Shreya Ghoshal questions lack of female voices in India’s Top 50, says ‘India thoda sa patriarchal hain’

Shreya Ghoshal talks about less female singers in India

• Shreya Ghoshal notes fewer female voices on India's music charts
• She recalls past eras when female singers dominated the industry
• Ghoshal believes recent years show a shift and hopes for clarity

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Shreya Ghoshal has spent over two decades at the top of her craft, lending her voice to songs that have defined love stories, heartbreaks and celebrations for millions.

Yet in a recent conversation, the singer chose to reflect not on her success, but on a question that has quietly troubled the industry — where are the women on India’s music charts?

Speaking to Raj Shamani on his podcast, Shreya Ghoshal was asked why, unlike in the West where female artists such as Taylor Swift and Rihanna dominate globally, India’s top charts appear heavily skewed towards male voices. The question struck a chord.

Shreya Ghoshal acknowledged that global icons have earned their stature through relentless dedication. But she pointed out that the Indian context is different. “Fact is India thoda sa patriarchal hain. Aaj bhi (India is patriarchal, even today). Leave concerts, see number of songs on charts. Tell me how many songs are there which are sung by females! I don't find. Top 50 mein bhi jao, top 10 ki baat hi nahi kar rahi main, top 50 mein 6-7 honge. It is that lopsided. This was not how it was in our country. It is very ‘now’. This lopsidedness has come now.”

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Her words were not angry, but reflective — the observation of someone who has witnessed the industry evolve from within. She recalled a different era, when female playback singers commanded extraordinary influence. “Jo jamana tha Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, jis tarah se unhone command kiya hain (Look at the generation of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and how they commanded that era)… they were bigger than all the other male singers. The number of songs that they had, per year. That has changed, there is a lot of dilution and I feel we are going through something. Ye last 10 saal ye time chal raha hein ki hum confusion me hain. Wo confusion, fusion karte karte clarity pe aayega. (I think for the last 10 years there has been a lot of confusion and we are moving towards clarity).”

Shreya Ghoshal herself began her journey with Devdas, winning a National Award for Bairi Piya, and has since sung in multiple Indian languages. Today, as she prepares for The Unstoppable World Tour, her voice continues to travel across continents.