Krantinaari

What role do you think art can play in social change?

Art has the power of creating an experience of a lifetime in seconds, and that stays with us longer than we live. It shapes a person's actions, which in turn shapes society. We all need art to shape our existence and carve our society. As an activist, artist, and educator, I believe in developing and shaping behaviors and experiences. The power of art makes it the power of the people.

How is your artistic practice connected to amplifying social movements?

My name Krantinaari means revolutionary woman which denotes the life of every woman who lives on this planet. In parts of my country a girl child’s birth is not celebrated, femicide is an ugly reality that plagues remote regions of my society. Taking birth as a girl in society is a revolution in itself. 

To understand social issues it is very important that we are aware of our comfort zones, privileges and access to resources. Self realization of my privilege, which appears as a fundamental theme of my compositions, allows me to leave my comfort and to look at the real problem, rather than assume it from a privileged position. I see a lot of power in music and there is a lot of hope, belief and trust that it will deliver me and my society from our privilege-induced ignorance. My truths led me to establish Wild Wild Women to form India’s first all woman hip-hop crew.