Sumathi Murthy
Sumathi Murthy | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, LGBT rights activist |
Sumathi Murthy is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist, composer and LGBT right activist[1] based in Bangalore.[2] She hails from the Agra gharana of singing.[3] She identifies herself as a queer.[4][5]
Music career[edit]
She started performing from the age of 12 years.[4][6] She received her training in music from Pandit Ramarao Naik for 17 years.[3]
She has been involved in a project called Sakhiri with Dr. Floy which consisted of a multi media show of mixing genders, electronics, visual images, poetry and music. She worked as a composer, singer and lyric writer in this project.[4][7]
Queer activism[edit]
In 2006, she formed a support group for female-born queer people named LesBiT. She and Sunil Menon have been doing an oral history project to share the stories of queer people. They have collectively written the book Towards Gender Inclusivity which focuses on female-born gender and sexual minorities in south India.[8]
Murthy was also featured in the documentary Breaking Free, which talked about the LGBTQ community and the impact of the controversial Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.[9]
Publications[edit]
- Towards Gender Inclusivity: A Study on Contemporary Concerns around Gender (with Sunil Mohan)
References[edit]
- ^ Devi, Arun. "'Queer movement has to look beyond LGBT rights'".
- ^ "Khayal and Thumris by Sumathi Murthy". Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ a b "An evening of vocal delight". Deccan Herald. 2012. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Pink Pages".
- ^ Shekhar, Divya (26 February 2016). "Have linked my music to my sexuality: Hindustani classical vocalist Sumathi Murthy". The Economic Times. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ "Sumathi Murthy: Hindustani Music's Lesbian Melodies - Pink Pages". Pink Pages. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ "Still we rise: Of women and art". Deccan Chronicle. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ Velayanikal, Malavika. "Freedom takes many forms".
- ^ Parande, Shweta (9 October 2015). "Breaking Free trailer: Sridhar Rangayan's LGBT documentary against Section 377". India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.