Women we salute

Indian women have left an indelible mark on the field of arts. Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale often gave a tough competition to Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi.  On International Women's Day, we have compiled an honor roll.

Singers

Lata MangeshkarWhile western world has its Frank Sinatras and Maria Callas or Ella FItzgerald, we have Lata Mangeshkar. It won't be wrong to call her the greatest singer in history. She has recorded more songs  than anyone else - over 10,000. And she has hundreds of hits. She was thought to be the empress of Bollywood, who could ruin the careers of other singers. However, it cannot be denied that her voice, as clear as a bell, is the finest, most competent the world has heard, and touched with more than a bit of the divine.

Asha BhosleAsha Bhosle sang songs that sister Lata would refuse. Songs like Caravan's 'Pia tu ab to aaja', which Lata felt would be too sexy for her to render. But she as mutli-facet as she was, she was also outstanding at singing the sort of songs that Lata too could. Decades have passed since she sang 'O Panchhi Pyare' for 1963's film Bandini. A song that depicts a prisoner singing a sonnet to a caged bird, it is still as relevant today as it was when she sang it a half-century ago.

Geeta DuttWith no formal training in music, Geeta Dutt kept her listeners hooked to her fresh, raw voice. Songs such as 'Thandi Hawaa Kaali Ghata' and 'Babu Ji Dheere Chalna' are testimony to her natural talent. Married to director Guru Dutt, Geeta’s singing career was largely influenced by her personal life. As their romance reached a tragic end with Guru Dutt’s death, Geeta was left shattered, and her career had to bear the toll. 

Shubha MudgalNational award winning singer, Shubha Mudgal, transcends the traditional barriers of genres. Known for her contribution to the Hindustani classical as well as Indian pop music, Shubha says, "I believe in music. Khayal and Thumari are my favourites, but that doesn’t mean I should not experiment with other forms. Why should I curtail my musical urges?"

Begum AkhtarImmortalized as the queen of ghazals, Begum Akhtar gave her first performance at the age of 15. So attached was she to her art, that when she had to quit singing for a few years due to family pressures, she fell so ill that she was prescribed to go back to music to cure all her ailments. Awarded the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, she died in 1974 after falling ill during a concert in Ahmedabad.

Bahinabai ChaudhariA gifted poetess from Maharashtra, Bahinabai Chaudhari did not know how to read or write. Her son, Sopandev, wrote the poems, which she carefully composed in the ovi meter. An admirer of saint Tukaram, the work of this Brahmin writer is laced with humor and wisdom, and reflects the subtle nuances of human nature.  

Sarojini NaiduAn inspiration for Indian women, Sarojini Naidu, also known as the Nightingale of India, was a freedom fighter, a poet and a child prodigy. After completing her matriculation at the age of 12, Sarojini won a scholarship to study at the King’s College, London. She was the first Indian woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the governor of Uttar Pradesh.

MeerabaiA princess, a poetess, a devotee of Krishna - Meerabai is the symbol of rebellion, worship and surrender. She stood up against the norms of the patriarchal Rajput society and stepped out of the defined roles of wife and princess. She, along with Kabir, is one of the foremost exponents of the Bhakti tradition. Originally written in Braj language, her devotional songs have been widely translated into English.

Rangita Pritish NandyLike her father, Pritish Nandy, Rangita too is a poet. Proud to follow her father’s footsteps, she says, “While most kids want to get out of the shadows of their illustrious parents, I have used my father’s image and his knowledge base to get that extra edge.” Rangita an independent, young woman also has to her credit, the production of several movies under the banner of Pritish Nandy Communications.

Toru DuttA poet, novelist and translator in the mid 19th century, Toru Dutt wrote in English as well as French. She initiated the Indian women’s English literary tradition. While she died at an early age of only 20 years, she left behind a remarkable compilation of prose and poetry, which is a complex postcolonial reflection of her life and times

Saroj Mohini NayyarOne of the few successful female lyricists in the Indian film industry, Saroj Mohini Nayyar has a huge hand to play in the success of her husband and composer, OP Nayyar. She wrote the lyrics of the song 'Preetam Aan Milo', which established her husband into the big league of Bollywood composers.

Ila ArunThe queen of contemporary Indian pop folk music, Ila Arun made the world dance to the tunes of 'Ringa Ringa', a popular song from the Oscar winning film, Slumdog Millionaire.Not many know but apart from singing, lla has also composed the lyrics for four films including Auzaar, a big hit during the 90s, and directed the music for three films.

Rani MalikIn the 90s when the Indian film industry was hugely dominated by male lyricists, Rani Malik broke into the scene with Phool Aur Kaante. However, it was the film Aashiqui that got her widespread recognition and even a Filmfare nomination for the best lyricist for 'Dheere Dheere Se Meri Zindagi Mein Aana'.

Maya GovindAlong with being a famous lyricist, Maya Govind has also been a dancer and stage artist. She has a degree in Education and has also done shows for All India Radio. Impressed by her writing, Ramanand Sagar signed her for his film Jalte Badan. Her lyrics coupled with the talent of Laxmikant-Pyarelal gave some hit numbers such as 'Hum woh hai jo apne ghar' and 'Gaon gaon ghoome, shaher shaher chhaana'.