‘Track depicts what women go through’

Gingger Shankar

One among the brown actors breathing life into Marvel's first Pakistani superhero series, Gingger Shankar has lent her music skills to the making of a track for the series, Ms Marvel. Evidently, as an Indian artiste collaborating with young Pakistani rapper Eva B for the making of Rozi, Shankar says she counts herself among a group of women successfully putting people of colour on the pedestal with this MCU offering.

"The depiction [of this superhero] was important. So many people I admire, including Sana Amanat, and Meera Menon, who directed the pilot episode, are associated with the project. I had met Eva B before the pandemic to discuss a collaboration. But during the pandemic, everyone disappeared. When we reconnected a while ago, we started working on some songs. I have been blown away by her presence, as a performer. We made a song, sent it out to a few friends, and the next thing we know is that we're in talks for Ms Marvel. This is the first series on a Pakistani superhero, and she is a Pakistani rapper. It just made sense to [be part of the project]," says Shankar, adding that they collaborated on English and Urdu creations.

Iman Vellani in, and as, Ms Marvel

"The track is called Rozi, which means rose. It speaks to women, and what they go through," she says of the series that has been headlined by Iman Vellani, 19.

Her effort to promote women in entertainment isn't restricted to this offering alone, as Shankar is set to present the keynote at the Rotary International Convention in Houston from today, for 25,000 people. With the focus being trained on women empowerment, she admits she could draw from her life experiences as an Indian trying to get a foot in the door of the American music industry.

"There is a need for women to tell their own stories. In the film industry, women make up less than one per cent of the composers working on big Hollywood films. I am privileged to be among the women who have mentored me. Regardless of the challenges, you see women uplifting women all the time. Instead of thinking that the industry is blocking us out, we can see that women are creating space to keep one another safe and encourage each other. I was supported when I [worried] about being an Indian woman in this industry. If you have a chance to support someone, you must continue uplifting them."

Shankar has also composed for Chris Evans's next, The Gray Man.