World Music Day 2025: Famous Indian Female Music Composers Who Made Their Mark in This Male-Dominated Industry

World Music Day 2025: World Music Day is celebrated on June 21st, a global celebration that crosses geographical and cultural boundaries, uniting people through the power of melody and rhythm. The goal of the “Fête de la Musique,” which began in France in 1982, was to encourage everyone, from seasoned musicians to enthusiastic beginners, to get out there and perform music anywhere. World Music Day is deeply rooted in the essence of music: a universal language capable of eliciting emotions, forming connections, and inspiring change.It reminds us that music is more than just for the stage or the concert hall; it is a natural component of human existence, present in our daily lives and capable of bringing us enormous joy and comfort.

The Rise of the Indian Music Industry

Indian music is a kaleidoscope of genres and traditions, and it plays an important role in representing recording industry distributors and protecting copyrights, so contributing considerably to the growth and development of music entertainment in the country. The Indian music industry has changed considerably over the years, embracing technological improvements and seeing the rise of new platforms and genres. While it has traditionally been a male-dominated field, particularly in music composition and directing, a remarkable group of female composers has continually challenged the existing quo, breaking down boundaries and demonstrating their enormous potential.

Check out some of the well-known female music composers of India that you might not know about.

Saraswati Devi

Saraswati Devi (1912-1980), born Khorshed Minocher-Homji, was a pioneering Hindi film music director and soundtrack composer in the 1930s and 1940s. She is best known for her compositions in Bombay Talkies films, particularly “Achut Kanya” (1936), which featured the hit song “Mein Ban ki Chiriyra Banke Bun Bun Bolun Re.” She was one of the first female music composers in Indian film, breaking stereotypes during a time when the industry was particularly male-dominated.

Ishrat Sultana Bibbo

Born in 1906, Bibbo was a versatile actress, singer, and music composer who appeared in both Indian and Pakistani cinema. She is often regarded as the first female music composer in Indian film, having composed music for “Adal-e-Jahangir” in 1934, one year before Jaddan Bai’s “Talash-e-Haq.”

Jaddan Bai

Jaddan Bai (1892-1949) was a multi-talented personality who worked as an actor, filmmaker, and producer, along with singing and composing music. She was a true pioneer of Indian film and, together with Saraswati Devi and Bibbo, one of the first female music composers. Her production company, Sangeet Films, produced “Talash-e-Haq” in 1935, for which she also provided the music and launched her daughter, famed actress Nargis, as a child artist.

Usha Khanna

Usha Khanna (born 1941) is a successful and commercially acclaimed music director. She was the third female music director to enter the Hindi cinema industry and has composed for a large number of films, producing many chart-topping songs. 

Chitra Singh

Chitra Singh, wife of proclaimed musician Jagjit Singh, has made significant contributions to the popularisation of the ghazal genre throughout India. Her passionate performances and collaborative compositions with Jagjit Singh produced some of the most enduring and adored Indian music of the 1970s and 1980s, making a huge contribution to the Indian music landscape.

Sneha Khanwilkar

Sneha Khanwilkar has made a name for herself with her unique and original compositions. She is well-known for her work on films such as “Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!” and “Gangs of Wasseypur” (Parts 1 & 2), for which she won a Filmfare nomination for Best Music Director. 

Jasleen Royal

Jasleen Royal has gained prominence in the Indian music industry. She was recognised for her unique combination of indie and Bollywood sounds and has created music for popular films such as “Shershaah,” for which she became the first female music director to receive the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director (shared with other composers). 

Rachita Arora

Rachita Arora’s captivating cinema and theatrical scores have had a great impact. She is most recognised for her roles in highly praised films such as “Newton” and “Mukkabaaz,” which highlight her versatility and great knowledge of storytelling through song.