time she was three, she was performing. The artist has performed more than 1,000 stage shows across India, the Middle East, the UK and the US, and can sing in six languages – English, Hindi, Arabic, Tamil, Malayalam and Punjabi.
Not one to rest on past laurels, Miraya is working on other projects, including an Arabic version of her Tamil number Azhaga Azhaga (2024).
“My next song explores feminism through a different perspective, focusing on a woman expressing her love and admiration for a man she truly respects.
“Often songs focus on women’s beauty, but I wanted to shift the narrative slightly and create a tribute to the good men in the world. Men who genuinely respect and support women. It is also inspired by the admiration we have for the positive male figures in our lives, such as our fathers and brothers,” she said, adding that she wants to create music that connects with audiences globally.
“Another upcoming track blends Punjabi and Hindi influences with Arabic elements, similar to the fusion I explored in Yalla Yalla (released in 2017 with famous British artist of Punjabi descent Dr Zeus). There is a lot more music to come across different genres and styles, and I am excited for audiences to hear what is next.”
Other previous releases include Bollywood banger Lovely (2014) and Uptown (2018).
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