Isaivani (Tamil: இசைவாணி; born 1996) is a gaana singer from Chennai, who performs with The Casteless Collective. In 2020 she was recognised for her achievements with one of the BBC 100 Women Awards.
Isaivani இசைவாணி | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993 (age 30–31) Royapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Gaana |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
Biography edit
Isaivani was born in Royapuram in Chennai in 1996 to Sivakumar D and Selvi.[1][2][3] Her father, a self-taught keyboardist, encouraged her musical ability and singing from a young age, encouraging Selvi to sing to Isaivani and her brother while they were in the womb.[3] Her performance career began at the age of six, alongside her father and by 2018 she had performed approximately 10,000 shows with him.[3] She began sing Tamil film songs and to cover gaana songs as a teenager because audiences responded well to them.[2] In 2017, gaana musician Sabesh Solomon contacted her and encouraged her to audition for a new band that was being formed by Tenma - this band became The Casteless Collective.[1]
By joining the band, Isaivani became one of the first professional female gaana singers in the world.[4] In addition she is a woman from a low caste, succeeding in a male, high-caste dominated genre of music, despite initial opposition from people who felt that gaana should be preserved as male-only artform.[2] The music she sings with The Casteless Collective is political: in 2018 they released 'Beef Song' in protest at the lynching of dalit people; in 2019 they released 'I’m Sorry Ayyappa' about the Sabarimala temple controversy.[2] Her presence on stage has led to other women coming forward as gaana performers.[5]
In 2020, Isaivani was recognised for her contributions to gaana music with a BBC 100 Women Award.[1][5][6] She participated in Tamil Bigg Boss Season 5.[7]
Television edit
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (October 2021) |
| Year | Show | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Singing Stars | Contestant | Colors Tamil | Finalist |
| 2020 | Tamilargale Tamilargale | Guest | Kalaignar TV | |
| 2021 | Vanakam Tamizha | Sun TV | ||
| Tamizha Tamizha | Herself | Zee Tamil | Episode; 112 | |
| 2021-2022 | Bigg Boss Tamil Season 5 | Contestant | Vijay TV | Evicted Day 49 |
| 2022 | Bigg Boss Tamil Season 5 Kondattam | Guest | ||
| 2022 | BB Jodigal (season 2) | Contestant | Vijay TV | Evicted Top 7 |
References edit
- ^ a b c Muralidharan, Kavitha (26 November 2020). "The girl who has made it big in the male-dominated world of gaana". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Isaivani: The pathbreaking woman gaana singer now on a BBC Top 100 list". Hindustan Times. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ a b c Joseph, Raveena. "The Casteless Collective: Being a woman gaana singer". The Lede. Retrieved 19 December 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Gaana singer Isaivani of The Casteless Collective on BBC's '100 Women 2020 list'". The News Minute. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ a b "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Shaheen Bagh's Bilkis Bano, TN Singer Isaivani in BBC's Top 100 Women for 2020 List". The Wire. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Namitha, Isaivani, Abhishek Raaja and more: Meet the contestants of Big Boss Tamil 5". The News Minute. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.