states, “Comics help me breakdown subject
matter and make them digestible. Also, we are
a very visual generation with short attention
spans. Hence, I feel, it’s better to serve
perspectives and opinions in easy, bite-sized
formats like comics and illustrations.”
Undoubtedly, her popularity comes from
followers who relate to her illustrations, and
knowing that she has been able to make
a difference, encourages her to never stop. “After
I shared my experience with menstrual cups,
a number of women wrote to me that it inspired
them to try them out. When I spoke about
#dateforone where the idea was to take yourself
out on dates, and spend time with yourself
regardless of whether you’re in a relationship or
not, many responded saying it helped them shed
their inhibitions and go for it.”
When one chooses to put him/herself out
there, especially on social media, along with
good comes the bad, and Tata is no exception.
However, with time, she has learnt to deal with
those who spew hate. “I can always choose to play
safe and make art that doesn’t raise eyebrows, but
I chose to (and continue to choose) talk about
issues that affect and bother me. Trolls and haters
are just a side effect which I will have to learn to
deal with. I tell myself, ‘eat the biryani, throw out
the elaichi!’” she guffaws.
With social media having become a powerful
tool today, there are umpteen influencers who
are no less than celebrities, with followers of
each increasing with every passing day. Does
that not instil fear of losing fame? “That is a legit
fear. That is also the reason why I don’t take the
popularity (in terms of number of followers) too
seriously; social media is ever evolving. I’d like to
believe that people who truly enjoy my work will
stick around. Platforms
and technology will
change, people stay,”
Tata says.
The young influencer
also admits that if she
were to consciously
put in an effort to stay
relevant, she’d probably
stop creating, and opines
that being consistent
and genuine with work
helps one stay afloat.
“I don’t follow trends or
chase a number (likes
per post). That kind ofpressure would just kill my art. I am eternally
grateful to my audiences for liking my work for
what it is, and allowing me the space to be me,”
she adds.
Tata has tasted success for the hard work
she puts in on a daily basis, but one can’t
ignore that it’s imperative for a profession to
be financially viable for it to be sustainable. In
her case, it’s coming along. “Branching out is
important. Having multiple income sources
from illustrations (client work, merchandise, and
brand partnerships), and not relying too heavily
on social media platforms worked for me. It’s a lot
of learning and unlearning. Self-awareness and
accountability are crucial. The best part about my
job is that I get to draw and the feedback keeps
me going. Not to forget, I enjoy the flexibility.”
An ardent follower of illustrators like Kruttika
Susarla, Jamie Squire, Anjali Kamat, and Svabhu
Kohli among others, Tata admires their ability to
tell a story or capture a moment/feeling through
art. What’s she looking to explore next? “There’s
so much more to say and reiterate what’s already
been said. I want to continue talking about
topics that already find a place on my feed till it
rings loud and clear from every household and
individual,” she signs off.REALITY interview
“I DON’T
FOLLOW
TRENDS
OR CHASE
A NUMBER
(LIKES PER
POST). THAT
KIND OF
PRESSURE
WOULD JUST
KILL MY ART.”