As Featured on Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2, BBC Asian Network, Gay Star News, Pink News and Gay Times

“A stunning celebration of queer love…” – Gay Times (gaytimes.co.uk)

“The music is striking, the lyrics sensual…” Times of India (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

“Recording artist Pragya Pallavi is not only breaking the glass ceiling in India’s music scene, she’s absolutely smashing it. The openly lesbian Pallavi is fighting for better representation of LGBTI women in India, especially in the music scene”
-Shannon Power, Gay Star Loves (gaystarnews.com)

Izzat De! is the latest single from Pragya Pallavi’s “Queerism”, the first queer-themed musical album to release from India. Both the single and the video were released on March 8th as part of International Women’s Day, with the song sending a message of positivity to women of all ages, backgrounds and sexuality.

About “Izzat De”

“Izzat De” is an urban-inspired Indian hip hop track in Hindi and English, where Pragya fiercely raps against sexism, casteism and social injustice and gives a shout-out for peace, equality, and self-respect for all marginalized people. The song’s lyrics have been composed by Pragya, who hopes that the politics of hate can be stopped in India and all over the world. The groovy and eminently danceable hip hop beats, produced by Deejey Lolly and Pragya, have a fusion element using the Nagaswaram, a South Indian wind instrument.

The music video for Izzat De sees Pragya performing against a background of anti-war protests in Mumbai, women’s protests in Kerala, Ambedkar statues, mosques, temples and churches, city streets and theatre schools. Sometimes she is accompanied by swaggering lungi-clad women dancers and a dream-like Nagaswaram player. The video was directed by queer activist, Deepa Vasudevan, with Neethu Saji as Director of Photography.

About Queerism

“Girls You Rule!” is the second single from Pragya’s upcoming album, “Queerism.” The album, which is dedicated to LGBTQI+ communities in India and all over the world, is slated for release on May 17th, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

The 9-track album will feature songs in English and Hindi, in a variety of styles including disco, EDM, hip-hop, jazz-soul, Indian fusion, funk, and dancehall. Queerism is the first album by an openly queer artist to release from India since the historic decriminalisation of Section 377 on September 7th 2018, finally recognising the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.

About Pragya Pallavi

Pragya is a singer/songwriter, musician, percussionist and performer who is classically trained as a Hindustani vocalist. Her compositions combine diverse influences such as EDM, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, alternative rock, and fusion, as well as classical Indian music, Sufi and folk music. She was born in Patna and is now based in Mumbai. She describes herself as a gender fluid lesbian.

Pragya says, “I am a person who is not confined to any single genre, nationality, religion or gender. I want to bring together Indian and western, contemporary and traditional musical influences in a way that all types of people can relate to. I know songs have the power to create a movement, this is my attempt at being that voice for LGBTIQ persons across the world”