Apr 06 2026 to Apr 06 2026 7 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Sound of Women is a grassroots music project by Krantinaari (Ashwini Hiremath) and Charu Hariharan, born from the radical belief that hip-hop is folk. After co-founding India’s first all-female hip-hop crew Wild Wild Women, Krantinaari set out on a deeper journey—traveling across 72 regions of India, where she witnessed women forbidden from even touching instruments. At the same time, Charu Hariharan was researching and working with folk artists in South India, where similar patterns emerged, of exclusion of the voices of women from the arts. Together, they wanted to provide a platform to these voices, under the umbrella of world music. What began as a question—Why are women missing from the music scene?—turned into a movement.

The Sound of Women performance set speaks from the lived realities of women whose voices emerge from forests, mountains and working-class communities across India. The songs carry reflections on climate change — changing seasons, disappearing forests, and the emotional and economic impact this has on their lives. They speak of migration, of leaving ancestral homes in search of survival, of cities that offer work but not belonging, and of the longing to remain connected to land and identity.

These women are not just performers—they are culture-keepers, storytellers, and warriors of sound, rewriting the future of Kumaoni music in the most grassroots and powerful way.

This is the Sound of Women—a revolution in rhythm, a reclamation of space, and a celebration of every woman who dares to sing her truth.

Performers

Krantinaari
Artist & Rapper
Krantinaari (she/her) known as “Voice of Revolution,” is a versatile artist, rapper, and graphic designer from Mumbai, India. Her music, a fusion of Hindi, English, and Kannada, champions women’s empowerment and social justice. Despite gender-based challenges, she pursued her passion for music after studying graphic design in Tamil Nadu. Krantinaari’s lyrics boldly confront gender inequality, climate crisis and tribal women’s lives, inspiring women to amplify their voices. She co-founded Wild Wild Women, represented Indian women music at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival and was a fellow in the global Onebeat residency in the USA. Krantinaari’s impactful work resonates nationally and internationally, marking her a trailblazer in Indian Hip-Hop music.

Charu Hariharan
Musician & Composer
Charu Hariharan is a percussionist, vocalist, composer, and producer from Kerala, India. Born into a musical family, she initially learned South Indian classical vocal music from her mother, the renowned classical singer Dr. B. Arundhathi. Charu has been a part of a variety of projects, including playing mridangam and khanjira in the quartet O! Shakuntala led by master slide guitarist and Grammy nominee Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya. She has participated in a variety of cross-cultural musical projects, including the prestigious Ethno Sweden music camp and ARPO Earthlore, a project dedicated to documenting and showcasing the music of tribal communities in Kerala, India, on a global stage. She is also a member of the World Folk Ensemble Varldens Band, comprising 14 musicians from 6 countries, Varldens Band has toured across Scandinavia and the UK, earning nominations for the World and Folk Music Awards in Sweden. Beyond her performance practice, Charu is also an accomplished producer, composer, and arranger who has created music for movies, documentaries, and independent releases.

Hemanti Devi
Folk Singer
Hemanti Devi is a folk singer and daughter of the iconic Kabootari Devi, the first folk artist of All India Radio from Uttarakhand.

Ganga Devi
Folk Singer
Ganga Devi is a mother and folk singer from the village of Gaira.

Pushpa Devi Taiji
Folk Singer
Pushpa Devi Taiji is a percussionist and hudukka player, embodying ancestral rhythm.

Khashti Devi
Folk Singer
Khashti Devi is a folk singer who sings not for fame, but for love—for the healing of her husband battling a heart condition.

Chandreshekhar Tampta
Folk Singer
Chandrashekar is a folk singer who is pushpa devi’s son representing the dalit tamta community of brass workers.

Neha Singh
Storyteller & Show Director
Neha Singh is a storyteller and show director, weaving powerful narratives through each performance, giving voice to stories long silenced.