In a candid, no-holds-barred moment that echoes the growing calls for gender equity across creative industries, singer Jonita Gandhi pulled back the curtain on a troubling pattern in Hindi film music - female voices being reduced in songs otherwise dominated by male leads.

Responding to a pointed question during an exclusive interview with Bombay Times, about the recurring trend where even top-tier female vocalists are often handed just a few lines sandwiched between a male-dominated melody, Jonita didn’t mince words. “Honestly, they can do better,” she said bluntly. “I don't think there's a reason why we only need to give four lines to the girl in a three- or four-minute-long song.”

Jonita’s critique cuts deep into the creative choices made by composers and lyricists who continue to sideline the female narrative in music. “Why not just make the song a male solo, if that's the case?” she asked. “If you're including a female voice, give it space, give it meaning. Not enough effort is made to flesh out the female perspective.”

Her comments shine a spotlight on a longstanding issue in the Indian music industry, where male-led songs dominate both screen time and sonic space. Even when renowned female singers are roped in, their presence is often tokenistic, just enough to check a box, rarely enough to make a statement.

“We're talking about incredible talents — Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal — we all know they're phenomenal. But what's the point of bringing them into a song just to hand them two or three lines? It’s a waste,” Gandhi asserted.

She also acknowledged the bind many female artists find themselves in: accept a minimal part or miss out entirely. “It’s not in our control. You either do it or you don’t, and someone else does. And sometimes these songs are just too beautiful to pass up,” she admitted.

Yet, the bigger issue, she says, is the scarcity of female-centric songs that could serve as a counterbalance. “It’s not happening,” she said.

Jonita’s response to this disparity is carving her own path. “That’s also why I’ve started focusing more on my own music. Because in my own songs, I’m the star!” she signed off with a smile.