“Women on Record" is a celebration and a tribute to women who sang in the era of the Gramophone Record. The production is a multi-media touring show that brings alive this world of music. The idea of reviving interest in the immense contributions made by these artists in the late 19th and early 20th century lends itself to immense visual possibilities given that their lives were about music,
th
eatre, film and overall entertainment. This project focuses on the lesser known community of musicians and performers, the “Gaanewali”, loosely translated as the “singing ladies” many of whom became celebrities during their time with the advent of the technological wonder – the 78rpm gramophone record. They have had a profound influence on subsequent music. Finishing a ghazal or a khayal in less than three minutes while still leaving time to announce one’s name was no easy job; one accomplished prolifically by them.
