Started as a makeshift refugee camp in Thane district, Ulhasnagar often smells of papads and denim. Hidden in labyrinthine alleys, the small businesses are typically swamped with work. But in March last year, these very bylanes looked like a new bride as they were adorned with bright fairy lights and shiny decorations. The residents waited with bated breath for their special guests like excited baratis (people in the groom’s procession). The excitement was for a live music concert that was about to unfold.
Six tall sari-clad persons made a simple entry amidst thunderous applause. One among them was Komal Jagtap, and though this wasn’t her first stage performance, the energy and stares made her shiver. She is a part of 6 Pack Band, India’s first transgender band that was curated by Shameer Tandon and launched by the Y films, a division of Yash Raj Films Pvt Ltd in 2016.
As the name suggests, the band comprises six members — Fida Khan, Ravina Jagtap, Asha Jagtap,…