Sona Mohapatra recently called out a glaring imbalance in Bollywood's music industry.
In a recent interview, the singer criticized the gender disparity in heartbreak anthems. "All those heartbreak songs in Bollywood are reserved for the men," Sona revealed, pointing to an industry that has given male singers the most emotionally resonant roles for decades.
To illustrate her point, Sona invoked Arijit Singh's track Zaalima, which became a cultural phenomenon. But she was clear that Singh bears no responsibility. "Not his fault," she emphasized, directing attention to systemic bias rather than individual artists.
The real issue is that Bollywood's songwriting and music production ecosystems have historically reserved the most emotionally charged, chart-breaking breakup ballads for male vocalists. Female singers often receive item numbers, romantic duets, or secondary tracks that carry less emotional weight.
Sona's critique goes beyond song assignments. The industry frames heartbreak itself as a male experience — deserving orchestral arrangements and prime placement in film trailers, while female heartbreak becomes incidental.
Her comments arrive as conversations around gender parity in Indian cinema gain mainstream attention. Fans have responded positively to her directness in naming the problem.
Whether this prompts real change in how music directors and lyricists approach gender in heartbreak songs remains unclear. But Sona Mohapatra is pressing the issue publicly.
