MUMBAI: "Behind ever successful man, there is a woman," goes an old adage. Women are often given the status of someone who can face all the consequences to protect someone they love. Be it her son, daughter or a husband, a woman can make or break a man. On the eve of Women’s Day, musicians reveal those special women in their lives who have played an instrumental role in their careers.

Shekhar Ravjiani: It has to be my mom, who has played a very vital role in the kind of a human being I am today. The kind of atmosphere I was exposed to and the way she paid attention on me has great influence on me. I have always been taught to be humble regardless of my success.

Manoj Muntashir: The most important woman in my life is my wife Neelam, as she was the only person who believed in my dreams. The place I come from is a village and standing there in a village and saying that I wish to pursue my dreams in Bollywood as a writer was difficult. My wife belongs to a very affluent and rich family, so for her getting married to a person with no degree and no money was a big decision in her life. She believed in my dreams more than I did, and has been my struggle partner. Thus I would attribute all my success to Neelam.

Benny Dayal: The woman who has been crucial in shaping my career is my mother. She is a trained classical dancer and the seed of music was sown in me by her. She is the one who gave me that deep sense of music, so had she not been there, I would have never been where I am right now.

Anu Malik: For me, it has to be my wife who had been with me throughout my struggles. In most of the cases it is said, “A man carries the woman," but in my case it was the other way around. The way she trusted me during the low phases was exceptional. She proved to be my anchor, not only in trusting my abilities but also by encouraging me to put my best foot forward. This is why I always say, "A man has a will, but a woman always has a way."

Mustafa Zahid: I started writing because of my mother, who is a writer and has written a lot of books on women empowerment and various other social topics related to women in Pakistan. It was she who actually taught me to write down my feelings, after which I started training as a musician. Whereas my father was not against me becoming a musician, but he always wanted me to first complete my education and then venture into whatever I could. But my mother wanted me to follow my heart and here I am a singer and a lyricist.

Abhendra Kumar Upadhyay:  I cannot name one single woman in my life for attributing my success. It was my mother and my sister who supported my decision of coming to Mumbai and pursuing my dreams as a lyricist. My ex, who pushed me into such deep trauma, made me pen the songs that I did. And lastly, my wife, who supported me in my struggles and has been with me throughout.

Rahul Vaidya: I think it has to be my mother who first spotted my talent and made sure that I would practice. It was she who introduced me to my guru and encouraged me to take part in singing competitions.