Making music and facing it too?
On International Women’s Day today, female musicians talk to Soumya Vajpayee about gender bias in the Indian music space and how one can make a mark
JASMINE SANDLAS
I have faced discrimination and lost massive opportunities for standing my ground. I was removed from projects for not complying. Today, my male colleagues are richer and more famous than me. But for me, women’s empowerment is not about putting men down. Yes, some men have taken credit for my work and creativity. But, many women have also abused my kindness.
AASTHA GILL
It’s true that being a woman in the industry comes with its challenges, but I firmly believe that success is possible for anyone, regardless of gender. Regardless of any discrimination I may have faced, I’ve always been determined to confront it head-on and persevere. I feel blessed to have carved out a space for myself today, irrespective of gender norms.
SHRUTI PATHAK
It (women getting equal fame as men) has become even more difficult in last couple of years. There are rarely any female solos, even the duets are usually male-dominated, leaving lesser scope for female vocalists to shine. But despite challenges, it falls into place, as art sees no gender. The biggest examples of that are (late singer) Lata Mangeshkar ji and (singer) Asha Bhosle ji, who ruled the industry for decades.
SHIBANI KASHYAP
The Indian music space is maledominated. I feel, women musicians are still objectified here. So, the kind of stardom and craze a female musician is pale compared to their male counterparts. As a woman, you have to be really at it if you want to be recognised. Having said that, I do believe things are much better today than they were before. It’s all about self-belief and persistence.
AKRITI KAKAR
Once, a male rapper was the largest face on the poster of a public gig that I was a part of. I was told, ‘You’re a female singer, so your picture will be tinier, even though you’re a part of the main line-up.’ So, I respectfully backed out. It is due to these experiences that carving your own space as a female musician means so much. It’s the nature of the industry, where more subjects are male-centric and hence, less female songs are made. Male artistes also charge more than female artistes. But, things are slowly changing.