The Girl Who Played the Tutari

For Gen Z, a woke, well-informed generation, women’s empowerment goes beyond tokenism—it demands real change. Equality must extend to all aspects of life, including art, music, and culture.

The Tutari, an Indian musical instrument with deep historical roots, sparked an insight and a thought-provoking question—why had it been reserved for men since the 13th century? This challenged an age-old tradition, paving the way for change.

As the first woman in history to play the Tutari, Nilaksha Borhade shattered gender stereotypes, proving that music has no gender. Her act of defiance ignited a movement, inspiring young women to pick up the instrument without fear.

Influencers in music, dance, and art amplified the message, ensuring it reached far and wide. Social platforms buzzed with performances and conversations, turning the Tutari into a symbol of empowerment. A single bold act became a nationwide movement, proving that power, like music, belongs to everyone.

Coke Studio Bharat broke an 800-year-old tradition associated with the Tutari, an Indian trumpet historically played only by men. The instrument's sound was significant, signaling war, celebrating victories, and marking other important events.

We democratized this age-old instrument, breaking the stereotype that only men could play and perform with it. Since its inception in the 13th century, no woman had played the Tutari publicly until 2024. Coke Studio Bharat's music video for "Bayo" provided a platform for a female artist, Nilaksha Borhade to play the Tutari publicly for the first time.

The music video brought together all female artists showcasing their skills. One major highlight of the music video, was to bring the instrumentalist Nilaksha Borhade to the forefront, and giving her the stage to play the historic Indian trumpet – Tutari publicly for the first time ever on stage. Her entry in the music video is a key moment where it signals the unity of women by visually showing the gathering of all the women performers.

The song and music video were spread across platforms via YouTube, Digital Video and Audio Streaming platforms, Influencers, Events, Radio and Instagram reaching a wide audience.