Raga and the rebel
Women actors are usually decorative additions to be used as props even when they play important roles. These men became—and still are—the choices of music labels that are exclusively catering to the “big boy” trend, be it Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mohit Chauhan, Mika, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Badshah or even Arijit Singh.
It isn’t all doom and gloom, though. I believe there is a great opportunity in these times for musicians and singers who have built their own brand. I have always come out with my own music every year and not depended solelyon Bollywood for my breaks.
Q. You have been quite vocal during the #Metoo movement in India. Does the development in the Harvey Weinstein case give you any hope?
A. Of course, it does. It shows us that if women can work together, we can bring sexual predators to justice and within the legal framework. We still don’t have enough women in positions of power. We also do not have a legal framework that is equipped to deal with sexual harassment and serial predatory behaviour as yet. The National Commission of Women (NCW), as an organisation, lacks legal teeth and I believe it doesn’t even have the right resources or people who can deal with women going through trauma or exploitation. Despite sending multiple testimonies of women (underage minors included) who were harassed by Anu Malik over the years, the NCW failed to even initiate an official investigation.singer Kailash Kher continues to perform and be felicitated by multiple governments despite being publicly accused by several women, some of them being women journalists. It seems we are a culture that is fine with serial predatory behaviour in our men. Again, the silver lining in this dark cloud is that people have become more aware of the right and wrong behaviour in workplaces after the Metoo movement in India and many workplaces are in the process of understanding and implementing the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment)guidelines.
Q. Have any particular experiences shaped your formative years and made you the opinionated person you are?
A. A lot of my close friends think I was born this way, but yes, a lot of experiences are etched in my memory, especially my time in hostel during four years of engineering. My life has been in constant collision with sexism simply because I’ve always refused to “know my place” in society. I’ve always demanded equality and that’s been offensive to a lot of people. My earliest memories are of my mother, an educated working woman, holding the short end of the stick always. She raised three daughters, took care of her in laws, cooked all meals, earned money and yet had to be submissive. She lived three lifetimes of hard work in one. It pained me and made me angry even at the early age of five to see this imbalance. I always felt the need to fight for her as a child and growing up, I see my mother in every underdog story. One that triggers me to fight and try make things fairer.
Q. Through your entire journey as a musician, what is the biggest challenge you have faced?
A. Finding collaborators who can make the most of my voice, timbre and strong desi grounding. I
A.I hope to make more content on issues that interest me. I’m not keen on turning producer just for its own sake. The amount of social media content I’ve created in the past 15 years is humongous, so I’m very happy being a musician and artist first. But I definitely plan to create more content with a strong feminine perspective in the coming years.
Q. Your fashion mantra and favourite attire? A. Comfort and personality above all else. Like in all other art, the “Goddess” is in the details. My clothes and accessories are never generic and I don’t need to be in top to down designer
So, a moong dal khhichdi with loads of vegetables and ghee or a bread toasted well with the left-over dal, sabji, onions and my mother’s amazing tomato pickle loaded up as an open sandwich or stewed pineapple with fresh cream, all these are my favourite comfort food.
Q. Your message to women trying to carve their way in the music scene?
A. Be yourself, be brave and be positive. Create an identity that reflects who you are and what you love, instead of falling for the trap of trends. There’s only one of you, so use that to your advantage.
“I
believe there is a great opportunity in these times for musicians and singers who have built their own brand. I have always come out with my own music every year and not depended
breaks.” solely on Bollywood for my