By 121 News
Chandigarh, June 25,2026:– Škoda Auto India has shattered the conventional automotive launch playbook, unveiling an evocative creative collaboration with global sitar virtuoso Rishab Rikhiram Sharma to mark the arrival of the highly anticipated, all-new Kodiaq RS. Debuting at a defining moment for the brand, which celebrates a dual milestone of 125 years in motorsport and over five decades of the iconic RS racing pedigree, the collaboration offers a cinematic experience that seamlessly intertwines precision engineering with the burgeoning popularity of Indian neo-classical music artistry.
Following the viral success of their previous Octavia RS campaign, this cinematic sequel pushes the creative envelope further, positioning the artist as curator rather than contributor, and the machine as canvas rather than a mere subject. The film Surrender traces the Kodiaq RS’s all-terrain dominance alongside the evocative soundscape of Rishab Rikhiram Sharma’s acclaimed composition Burning Ghat, brought to life through Sitara, his next-generation electric sitar. The interplay between the vehicle’s dynamic performance and the instrument’s expressive tonal character creates a seamless dialogue between motion, emotion and artistry. By transforming the premium SUV from a mode of transport into a living, breathing musical performer, Škoda elevates a traditional product launch into a sensory manifesto about what it means to perform.
Commenting on the film, Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India stated that at Škoda Auto, legacy is defined by endurance and evolution. From 130 years globally, to 125 years in motorsport, and over 50 years of the RS badge, our story is built on performance, passion, precision, and persistence. After our collaboration with Rishab Rikhiram Sharma for the Octavia RS, it was only natural to continue this journey with the Kodiaq RS—a car that embodies all-terrain capability while harmonizing beautifully with Rishab’s contemporary interpretation of the sitar. This emotion lies at the heart of our ‘Surrender’ campaign. Because the Kodiaq RS is not just about performance, it’s about what you feel. And these are emotions you don’t own but Surrender to.
Commenting on the association, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma stated that music and rhythm are intrinsic to motion and the natural world. This film brings that philosophy to life, pairing the resonance of the Kodiaq RS with the emotional depth of Burning Ghat, expressed through the distinctive voice of his electric sitar, Sitara. Together, they explore the connection between movement, emotion and performance, creating a dialogue between artistry and engineering that feels both immersive and meaningful.
Škoda Auto India and Rishab Rikhiram Sharma have created a sensory experience where the machine and the melody speak as equals. Engineering excellence and artistic expression converge to celebrate what true performance means.
The Film
"Surrender” is a cinematic meditation that transcends automotive advertising to become a genuine work of visual and sonic art. The film follows the Kodiaq RS as it fluidly navigates India’s unforgiving topographies, moving gracefully from rugged, unyielding mountain paths to dynamic urban vistas as it simultaneously captures Rishab Rikhiram Sharma as both observer and interpreter of performance itself. As the Kodiaq RS navigates these diverse terrains with precision and grace, Sharma’s sitar becomes a living extension of the machine’s movement. The instrument responds to every acceleration, every turn, and every moment of stillness with musical phrases that echo the rhythm of motion. The resulting soundscape is a true dialogue between artist and machine, bridging tradition and innovation, raw engineering, and the delicate expressionism of classical music. Shot with meticulous attention to both the visual drama of high-performance driving and the intimate expressions of Sharma’s artistry, the film invites audiences into a space where the boundaries between machine and musician dissolve. It reveals a deeper truth: that performance, in its purest form, transcends category and speaks directly to the human soul. "Surrender" is an artistic statement about what happens when engineering excellence meets creative vision. Conceived and executed with Rishab Rikhiram Sharma's artistic direction at its core, the campaign captures three distinct movements:
• The Discovery: Rishab Rikhiram Sharma encounters the Kodiaq RS not as a commercial product, but as a phenomenon worthy of deep artistic interpretation.
• The Dialogue: The sitar responds intimately to the machine's movement across changing terrain, capturing rhythm in motion, silence in power, and emotion in pure engineering.
• The Revelation: A climactic moment where performance is understood as universal, existing equally within the walls of a concert hall and across a rugged mountain pass.
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