“6 Pack Band” or “Six Pack Band” is an Indian band. Billed as India’s first transgender music group, the band consists of six members: Fida Khan, Ravina Jagtap, Asha Jagtap, Chandni Suvarnakar, Komal Jagtap and Bhavika Patil.
Inspiring musical journey
6 Pack Band members: Sonu Nigam and Ashish Patil
As early as 2016, Y-Films, the youth entertainment arm of Yash Raj Films, launched India’s first transgender band – 6 Pack Band. The six band members, all transgender, were selected from about 200 people who auditioned for the band. Talking about this disruptive move in the Indian entertainment industry, Y-Films Head Ashish Patil said in a media interaction:
We see eunuchs begging for a living at traffic lights. No one employs them; they are abandoned by their families and society without dignity. “
Y-Films also managed to rope in actress Anushka Sharma and singer Sonu Nigam to support the initiative.
Game changer for Indian entertainment industry
six pack abs band members
Since their debut in 2016 with their cover of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,” the band has been entertaining audiences with their unique content. Anushka Sharma lends her voice at the beginning of the first song, Hum Hain Happy.
Some of the band’s other hits include:
“Ae Raju” – starring Hrithik Roshan
“Raula Paye Gaya” – Official song of Salman Khan’s film “Sultan”
“Hil Pori Hila” – starring Arjun Kapoor
“Sab Rab De Bande” – includes Sonu Nigam’s vocals
The band gained international recognition with their only Indian performance at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. 6 Pack Band also won the Cannes Grand Prix Glass Lion and nine Emvies.
Meet the members
Here are the six members of the “6 Pack Band”:
Ravina Jagtap (35): Always a warrior
Talking about her journey and past, Raveena said-
My journey has been great because I live with the community and help them earn the respect of society. I am very protective of my community. I have always been a fighter. The problems exist, but our job is to solve them and make them happy. “
She hopes to take her band to the next level and compose some Bollywood songs. About her connection with music, she said—
I have been inseparable from music since I was a child. I like singing. “
Asha Jagtap (24): Living an unhappy life
Asha comes from the transgender community and faces many hardships in her life. Speaking about her upbringing in the trans community, Asha said –
My life is not pleasant. The problems we face in our daily lives are different from the daily problems that other people face. For us, acceptance is a problem. Not being accepted is a feeling we live with every day. “
Asha Jagtap wants to establish ‘6 Pack Band’ at the international level and make it one of the top bands in the world. She considers music to be an intrinsic part of her community and says—
We sing Badhaais (songs sung by eunuchs on special occasions like festivals and weddings). That’s how attached most of us are to music. We’ve always been musicians, but it’s only now that people are starting to take notice. “
Bhavika Patil (27): Wants to bring change
Bavika has another story of trauma; because she was not accepted by her family. Sharing the upsetting message, she said –
I was not accepted by my family and had to fend for myself. I started working as a nurse in a clinic, but it hurt me when I saw that I wasn’t treated equally. Colleagues who joined after me were promoted. I never got a raise, so I had to quit. “
Although Bavika has never been a fan of music, she has enjoyed it since she joined the band. About her connection with music, she said—
When I know something like this (Six Pack Band) is coming, I don’t want to miss out on being a part of it. “
However, Bawika’s family never supported her joining such a band. She added,
It hurts when the people you love most aren’t there for you when you need them. “
Now, Baweka likes music very much and she wants to bring changes to society through music. She said –
I want to bring change to society through music. I want people to know what we can do as a community. “
Chandni Suvarnakar (34): Likes to sing
Unlike Bhavika, Chandni considers herself “lucky” as her parents have always supported her. Chandni said——
They support who I am and what I do. They are happy because of my happiness. “
She has loved music since she was a child. Talking about her joy in singing, she said –
I don’t know if I’m good or bad, but I love singing. “
Fida Khan (24): Wanted to be a soulful musician
Like Chandni, Fida was lucky to have the support of her parents. Because they happily accepted her sexuality. However, they are inherently more restrictive. Fida said——
They don’t allow me to leave home very often because the local people don’t want me to stay there. “
Fida works with an NGO called Humsafar. She also demanded that a convent be established for her community in Mumbai. Fida idolized Michael Jackson, and music was just accidental to him. Talking about her connection with music, she said –
I have never been to a training session. I used to watch TV and movies. That’s how I learned to sing. I want to be a soulful and beautiful musician. “
Komal Jagtap (22): Everything is still up in the air
Komal was not as lucky as Fida and Chandni. Because her parents disowned her when she was very young. Sharing this tragic story, she said –
They stopped talking to me. But when Six Pack came on, my family started talking to me again. I make a living working in our community. I face the same issues as the trans community in this country. But the band changed my life. “
Although her family remains unhappy with Komal, she continues to live in the community. Komal said –
I still live with the community. I’m happy with what I’m doing. I like music. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education