MUMBAI: The 6 Pack Band, India’s first transgender band by Music Boutique and Y-Films (the youth wing of Yash Raj Films), performed at The Economic Times Women’s Forum last morning. With the theme ‘Opportunity and Optimism’, this musical opening act by the band set the tone for an evening of inspiring stories of women empowerment.

Curated and composed by Shameer Tandon, the outfit comprises six members - Fida Khan, Ravina Jagtap, Asha Jagtap, Chandni Suvarnakar, Komal Jagtap and Bhavika Patil. Known for years of discrimination, the six Pack Band’s performance spelled happiness and spread the message of love, equality and acceptance, resonating with the audience at the forum.

Commenting on the mesmerising performance, Shameer Tandon, Curator and Composer, Music Boutique said, “With the six Pack Band, our objective has always been to break stereotypes and change perception. At present, this may seem to be a small step towards bringing about the change that we long to see around us in future. However, over the years, we have seen the 6 Pack Band transcend geographical boundaries by showcasing their talent not only in India but also across countries. We are extremely grateful to the ET Women’s Forum for inviting us to perform on a platform where opportunity and optimism takes centre stage. This performance truly shows that given an opportunity, we can overcome challenges and become stars.”

The six Pack Band’s immense success speaks volumes of the power of music to change perceptions. With over 30 million views on YouTube, the six Pack Band’s songs have featured celebrities like Hrithik Roshan, Sonu Nigam, Arjun Kapoor, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and Zanai Bhosle. The band has also received international recognition with the opportunity to perform at the Cannes festival in 2017.