In a quiet yet powerful cultural revolution, five women artists from Kashmir are working on the region’s first-ever all-women, anonymous, multi-genre music album. And in a remarkable show of solidarity, women in Chennai have stepped up — quite literally — to support them.
Ek Potlee Ret Ki (known in Tamil as Kaani Nilam), an artist-activist collective co-founded by Radhika Ganesh, recently organised a unique fundraiser: a women-only ‘Barbell Party’ in Adyar, Chennai. The event was hosted in collaboration with Rini Richard, owner of Fytlyf 360, a gym that turned into a haven of strength, sweat, and solidarity.
The aim? To raise funds for the post-production and release of the groundbreaking Kashmiri album — a project born out of two years of engagement with women artists facing multiple layers of resistance: societal, political, religious, and familial.
“This album is about claiming space in a world that has long ignored women’s voices in Kashmir,” says Radhika. “Only around 5% of Kashmir’s chart space is occupied by women, and anonymity here is both shield and sword.”
The selected five artists, chosen through an open call last year, have composed their own original songs. Now, the team seeks grassroots support — no corporate funds, no institutional strings — just community-powered art.
The July 10 Strength Party at Fytlyf 360 is the next chapter in this story of collective courage and creative resistance.