Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveMeet Ridi Oswal, the singer-songwriter and anti-bullying activist

Meet Ridi Oswal, the singer-songwriter and anti-bullying activist

Written by: Mallik Thatipalli

(June 29, 2024) Meet 20-year-old Ridi Oswal, a dynamic young musician, a changemaker, and a student of engineering who defies the trope with her work across different fields and her unwavering commitment to her passions. She released her debut song, Top Guy, on her YouTube channel in 2021. The Indo-European pop fusion song reflects her multicultural upbringing and is an empowering anthem about standing up against injustice. She and her sister Vasundhara are also the co-founders of Stop the B! a movement dedicated to raising awareness and supporting victims of bullying. Stop the B! has been endorsed by celebrities like footballer Ronaldinho Gaucho and Ridi became the youngest panelist ever at the UNESCO World Anti-Bullying Forum.

Born and raised in Switzerland, the child of global entrepreneurs Pankaj and Radhika Oswal, Ridi was surrounded by a diverse array of cultural influences from an early age, thanks to her father’s ventures in different industries, including petrochemicals, mining, real estate, and fertilizers.

Even as a child, it was music that truly captured her heart. Starting her musical education at the tender age of four, Ridi found herself drawn to the rhythms and melodies that would eventually define her unique sound.

Indian Singer | Ridi Oswal | Global Indian

“I grew up in a world of music from all over the world, and music became my language from a very young age,” the young musician recalls, in an interview with Global Indian. Influenced by legends such as AR Rahman and Beyoncé, she began to blend Western pop with Indian melodies, creating a sound that resonated with a broad audience. By the age of eight, she was already experimenting with her music, constantly evolving and refining her style.

Being in the music industry since a tender age meant continuous learning, growth, and taking risks while staying true to herself. Her music draws inspiration from a wide range of artists, from classical Indian masters to modern pop icons, through their lyrics and melody.

Debut and Musical Philosophy

Ridi’s debut song, Top Guy released in 2021 on her YouTube channel RealRidi was a significant milestone. The song, an empowering anthem about standing up against injustice, is an Indo-European pop fusion reflecting her multicultural upbringing. “Top Guy felt like everything I had been working towards. It was the moment I started sharing my music with the world,” Ridi shares.

Her music is a reflection of her life’s journey and cultural heritage. Describing her genre as “Indo-European pop,” Ridi’s compositions are a blend of Indian classical music and the French beats she encountered in Switzerland. This fusion allows her to explore different musical textures and connect with people on a deeper level. “The biggest gift my music has given me is the ability to connect with people,” she says. Her songs aim to inspire listeners to stand up for their beliefs, a theme that is central to her musical philosophy.

Championing Anti-Bullying Through “Stop The B!”

Beyond her music, Ridi is also a passionate advocate against bullying. Her own experiences with bullying in her early teens led her and her sister Vasundhara to co-found Stop The B! a movement dedicated to raising awareness and providing support to those affected by bullying. “We wanted to create a space to spread awareness, support, and be the allies we didn’t have during our youth,” she explains.

Ridi Oswal

Stop The B! has gained significant recognition, becoming the world’s first youth-led anti-bullying campaign. It has been endorsed by prominent figures such as footballer Ronaldinho Gaúcho and organizations like the United Nations. A highlight for Ridi was being the youngest panelist ever at the UNESCO World Anti-Bullying Forum, where she advocated for teenage mental health on social media.

The campaign’s impact has been profound. “We have raised awareness about the prevalence and harm of bullying behaviors. But more importantly, we have empowered thousands of young people to know they are not alone and that there is help available,” Ridi says. Stop The B! provides resources and support for victims, encouraging them to stand up for themselves and each other.

Balancing Academics and Music

Currently pursuing a degree in chemical engineering in London, the youngster adeptly balances her academic pursuits with her musical career. The transition from Switzerland to London brought its own set of adjustments, but Ridi embraces the challenge, maintaining a dedicated focus on both her studies and her passion for music.

Despite living in different parts of the world, Ridi remains deeply connected to her Indian roots. “Absolutely, you can call me an Indian at heart,” she affirms. Music is a primary way she stays connected to her heritage, blending Indo-European pop to reflect the melodies of her childhood home in India and the beats she discovered in Switzerland.

Ridi is particularly proud of her achievement as the youngest panelist to speak at the UNESCO World Anti-Bullying Forum, a testament to her commitment to making a difference. Looking ahead, she plans to continue pushing the boundaries of her music, exploring new themes, and deepening her connection with her audience.

Looking Ahead

As she continues to evolve as an artist and advocate, her future promises even more ground breaking music and meaningful contributions to the fight against bullying. Her latest song, Make It All Make Sense has been met with an outpouring of love from fans, and she is already working on new tracks that blend various sounds. Exciting collaborations are also on the horizon, promising new dimensions to her musical journey.

“I aim to keep pushing the limits of my music, delving into unfamiliar themes, and developing a deeper bond with the people who listen to it,” Ridi says. She also plans to expand Stop The B! to further its mission as a powerful anti-bullying platform. “I will take both paths—engineering and music—because why should women be expected to choose only one?”

Ridi Oswal’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of her passions. Her journey serves as an inspiration to many, demonstrating that with determination and a deep connection to one’s roots, it is possible to make a lasting impact. As she continues to chart her path, her music and advocacy will undoubtedly inspire and uplift those who hear her voice.

QUICK TAKES:

Music idols: Don’t have one. I like to listen to all different artists and genres. That’s what inspires me the most.
The top song on your playlist right now is: Mocking Bird by Eminem. He’s such an awesome lyricist.
Indian music you like: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s songs are my favorite Indian music style.
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Published on 29, Jun 2024

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Shanya Gill on TIME’s Kid of the Year Honoree List: It’s an honour

(August 31, 2024) "When I learned I was on TIME's Kid of The Year Honoree List, I was initially stunned. It took a moment for the news to sink in, and then I felt a mix of excitement and gratitude," says Shanya Gill, the 13-year-old innovator from San Jose in California, who has invented a rapid-fire detection device. She is among the five youngsters who made it to the list of honorees who are already considering how they can inspire and guide the next generation of exceptional young people. "This recognition is incredibly meaningful to me. It's an honour I hadn't anticipated, and it's certainly a memorable moment in my journey," she tells Global Indian. This year Fairfax-based Heman Bekele was named TIME's Kid of the Year for inventing a soap that could one day treat and even prevent multiple forms of skin cancer. On the other hand, five young guns made it to the Honoree list, including Dom Pecora, Madhvi Chittoor, Jordan Sucato, Keivonn Woodard, and Shanya Gill. "Saving lives with science is something that drives my passion for science every day and seeing more examples from my peers gives me more encouragement," adds the teen. Finding inspiration In

d seeing more examples from my peers gives me more encouragement," adds the teen.

Finding inspiration

In 2022, Shanya was deeply unsettled when a fire reduced the restaurant behind her home to ashes. Despite a smoke detector, the restaurant officials couldn't raise the alarm until significant damage had already occurred. The incident left a profound impact on Shanya who was inspired to develop a rapid-fire detection device that alerts users to potential fires before they even ignite.

This innovative invention earned her the prestigious Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award, and now a spot in the TIME's Kid of The Year Honoree List. "It's a testament to the effort and time I've invested in my projects, and it's encouraging to see that work resonate with others," says the Indian-American teen, adding, "More than personal validation, I see it as an opportunity to inspire other young people to pursue their ideas and make a difference."

As young as 12, she undertook the journey to come up with a solution that's more effective than a smoke alarm. What sets Shanya's fire detection device apart from traditional smoke alarms is that while smoke detectors activate only when smoke is already present, often signalling a fire at a more advanced and hazardous stage, her system uses code and a thermal camera to identify unattended fires much earlier in their development.

A STEM lover, Shanya's passion for science and technology deepened through her involvement in regional science fairs, where she merged her interests in coding and building. With her parents - a doctor and a computer scientist - the wind beneath her wings, she found encouragement to pursue her endeavours in the space of science. However, it was the fire at a nearby restaurant that pushed her to seek a real-world solution. Realising that smoke detectors weren't as dependable as she had believed, she turned to thermal cameras to find a better answer. Explaining the process behind the fire-detection device, she says, “The device uses temperature and motion(seeing how a part of an image changes temperature) to detect fires and humans, therefore allowing the device to know whether there is a human and a fire in a scene (attended fire) or just a fire in a scene(unattended fire).”

The future plan

Harbouring plans of putting the device on the marketplace for long, she has decided to make the intellectual property public so that "the whole world can build upon it." She has spent the past few months developing vision language models (LLMs) capable of analyzing infrared (IR) scenes and providing detailed analyses. "I'm currently using this technology in my home," she says, adding that she is excited to present this AI model at the International Association of Fire Chiefs Tech Summit and be recognised at the US Fire Administration Summit.

In this short span, she has created Early Fire Alert Inc., a non-profit to facilitate funding and development. This will allow me to receive funding from potential supporters I'll be meeting at these conferences. "The future looks very promising for this project, and I'm thrilled about its potential impact on fire safety," says the Boston-born teenager, who has been acknowledged by TIME magazine.

"Being recognised by TIME reinforces my commitment to using technology and innovation to address real-world challenges. It's a reminder that age isn't a barrier to making meaningful contributions," says the champion swimmer. The acknowledgment inspires her to keep pursuing new ideas, learn from both successes and challenges and work with others to develop solutions that can benefit society.

The eighth grader at Miller Middle School is keen to take her device to a wider audience as she envisions a bright future for it. "With further enhancements and advancements, I believe it has the potential to revolutionise fire detection systems. The goal is to make it more accessible and widely used to enhance safety measures globally," she signs off.

Follow Shanya Gill on LinkedIn

Scribbling his way to Broadway: Indian-origin Shreyas Ayaluri has had a fascinating journey into screenwriting

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[caption id="attachment_10390" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Shreyas Ayaluri with Quentin Tarantino[/caption]

An uphill climb

"While all this is magical, I would be lying if I told you that the path was all sunshine and rainbows. I cannot fathom that I wrote a song for Broadway," says a beaming Shreyas, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. Based out of Los Angeles, the youngster from Hyderabadlikes to call himself a creative addict. His journey from being a scribbler to a screenwriter is as fascinating as it can get. Only, that screenwriting was never on his mind in his early days.

"After pursuing engineering, I gave advertising a shot. I worked as a copywriter for two years, trying to quench my creative thirst. It was my stint at the advertising firm that bridged the gap between science and arts," informs Shreyas, whose life took a 180 degree turn when he saw his first piece of work splashed across a huge billboard while walking home one day. "It moved me. All those feelings, emotions that I didn’t know existed in me, gushed through my body and I just knew it," recalls Shreyas, whose work has been featured and placed at the best screenwriting festivals including the likes of The Austin Film Festival, ScreenCraft, The Script Lab, StoryPros Awards and Film Empire.

[caption id="attachment_10391" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Shreyas Ayaluri with Jeff Goldblum[/caption]

While his stint in the ad agency where he wrote ads for major F&B brands changed his perception of telling tales and selling stories, which he refers to as the first step into the hero's journey, the determined youngster leapt at an opportunity to study screenwriting and film in the US.

It’s all in the family

Growing up in a traditional South Indian family, expectations were set and choices were made for Shreyas, whose father AK Srinivas was in the Indian Air Force. The options before him were straight forward, either join the Armed Forces or pursue engineering. "Luckily, my parents got my enthusiasm and my flair. They pushed me to explore further," informs the award-winning screenwriter, who first studied screenwriting at New York Film Academy and later at University of California.

Shreyas has written four feature length screenplays, two pilots and has multiple shorts to his credit. His very first screenplay Amuse Me fetched him an award for best screenplay and is still going strong at film festivals. The screenwriter says he loves to write custom comedies with a heart, soul and a mind of its own. His latest feature is called Elvis Escobar and Juniper Lea which is a romantic comedy. "The song I am writing for Broadway is still in production," informs Shreyas, who grew up listening to ABBA and watching movies like Top Gun over and over again. Shreyas, who has been in the US since 2018, also worked briefly with General Motors as a quality auditor.

[caption id="attachment_10392" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Shreyas with a friend[/caption]

Rooted in India

But like all successful people, Shreyas' journey came with a lot of ups and downs. "There were times when things got rough, financially, especially during the pandemic, as being an artiste is not a 9-to-5 job and one might work on a project for months without a paycheck. But one has to do what it takes to stay in the game and that’s what I did. Moonlighting and juggling different roles and working for less, it only brought me closer to my dream and made me realize that if you crave art that bad, you just have to be at it like a creative addict," says Shreyas, who did his schooling from Kennedy High and thereafter got admission in Page Academy in Hyderabad.

While at boarding school, Shreyas recalls how he would write letters to his mother Sridevi Ayaluri, telling her how much he disliked being there. "I didn’t hold back; I went on and on about how things could be different if I were back home. But what my mother remembers is how creatively I would tell that story through the letter," says Shreyas, who was the second rounder at the Austin Film festival of both 2019 and 2020 besides receiving several accolades for his work internationally.

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Zooming past podiums: Indian-American Yuven Sundaramoorthy is racing’s new rising star

(August 5, 2023) Growing up, he loved watching racing sports on his TV. Recognising his love for the tracks, his father would take him to go karting parks and in 2017, Yuven Sundaramoorthy made a shift from karts to cars. While it has just been six years since then, 20-year-old Indian American racer has been making waves in the world of racing cars. And now, embarking on his journey towards the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the young racer has inked a deal with Abel Motorsports, providing him with a golden opportunity to experience the INDY NXT by Firestone action while steering the No. 57 Dallara IL-15. The racer is all set to team up with Abel Motorsports for three INDY NXT events in the upcoming calendar. "I’m really excited to get the call from Abel Motorsports to drive the No. 57 Dallara in the INDY NXT by Firestone Championship. The team has really been coming on strong lately and showing that they have the pace to compete, so for me, this really gives me an opportunity to show what I can do in this series," the Global Indian said during a recent press conference. Inspired to dream Born in 2003, to

has really been coming on strong lately and showing that they have the pace to compete, so for me, this really gives me an opportunity to show what I can do in this series," the Global Indian said during a recent press conference.

Inspired to dream

Born in 2003, to a young Indian-American couple in Wisconsin, Yuven was quite an enthusiastic child, who loved to be more outdoors than indoors. His family relocated to China and resided there for six years before returning to the United States, settling in upstate New York. When he was back in the US, the young racer would visit the go-karting parks, but shared that he didn't venture full-time into the sport until his teens. "I actually started fairly late compared to most racers my age. I didn't start racing cars until I was about 13 years old - which is still young, but many racers start before that age,” said the young racer.

However, the road wasn't an easy one. His parents had to walk the extra mile to support this young racer pursue his passion. "My dad had to make several sacrifices to get me on the tracks. He was in a corporate job, and to support me he quit his job. He would take me to various races and keep up with my schedule - especially when I was too young to go anywhere by myself. He had been my pillar of strength throughout my journey. My mother is still working hard to keep the finances going, supporting not just me but my entire family. I am pretty sure that I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents supporting and nurturing my dreams," the racer said during a recent interview.

But if you were thinking that racing is the only sport this champion excelled at, you couldn't be more wrong. Growing up, Yuven was a part of several teams at his school, and wouldn't shy away from taking part in various sports competitions during any event. Despite having a very busy schedule, the racer still finds time to indulge in other sports he loves. "When I am not on the racing track, I am always snowboarding. In fact, I am a snowboarding instructor, and love being up on the mountains," Yuven shared.

Going beyond his dreams

After shifting karts to cars in 2017, the young racer was quickly picked up by Pabst Racing. His real breakthrough, however, came in 2021, when he was moved up to compete at the Indy Pro 2000 Championship with Pabst Racing. In that season, the racer had three podiums and end up finishing 10th in the standings. Speaking about this change from karting to racing cars, he said, "The car that I am driving now is about three times heavier than what I am used to. I am very thrilled though, and hoping to make some progress soon enough. Communicating with my pit crew and driving instructor hasn't really been different from what I used to do. But I am having so much fun here. I am used to not being able to see more than two corners on the track, so it’s really great to be able to see the whole track from one spot."

Currently competing at the ongoing 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship with Exclusive Autosport and in the 2023 Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports, the racer is looking to broaden his horizon beyond his dreams. " I know the learning curve is going to be there switching to a bigger car with more power, but I think having the teammates I do with me at Abel Motorsports will help shorten that curve. I can’t thank S Team Motorsports LLC, One Motorsports Management, and OMP enough for their help and partnership in making this happen," he recently said after finishing the podium at Indianapolis.

While many in his place would have already set huge future goals for themselves, this humble champion believes in building his empire one stone at a time. Working on getting the techniques correct, the racer is focussed on setting short-term milestones to ensure his future victories. "My aim, right now, is to just work on my skills and improve. I want to explore my opportunities. I am very young in this career and have some room to move and various ways to guide my journey. So, I really want to see where I stack up," the racer explained.

Follow Yuven Sundaramoorthy on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and his website

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Anshita Mehrotra: Revolutionising hair care with Fix My Curls

(January 28, 2024) When she was just 19, Anshita Mehrotra, a student, was on a winter break at her Varanasi home. Having curly hair, she did a casual Google search on curly hair products that gave her empty results, and anything available was ridiculously expensive. She realised, in an epiphany, that curly hair is rarely represented in pop culture, media, or even on beauty racks on stores. The wide gap in the haircare market for curly hair was evident and Anshita decided she would provide a solution. Childhood Nostalgia As a kid, Mehrotra was very interested in pop culture, writing, reading and storytelling. She studied at Pathways World School Aravali, and she admits that this experience shaped her into who she is today. “I loved fiction books, diving deep into stories that were far off from my actual life, it was my way of relaxing. I initially thought I would grow up to write, and I did write a collection of poetry in college which I self-published later, titled ‘Love Comes Full Circle’ at 19,” she reminisces. At home on a college winter break she realised that she had no products for textured curls, or wavy Indian hair. “I realised

red curls, or wavy Indian hair. “I realised no one in our country saw curly or wavy hair as worthy of being taken care of, so I felt very strongly about it and began researching formulations. I took the semester off, and realised I wanted to make Fix My Curls much bigger than what I had initially thought,” she says.

Safe ways

That’s how Mehrotra started working on her product, Fix My Curls, whose main USP is specially-crafted formula meant for curly and wavy hair, which is also free from silicone, sulphates, paraben, waxes, mineral oil and drying alcohols, as they can worsen the dry, frizzy tendencies of textured hair. “We choose softer, balanced formulations that use butters, oils, and naturally occurring cleansing agents that are not as harsh as those in the mass market to care for our curly headed customers. With upto eight rounds of formulating per product, we take anywhere from 6-8 months to launch each product, to make sure we get it just right. We also pride ourselves on choosing ingredients from France, and Germany as well as locally sourcing from India when it makes sense,” says Mehrotra.

Growing together

Women all over the world are turning their problems into multi-million dollar businesses. “They are the ones who go back home and manage the house and get back up to go manage their empire. I especially admire women venture capitalists that are pushing the notion that women led ideas and businesses deserve funding now more than ever. My biggest inspiration would be my mother, Shaily Mehrotra, she runs Fixderma and has taught me some invaluable lessons on making sure product is king,” says Mehrotra.

Now, curly hair products are flooding the market, which Mehrotra sees as a positive sign. “I love it, in fact we encourage more and more brands to enter this space because it helps us further educate and grow the market,” she says. And while it’s not an easy journey, it’s worth it, she remarks. “Our once-niche segment is now thriving and gives our customers so many options and communities to feel like they belong. At the end of the day that is our goal, to give them a space where they feel good about their natural hair, curly, wavy, or coily,” she adds.

Building communities

She plans to make Fix My Curls a community-driven brand and says that she loves her customers and trusts their instinct on the product and what they should make as they move forward. “They drive the brand and have supported us immensely, so we look to make the product experience the best for them as we move forward. We also plan to begin our offline retail journey with salons and are present in Shoppers Stop branches across India currently. We also aim to make sure quick commerce is PAN India for us through BlinkIt and Swiggy Instamart so our customers never have to wait for the product,” she says. The brand has also begun their journey into the US market with the help of CurlsMonthly, a monthly subscription service that gives curly hair products from all over the globe to their customers to try before they buy. “We still have to properly set up distribution in the US but Amazon has been a great help in getting us there because they've made it incredibly easy to onboard and sell the product. We have also always made sure we are compliant, and our formulations are approved by FDA standards to be sold in the US. We aim to work much harder this year to reach that market the best we can,” she explains.

Learning lessons

Mehrotra usually takes challenges one day at a time and says that she has learnt the valuable lesson of worrying only about what is right in front of you, rather than worrying for the future as that is not here yet. Basic operational and supply chain challenges are most common in the personal care industry, and take time and consistency to move through, Mehrotra has learned, in her journey with Fix My Curls. “I have learnt many lessons, but there have been some that have stuck. Your gut will make some of the best business decisions for you, but knowing to listen to it is when it can be hard. Say no more often than yes. Don't work with everyone, it's not worth your time,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_35495" align="aligncenter" width="554"] Anshita Mehrotra, founder, Fix My Curls[/caption]

In her free time, Mehrotra loves trying new coffee shops, Pilates classes, tennis lessons with a coach, reading fiction fantasy books, and cooking. “I also love going on the hunt for authentic Japanese and Korean eatery spots in Delhi NCR with my friends,” she says. The 24 year old is taking giant strides in the cosmetic industry by catering to a niche that has been seldom explored and this reflects her business acumen that belies her age.

Follow Anshita on LinkedIn, Instagram

Swimming with sharks: Into the wild with Malaika Vaz

(February 15, 2023) When they spot the uniformed men with walkie-talkies watching them - again - Malaika Vaz and her companion, the cinematographer Nitye Sood switch instantly into tourist mode. They huddle together for a selfie and gush over a shawl at a nearby stall. "I don't want to tell you what country I'm in because I feel like that could expose me to danger," Malaika Vaz says, in hushed tones, to the Nat Geo podcaster on the other end. This was 2017 and the intrepid young wildlife filmmaker was undercover in a 'city in east Asia' in a seafood market in a shopping mall. They were following the illegal trade of manta rays, a convoluted and perilous pipeline that took them from fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean to the Indo-Myanmar border and Guangzhou in China. This was back in 2021 and one of Vaz's most explosive documentaries. As one might already have noted, the now twenty-five-year-old Malaika Vaz's life beggars' belief. It's the kind of thing young filmmakers and journalists dream of doing, but rarely gather the courage to accomplish. For Vaz, however, it was almost second nature. Growing up in Goa, Vaz began diving in the ocean

diving in the ocean when she was 12 years old, immersing herself in the beauty of underwater life.

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Discovering the manta ray

She was swimming in the Maldives the first time she spotted a manta ray - "I saw a beautiful black shadow coming out of nowhere. It was curious about me. I was frozen, I wasn't expecting this giant cloud to come up to me. It was poetic. Ever since then, I have been obsessed with them."

Even as a child, the Global Indian was captivated by the great outdoors. She is the youngest person to reach the Arctic and the Antarctic with the students at the Ice Foundation. Early on, she learned windsurfing, and sailing and is a professional diver. As she grew older, though, she felt she needed more than just adventure. Having witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by unsustainable tourism, illegal trade, and climate change on the marine ecosystem. And she decided to do something about it.

Foray into filmmaking

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She had always had an interest in filmmaking and a conviction strong enough to compel her to quit college and follow her passion instead. She joined a production company as a researcher and not long afterward, was asked to go in front of the camera.

"I realised that while I loved being on camera, shaping the stories and bringing in new perspectives and narratives that hadn't traditionally been seen on television was what I liked best," she said. She turned to other roles - she has been a director, writer, and producer, apart from presenting. She is also the founder of 'Untamed Planet', a production company that seeks to make an impact in the conservation world.

Scaling new heights in Ladakh

In 2014, she travelled to Ladakh, to train a group of village women to climb mountains. The message: Even the most perilous wilderness might prove safer for India's women than its cities and villages. At the time she was a student at Mahindra United World College and had already found herself a place in the Limca Book of Records as the youngest Indian to travel to both Polar regions in 2011-12. She headed off to Ladakh with a group of students from school, all part of the UWC's Outdoor Education Programme. Together, they climbed the Stok Kangri and Lungser Kangri. "The nine women who are training with us are all from villages in the Muslhi valley," she said. Many had a history of domestic abuse.

Documenting wildlife to conservation

Vaz and her team travel around the world documenting wildlife and exotic locations but that's only one part of what they do. Vaz also takes on issues like animal trafficking, travelling undercover, and coming face-to-face with dangerous kingpins across the globe. Like tracing manta ray traffickers across Asia, for instance. That became Peng Yu Sai, which was nominated for the 'Green Oscars' and takes the viewer into a murky world comprising fishermen, middlemen, traffickers, and even armed forces personnel as Vaz tries to protect her beloved nautical giants.

She describes, in the Overheard podcast, seeing the manta ray trade for the first time. She was in a village in eastern India when a local farmer told her to come to see the "flat pancake fish." Intrigued, she wandered through the bustling seafood market, which overflowed with every kind of exotic marine life - more than she had seen in the ocean itself. Hundreds of people jostled through the market, the air ripe with the smell of sweat and dead fish - "You cannot wash that smell off you," she remarks. She saw piles of tuna, crab, prawn, bull shark - and then, to her dread, "twenty-five dead manta rays lying on the floor. It felt like a waste of life."

Malaika Vaz is also behind Nat Geo Wild: Living with Predators, a three-episode series that "documents the stories of the real heroes of Big Cat conservation - local communities." In each episode, Vaz talks with ex-poachers, tribal communities, and the forest guards who are at the forefront of protecting India's Asiatic Lions, leopards, and tigers. The series aired across the Asia-Pacific, South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa, starting on August 15, 2020.

The power of stories

She has also produced films about migrant workers through the National Geographic Covid-19 fund for Journalists, explored bat conservation after the species received a bad rep during the pandemic, and elephant tourism.

Through it all, filmmaking has been her medium. "We need to phase out wildlife trade," she told Business Insider. "Given that consuming wildlife is still seen as a marker of 'making it' in parts of Asia and globally, I think storytelling can make a difference. Powerful films can advocate for a world where we're not consuming endangered species."

Follow Malaika Vaz on Instagram