Women in Indian Film Music: Challenging Bias and Changing the Score

New Delhi : While actresses and playback singers enjoy widespread recognition, women in technical roles—like composers, sound technicians, and music producers—are often sidelined. “We are in a pickle, but things have improved a lot,” Dasgupta noted. “The representation of women in the film industry, in some areas, is really commendable. But in multiple other sections, it’s invisible. And even where it’s present, it’s not present in the practical sense.”

Paul highlighted the stark gender difference in the film industry. “ORMAX Media conducted a one-of-a-kind study in 2019 and 2020, which found that only about 8% of women were represented in Head of Department (HoD) positions in the Indian film industry. That’s very little, considering how vast it is,” she shared. Paul pointed out that in corporate India, women’s representation stands at about  37%. In comparison, the film industry hasn’t picked up pace.

Dasgupta added that the key to achieving true equality will hinge on mindset shifts. “If the mindset does not change, this 8% will never be 50%, let alone anything more than that,” she said. She also spoke about the deep-rooted biases that bar women from technical categories: “It’s a thought, a culture, an entire system that’s existed for so long. You try to break it, but you still can’t change everything overnight.”

The lack of a clear royalty structure for background scores continues to be a major issue in India. While the Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) has made things a lot easier, there still needs to be a strong ecosystem within the industry in areas such as royalty, streaming and publishing like it is in Hollywood. Dasgupta noted how Indian musicians have to actively fight for their rights: “In Hollywood, the fee structure and royalty system are well-defined. Here, you have to work on it yourself. It doesn’t happen automatically. You have to push for it.”

The conversation sheds light on the challenges women face in the Indian film music industry, particularly in technical roles. While significant progress has been made, gaps still remain in representation and industry recognition. Discussions like this one play a critical role in effecting lasting change as the entertainment industry continues to evolve.