Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusivePenn Masala: From the White House to the Paris Olympics 2024, the boy band takes the world stage

Penn Masala: From the White House to the Paris Olympics 2024, the boy band takes the world stage

By: Amrita Priya

President Joe Biden invited Penn Masala, the premier South Asian a cappella boy group to perform at the White House when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States last year. Mathematics student Raghunandan Raman, who serves as the current president of the band called it an “opportunity of a lifetime.” Penn Masala, the University of Pennsylvania’s boy-band composed mostly of Indian descent students, has gained wide recognition for blending Eastern and Western influences to bridge cultural divides through their music.

This year, the acclaimed a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment) band performed at the inaugural India House at the Paris Olympics 2024. India House, a collaboration between the Reliance Foundation and the Indian Olympic Association, aimed to boost Indian athletes’ performances, support national sports federations, and position India as a potential future host of the Olympic Games.

Conceptualised by Nita Ambani and her team, the India House in Paris showcased the rich legacy of Indian music and celebrating India in a grand style. In addition to music, it featured craft installations, yoga sessions, and dance performances. Penn Masala artists who have performed across the United States, in India and other locations of the world were thrilled about performing during the most coveted sporting event in Paris.

Penn Masala

The boy-band is an evolving group composed of students from the University of Pennsylvania. The group’s membership changes regularly as veteran members graduate and new members join through auditions. While most of Penn Masala’s members are of Indian descent, the group has also had non-Indian members. During significant performances, the former members also join.

Founded in 1996 by South Asian students of the University of Pennsylvania, the band is recognised as the world’s first South Asian a cappella group. It was established with the aim of creating music that crosses traditional cultural boundaries and reflects the experience of growing up with both Eastern and Western influences.

“It was formed by a group of four guys, who saw that a cappella was a big thing across college campuses, but a lot of music that they grew up listening to wasn’t being expressed in this art form. They probably questioned “Why not us? Why can’t South Asians also be a part of this?” shared alumni Saaketh Narayan talking about how Penn Masala got started. “Back then, it wasn’t cool to be Indian or South Asian. It took guts to do what a lot of art groups and the founders of Penn Masala did,” he added.

Indian artists | Penn Masala | Global Indian

A Penn Masala performance in 2016

Although the group members have always been in their 20s, in its 28-year-journey, Penn Masala has managed to appeal audiences of all age groups while performing at biggest venues across the US and beyond. Apart from releasing 12 full-length albums it has also performed for the Indian Filmfare Awards, and for heads-of-state, prominent businessmen, and international leaders including Barack Obama, Henry Kissinger, Ban Ki-moon, Mukesh Ambani, among others.

The group also had a cameo role in the Hollywood movie Pitch Perfect 2, released in 2015. The movie received the American Music Award for Best Soundtrack.

The homecoming India tours

Apart from several domestic, Canada and UK tours, US-based Penn Masala has travelled to India multiple times. In 2006, the group celebrated its 10th anniversary with a tour of India. Their most recent tour to India was in May 2023 when they performed seven shows across Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. “It provided us with unique experiences. The love and adulation of fans was of next level. They made poems and art for us,” said one of the performers.

Balancing worlds

The loving audience sometimes tends to forget that the Penn Masala artists are at the university to study and that singing is just an additional activity for them. For all of them music is a great break from their academic rigour and professional aspirations – ‘an outlet to step away from the stress, hang out with an awesome group of guys, and jam’.

The current members Raghunandan Raman, Gaurish Gaur, Riju Datta, Venugopal Chillal, Ajay Kilambi, Prateek Adurty, Rohit Rajagopalan and Aryaman Meswani are all studying different subjects at the University of Pennsylvania but has music in common.

The current Penn Masala president Raghunandan was born in Bangor, India. His family moved to the United States when he was young. “I’ve been part of two worlds,” he remarked, “One American growing up in New Jersey and the other at home with my parents and family steeped in Indian culture, including music. Penn Masala combines both the Western and the Indian side of me, and I feel fortunate to be a part of this group and experience that.”

Like him, Penn Masala has had members who were born in India but raised in the US, as well as those who were completely born and brought up in the US. Regardless of their place of birth, Raghunandan’s words resonate with all of them.

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Published on 01, Aug 2024

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Rajath Rajanikanth: The director behind the bootstrapped film that won big at Cannes World Film Festival

(March 27, 2024) The screen bursts to life as a team of agents clad in all black with guns in hand chase through a forest looking for Axel Chase, a survivor, who attains special skills from a failed medical experiment, who has gone rogue. Soon the camera pans to the start of a cat-and-mouse game with high octane action sequences, incredible cinematography and compelling storyline that keeps the audience hooked for the next 37 minutes. The Survivor - a perfect blend of action and premise - directed by Rajath Rajanikanth - has found praise from all quarters, including Rome Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Cannes World Film Festival, where it won the Best Action film. Having made the film with the objective of a YouTube release, Bengaluru-based Rajath Rajanikanth had never thought that his featurette The Survivor would bag not one but two awards at the Cannes World Film Festival 2023. It was curiosity that led him to submit his entry to international film festivals. "I wanted to see where this will lead to." But seeing his low-budget competing with 200 other contenders who had spent thousands of dollars, he felt a little uneasy. However, his doubts vanished

to submit his entry to international film festivals. "I wanted to see where this will lead to." But seeing his low-budget competing with 200 other contenders who had spent thousands of dollars, he felt a little uneasy. However, his doubts vanished the moment his film was declared the winner in the action genre. "I felt like I have done something right. With the budget constraint, I had to look for creative ways to shoot the film, keeping in mind its essence," he tells Global Indian, adding, "I felt validated. My gamble on my team, myself and my idea turned out right."

The 26-year-old had submitted his film in the action category but was surprised to receive a second mail from Cannes Film Festival, announcing The Survivor's win in the Best Trailer category. "I had not won one but two awards in the same film festival, especially when I hadn't even submitted the trailer," reveals Rajath, who also the won Best Actor award at the Rome International Movie Awards.

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With constant delays in releasing his film on OTT and obtaining censor certificates, Rajath found solace in applying for film festivals. "It came at the right time. With the wins, came a sense of fulfilment. The doubt that kept gnawing at me finally vanished." However, Rajath is in for a longer game - to establish himself as an actor. "My end goal wasn't to win at Cannes, but it happened and I am grateful for it. It has given me hope and faith to continue working in the right direction." He has proved that one doesn't need a big budget or star cast to make it big, at times creativity and hard work is enough to make heads turn.

[caption id="attachment_36864" align="aligncenter" width="513"] Rajath Rajanikanth[/caption]

A love for the movies

Growing up with a movie buff father who had amassed a huge collection of DVDs, Rajath was enamoured by the cupboards filled with CDs, VCDs and DVDs at his home. For the family, weekends meant watching films together. "I was fascinated by the making of the films. Back then, most DVDs came with a bonus feature - the making of the film. I would spend hours watching it. This was my first tryst with learning." However, the serious pull towards becoming an actor came around the release of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Don 2. "I loved the film for its action and cool factor. Back then, after watching every film at theatre, I'd return home to recreate the scenes with my toys," he laughs.

But coming from a family of engineers, Rajath took up electrical engineering at SVIT only to drop out after the first year. He then joined a bachelors in filmmaking at St Joseph's University in Bengaluru to hone his skills. Those years shaped him. "I learnt cinematography, editing and direction, and met like-minded people who were passionate about cinema." Hungry to learn more, he turned to YouTube for improving his skillset. "I realised I needed more than just a degree and started working on my portfolio."

The making of the passion project

After graduating in 2019, he shifted to Mumbai to learn acting. Upon his return to Bengaluru, he was welcomed by the lockdown. To keep himself occupied, he made a homage video to hit series Money Heist which gained attention from the makers of the series. This prompted him to take on his next project - The Survivor. "The idea came from the way the world was functioning at that time. Plus, I was always fascinated by action genre, so I began writing the script."

[caption id="attachment_36865" align="aligncenter" width="687"] A still from The Survivor[/caption]

Made on a tight budget, the film's crew was a mix of Rajath's friends and acquaintances who were curious and passionate. "I had nothing to offer to them apart from the experience of filmmaking, and they grabbed the opportunity to challenge themselves." Through shared goal and mutual support, they were able to put their skills to best use.

Despite having an interest in acting, Rajath learnt to take on most of the responsibilities due to budget constraint. "I made the film in ₹90,000, which costs less than an expensive iPhone. So, I was the actor, director, editor and scriptwriter," says the young filmmaker, who finished the film's production in eight months. "Since I wasn't paying anyone, people came and worked when their schedules allowed." The next four months went into editing and sound designing. "I edited the film because it would take a lot of energy to make someone else understand your vision. Since it's an action film, the film had to look crisper and realistic." Interestingly, Rajath had written the script keeping in mind the editing.

Despite being shot in and around Bengaluru, The Survivor doesn't look like a regular Indian film due to its pace and narrative. "I tried to make it in a way that it can fit any location, irrespective of nationality. That's why we made the film in English, and it was later dubbed in Hindi and Kannada."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVclcrZWAHo

Learning on the go

Moreover, he shot the entire action film without any stunt director on board. Growing up on a rich diet of action films, this was right up his alley. "I knew how the punch and block works to make the shot look aesthetic. With that knowledge, I choreographed the action scenes. Also, I revisited a couple of action films to see what kind of action I can incorporate but giving it my twist."

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During the making of the film, he understood that passion and necessity are the two cornerstones in life, and this film provided him both. "I was so passionate that I didn't even realise how the 10 months passed by as every day I was shooting or editing. Moreover, I didn't know sound designing or editing but it was necessary for the film so I had to learn. I had no other choice, and in the process I fell in love with the learning experience."

The long haul

But bringing the film to the people turned out to be a tedious process and a long journey of one and a half years of waiting. Getting to release in on OTT was a long haul. But it was his maternal grandfather's death in 2022 that nudged him to take action. "He was my biggest cheerleader and he loved the film. It felt I couldn't make him see the film on OTT." That pushed Rajath for a trailer release of his 37-minute film. "The motive behind the film wasn't to make money, we are still not making money. But to pitch myself to the people in the film industry." With the film now available on Jio Cinema and making waves at the international film festivals, he is stepping an inch closer to his dream of making big in the world of cinema. "Getting your films screened at the film festivals gives you validation. Also, it creates a sense of perception as an authority as big as these [film festivals] on world cinema is recognising your film, it attracts more people towards it," says Rajath, who is happy that with success of RRR at international awards, people have started accepting different styles of cinema. "It wasn't the case earlier."

Rajath, who calls himself an actor before a director, is keen to grow his career as an actor. "I learnt everything and made the film just to put myself out as an actor," he signs off.

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Transcendental prodigy: 100 world records, three honorary doctorates and 200 awards – K Prisha is the youngest yoga guru of the visually impaired

(November 5, 2023) Teen prodigy K Prisha is often addressed as "Dr Prisha" in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, and rightly so. The youngster has been honoured with not just one but three honorary doctorates for her spectacular achievements in yoga and social service — from the University of Jerusalem Medical College & Hospitals, Vellore (2019), Indian Empire University, Chennai (2021), and World Tamil University of USA (2021). [caption id="attachment_19534" align="aligncenter" width="511"] K Prisha, yoga prodigy[/caption] In 2018 and again in 2019, Prisha brought home the gold in the international yoga championships held in Mayalsia and Thailand. She’s also the youngest yoga teacher for the blind and has been certified by the NCPCR, government of India and holds 100 world records for a plethora of skills – yoga, swimming, blind-folded cycling, skating, ambidextrous writing, solving the Rubik’s Cube, Aqua Yoga, and more. Global University, Missouri, USA, recognised Prisha as the youngest person to hold the maximum number of world records. This little bundle of talent has even written a book, Yoga Indrae Seivom Inbum Peruvom, in Tamil, highlighting the benefits of the 5,000-year-old ancient Indian therapy to prevent and cure three common diseases – diabetes, asthma, and blood pressure. [caption id="attachment_19535" align="aligncenter" width="718"] Prisha's room-full of awards[/caption] Such is

ised Prisha as the youngest person to hold the maximum number of world records. This little bundle of talent has even written a book, Yoga Indrae Seivom Inbum Peruvom, in Tamil, highlighting the benefits of the 5,000-year-old ancient Indian therapy to prevent and cure three common diseases – diabetes, asthma, and blood pressure.

[caption id="attachment_19535" align="aligncenter" width="718"] Prisha's room-full of awards[/caption]

Such is her command of yoga therapy that people in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry flock to her for treatment and workshops. "Yoga improves immunity, stamina, and focus." I have been doing it since I was one-year-old, "Prisha tells Global Indian. It has helped her "get superpowers," she says, claiming she can "bend a spoon if I want by looking at it (telekinesis)." She’s so attuned to her senses and surroundings that she can ride a bicycle or cook blindfolded.

I can body scan for healing diseases and also make future predictions with the deep focus that I have attained from yoga and meditation - K Prisha

Teacher and healer who is sought by many

The youngster, who has an impressive collection of over 200 medals, awards, and certificates that she bagged in state-wide, national, and international competitions and events, teaches yoga every day to the visually-challenged. She has also been teaching the elderly in old age homes, and NCC cadets, apart from conducting numerous workshops for people from different walks of life. With her guidance, visually challenged students have found a drastic improvement in their eyesight. Schoolkids have also enhanced their focus, and the elderly and those who suffered from COVID-19 are able to lead healthier lives. One of her visually impaired students even went on to break a world record in yoga.

[caption id="attachment_19541" align="aligncenter" width="546"] Prisha with her visually impaired students[/caption]

It all started at home...

Yoga flows in the family. Since Prisha's mother, G Devi Priya, a lawyer by qualification and a yoga teacher by passion, was deeply seeped in it, the prodigy started showing interest in it when she was just one year old. She could do some asanas even before she could walk. The legacy starts with her grandmother, who is a professor of Yoga in Pondicherry. So far, Devi Priya has been her first and only guru, under whose guidance the teen has made extraordinary achievements.

Despite being a gold-medalist in law and MSc in naturopathy and yoga, Devi Priya has been completely focused on managing her multi-talented daughter’s schedules, travelling with her for workshops and competitions.

Her father, Karthik Rajendran, is a businessman and sports enthusiast who has inspired Prisha to excel in sports and martial arts like tennis and karate. At the age of seven, she participated in state and national level crossbow shooting and won gold medal in both. The multi-talented teen has a blue belt in karate and has won several competitions in it as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfkTKEO3Gz0

However, the love for yoga surpasses all. "I want to become a doctor of naturopathy and spread awareness of yoga throughout the world," says the teenager, who has been invited as a judge at the National Youth Festival conducted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and as chief guest to an event at Nehru Yuva Kendra, a Government of India entity. The youngster’s list of achievements never seems to end. She has been invited to several television programmes covering her extraordinary talent, and has been leaving people awestruck with her ability to instantly choreograph any dance number while possessing a great ear for music.

Yoga for a good life

The standard nine student of Meena Shankar Vidyalaya School, Tirunelveli, looks at her passion to teach yoga as a vehicle of the common good, so that even the vulnerable, like the differently-abled, can benefit and lead a wholesome life. Her dream is impressive — to adopt a village and teach yoga to everyone there.

[caption id="attachment_19546" align="aligncenter" width="712"] Prisha participating in a yoga competition, a few years ago[/caption]

In 2022, the golden girl of yoga had went to two international trips. She went to Malaysia for a 16-day workshop organised by the Malaysian Association for the Blind where she also conducted a four-day camp on yoga awareness. She also travelled to Dubai to receive the Global Child Prodigy award, which was conferred to 99 other youngsters from across the globe. "Until now I have transformed lives of more than 10 million people through free yoga classes," tells Prisha who hopes to transform more lives in India and abroad in the days to come.

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Indian mountaineer, 12-year-old Kaamya Karthikeyan is working towards being the youngest to complete the explorer’s grand slam

(January 4, 2022) In early 2020, Indian girl mountaineer Kaamya Karthikeyan travelled halfway around the world to reach Mendonza in Argentina -- the base town for Mount Aconcagua. Accompanied by her father, an Indian Navy officer, the mountaineer was to obtain a special permit from the Aconcagua National Park to scale the highest mountain peak of the Andes mountains. Yet, within hours of her arrival, she was confronted by a mountain of challenges, not just the permit. As a minor, the authorities wanted a resolution from the court. "Will a 12-year-old be able to climb this mountain peak?” the court enquired, ordering a series of medical tests. Stranded for 14 days, experiencing red-tapism on foreign soil, finally luck favoured Kaamya. The judge went on leave, was replaced, and he fortuitously was a mountaineer himself! He swiftly went through Kaamya's credentials and granted her a permit. Challenges overcome, Kaamya made India proud by becoming the youngest in the world to summit Mt Aconcagua. [caption id="attachment_9220" align="aligncenter" width="470"] Kaamya Karthikeyan at the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro[/caption] The 14-year-old Indian mountaineer “Whenever I felt tired, I did not look at how much more was left. I looked back at how much I had climbed and put one step in

" height="627" /> Kaamya Karthikeyan at the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro[/caption]

The 14-year-old Indian mountaineer

“Whenever I felt tired, I did not look at how much more was left. I looked back at how much I had climbed and put one step in front of the other. I was right in front of the pack, happily chatting with the guides ,” smiles Kaamya Karthikeyan in an exclusive chat with Global Indian.

Born in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) in August 2007, Kaamya was barely three when she started accompanying her parents on trails in Lonavala, where her father Navy commander S Karthikeyan was posted. By seven, she was trekking the Himalayas. Her first expedition above 6,000 meters to Mount Stok Kangri in August 2017 made her the youngest girl in the world to have scaled a peak at those dizzy heights. “Scaling this peak three days short of my 10th birthday was special. I had been to the base in 2012 when my dad was climbing it, and had wondered when I would climb it too. There I was, after five years,” says Kaamya, now 14, and a class nine student at Navy Children’s School in Mumbai.

[caption id="attachment_9222" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Kaamya Karthekiyan with her parents at Mt Stok Kangri[/caption]

Her father had completed his mountaineering courses and was training in and around Lonavala. Both Kaamya and her mother would accompany him on easy trails, and that is where her love for the wild was cemented. Once her Navy father started leading expeditions, his daughter wondered why mountains attracted her father so much to leave the family for days on end. She asked her mother, and “she told me to find out first-hand. So I did my first Himalayan trek in Uttarakhand,” says Kaamya, whose mother Lavanya Karthikeyan heads a Kindergarten school.

She explored beautiful treks across Chandrashila, Kedarkantha, Roopkund, Brighu Lake, Har-ki-dun and Sar Pass. In May 2017, she trekked to the Everest base camp. After climbing Stok Kangri, the Indian girl mountaineer asked her father what next. He questioned whether she even realises that she had climbed a peak higher than the highest peaks in five of the seven continents!

Mission SAHAS

“That is when we got the idea of Mission SAHAS,” informs the teen. Under the umbrella of Mission SAHAS, Kaamya climbed the highest peaks of Africa (Mt Kilimanjaro), Europe (Mt Elbrus - where she set the world record for being the world’s youngest to ski descent from the peak), Australia (Mt Kosciuszko) and South America (Mt Aconcagua). “I also climbed Mt Mentok Kangri in Leh in 2019, summitting my second 6,000 metres plus peak as a practice climb prior to climbing Aconcagua,” informs Kaamya, who is an avid runner, cyclist, skier and scuba diver.

Conquering Aconcagua has brought laurels her way - The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her remarkable feat, and she was the first to virtually interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2020. “I was elated. The PM advised me to treat this award as a stepping stone for future accomplishments and not as an achievement by itself,” says the girl whose newfound interest is debating, and has tried to get into the national debating squad, and is also the first runner-up at Mindwars -- a debating TV championship.

Training hard, and long

Training for such expeditions is tough. Kaamya would run over 10 km or cycle for 20-25 km four days a week. On other days, she would do indoor exercises or climb stairs at her 21-storeyed apartment complex in Mumbai (helped train her muscles). And on weekends, a trek on the Sahyadri mountains helped with balance training.

Gulmarg has been her winter training ground for the past six years. “In early 2021, I had the opportunity to train with the Army’s High Altitude Warfare School where I practiced techniques like walking with trekking shoes, skis and sledge pulling,” informs the hardworking girl who has also participated in the junior national skiing and snowboarding championship in Gulmarg.

In the tough terrain of Arunachal Pradesh, she also did a basic mountaineering course from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports.

The future is bright, and peaking

Kaamya’s schedule is packed in 2022-2023. “I hope to climb Mt Denali (the highest peak in North America), Mt Vinson Massif (highest in Antarctica) and ski to the South Pole. That would leave Mount Everest and a ski traverse to the North Pole for me to complete my mission and become the youngest in the world to have completed the Explorer’s Grandslam at just 15,” she pipes.

Before her expedition to Mt Elbrus, she had the opportunity to meet legendary naval mountaineer Captain MS Kohli, the leader of the first successful Indian expedition to Everest in 1965. “He told me whenever I felt tired on a mountain, I should always look back instead of looking ahead -- advice that has greatly helped me,” says Kaamya who is also learning Bharatnatyan, and is a grade 2 and grade 5 pass piano player (Trinity College of Music).

The will to succeed

“I enjoy the journey, not just the destination. I love being in nature’s lap and pushing myself. I like the competition within - it keeps me going,” says the girl whose mother was her trekking-partner early on, and now with climbs getting tougher, treks with her father. She thanks her school for being supportive too.

Mountain climbing has its own perils, and Kaamya recalls an avalanche hit her group during her recent expedition on Mt Trishul in October 2021. “Sadly, we lost a few close friends but thankfully we returned safe. It has made me more respectful of the mountains, and more determined. Mission SAHAS is my way of paying tribute to the lost souls,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_9226" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Kaamya Karthikeyan training in Gulmarg[/caption]

Not sure how she finds time for normal girly activities amidst peak hunting, she loves reading adventure/crime thrillers, the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton, and Agathe Christie. Her idea of a birthday celebration is to take her friends for a hike! “The path to the summit is not easy. But if I can do it, so can you,” smiles the mountaineer who always carries a small idol of Lord Krishna, and always bring down something special from each expedition as a souvenir.

Follow Kaamya Karthikeyan on Instagram

Reading Time: 7 min

Indian teen painter Semmozhi – A creator-preneur who has six million followers

(January 7, 2022) As a five-year-old, N Semmozhi would be immersed in sketching and painting for hours. Random drawings but immensely creative. An image in her head would be put to paper. Some made sense, others did not. Now 16, Semmozhi is one of those creative bees who has a rare quality of dreaming her painting, and then painting that dream. The teen content creator is self-sufficient, not dependent on parents for pocket money as her artwork has already made her an independent artist. She has six million-plus followers of her art page -- Art and Soul -- on Trell today. “Content creation is all about bringing your ideas to life. Sometimes we have something in our heads, but have trouble translating that on paper. My content helps me visualise what I see,” smiles the 16-year-old. For the girl with a penchant for imagery, an artwork is the representation of an artist’s soul. “From colour combinations, loose strokes of brush and little shades in the corners. That's what Art and Soul is about,” informs the youngster, in an interview with Global Indian. When art came a-calling Born and brought up in Chennai, Semmozhi was always curious with an enduring passion

s, loose strokes of brush and little shades in the corners. That's what Art and Soul is about,” informs the youngster, in an interview with Global Indian.

When art came a-calling

Born and brought up in Chennai, Semmozhi was always curious with an enduring passion for art. “My father realised my talent early, enrolled me in art classes. Art grows within you and I am the evidence of it,” smiles this 11^th grader at Union Christian Public school in Chennai. Her mother is a chartered accountant and CFO at a hospital, and her father runs a garment chain.

Her journey of converting art from a hobby to a career has been exhilarating. Early this year, she started uploading artworks on social media with the handle “artandsoulby semmu” and within a couple of weeks, a video went viral. “Seeing social media’s potential, I joined Trell in July to create more videos on arts and crafts to share my passion with the world,” informs Semmozhi, quoting Pablo Picasso, “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life...”

[caption id="attachment_9388" align="aligncenter" width="271"] An artwork by N Semmozhi[/caption]

How she reached six million

With tips from masterclasses with content experts, Semmozhi was off to a flying start. Her followers kept increasing by leaps and bounds, and soon crossed 6 million. “I wanted my content viewers to create something similar (to her artwork) that is still uniquely theirs,” quips the creator-preneur, who confesses that initially she was scared whether she could pull it off.

Her art speaks for itself - From landscape painting to skyscapes to a perfect moon light painting to charcoal shading of stones lying on the seashore, she does it effortlessly. She can come up with lightning clouds, a 3-D chair and even a resin comb in a matter of minutes. “The pandemic only had a positive impact on me and helped me bring out my artistic skills. Online classes gave me sufficient time to hone my craft and the support from my family made it even easier to focus on my passion,” says the immensely talented content creator who calls herself a perfectionist.

Paying it forward

The first pay cheque is cherished, especially as a teenager. It was no different for Semmozhi. And no, she didn’t use it on gifts for family or herself. The 16-year-old donated her first earnings to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Covid relief fund. Not satisfied, she handed over her second salary too. The gesture was well-appreciated from all quarters more so as her contribution was personally accepted by minister for school education, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. “People of my generation are quickly becoming agents of change and am elated to actively be a part of this movement,” feels the teenager who says earning makes her responsible.

The eleventh grader aspires to direct innovative box-office reality shows in future. “Equipping the basic qualities of an artist and learning the hardships of making money in the course of my career has taught me that people with real skills need to be treasured and provided with opportunities,” says Semmozhi, a huge fan of reality shows.

[caption id="attachment_9390" align="aligncenter" width="498"] An artwork by N Semmozhi[/caption]

Interestingly, for her CBSE main board exams, Semmozhi opted for painting as her major paper. This despite her peers and other people advising against it. “I found it hard to cope with the drawing syllabus since it involved mural traditions, temple architecture, Warli Art and post-Mauryan trends in Indian art and architecture, caves and sculptures. Later, I realised that not only did it make me better at details, I also found an affinity to learn the most boring subject of all time -- history,” smiles Semmozhi, whose school provided her expert coaching as the only student who opted for the subject.

When not creating content, Semmozhi loves to dance and cook. “Becoming an artist has been my childhood dream but I do like to dance all my worries away,” signs off Semmozhi, whose favourite Global Indian is Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo.

Reading Time: 6 min

Diljit Dosanjh, Raveena Aurora: The Indians taking Coachella by storm

(April 24, 2023) "Sat Sri Akal ji, Punjabi aa gaye Coachella oye." The crowd roared its appreciation as Diljit Dosanjh, dressed all in black, in a traditional tehmat, kurta, vest and turban, greeted Coachella 2023 at the end of his opening song, G.O.A.T. The superstar stuck to speaking in his his native tongue, taking pride in the fact that he doesn't prefer to speak to English. Every gesture was an ode to his Punjabi cultural heritage. On day two, he appeared in white, in a tehmat kurta which he styled with sneakers. It was Coachella's Patiala Peg moment and the crowds absolutely loved it. In January 2023, when the Coachella lineup was announced with Diljit's name on the list, not many Indians knew what that meant, really. And Coachella, it seems, was not prepared for the phenomenon that is Diljit Dosanjh and the Punjabi music rage. But with Dosanjh, Ali Sethi, Jai Paul and Blackpink all in the lineup, it's clear - inclusivity is in at Coachella. The festival has has more than lived up to a promise made during the pandemic. This year's lineup is a celebration of South Asia, with Dosanjh, Pakistani singer Ali Sethi and Bangladeshi-origin producer Jai

https://www.instagram.com/diljitdosanjh/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dosanjh, Pakistani singer Ali Sethi and Bangladeshi-origin producer Jai Wolf. In 2022, Indian-American Raveena Aurora and Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab crooned their way through the festival, to much acclaim.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is held every year at the Empire Polo Club in the Colorado Desert, Coachella is now organised by Goldenvoice. Today, it is one of the world's largest and most profitable festivals in the world, with over 2,50,000 attendees in 2017 and a gross revenue of $114.76. Founded in 1999, soon after the ill-fated Woodstock 2.0, the festival was an instant hit, with Rage Against the Machine headlining the inaugural edition. The biggest artists from around the world have played the festival since, including Jane's Addiction, Iggy and the Stooges, Daft Punk, Amy Winehouse, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Roger Waters, Kanye West, Lady Gaga and Beyonce (in chronological sequence).

The bid for diversity began back in July 2020, when Goldenvoice promised audiences more inclusive lineups. At that point, only one Indian artist had ever graced the festival stage. Ritesh D'Souza, one half of electronic duo B.R.E.E.D., along with pianist and vocalist Tara Mae, played the festival. Global Indian takes a look at Coachella's Indian presence.

B.R.E.E.D - Ritesh D'Souza and Tara Mae

[caption id="attachment_26561" align="aligncenter" width="484"] Ritesh D'Souza and Tara Mae at Coachella[/caption]

The niche Do Lab stage at Coachella is an open enclosure designed like a whale carcass, where Ritesh D'Souza made his appearance with some fast-paced beats, as dancers were 'sprayed' from water guns straight into the crowd. And India made its Coachella debut with what his collaborator, pianist and vocalist Tara Mae, described as a "forward-pushing sound." As Ritesh set electronic beats to the nadaswaram, his message was clear: India was going to be a global hotbed for EDM.

The bass producer had moved to Los Angeles from Mumbai only two years prior, intent on "pushing his sound internationally," Rolling Stone India writes. There, he released his debut, Binate, which made it to the Beatport and iTunes charts in 2014. At that time, when good music took precedence over political concerns, B.R.E.E.D shared the stage with rock icons AC/DC, blues rocker Jack White and the American rapper, Drake.

Raveena Aurora

In 2022, as Coachella made a blockbuster post-pandemic comeback, singer Raveena Aurora gave her electrifying performance of Dum Maro Dum, to much praise and applause. She knew she was making festival history that year, as its first female Indian-origin musician and she was determined to do so with style and substance both.

Later, she tweeted, "Only real ones will know the cultural significance of me singing Dum Maro Dum at Coachella, a song from an iconic Indian movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna, that was about the westernization of Indian spirituality. Indian culture is often appropriated on the world stage, with very little thanks given and Aurora wasn't about to let it slide, using the Coachella stage to lend her voice to every South Asian and represent the cultural roots to which she remains so deeply tied.

An LA girl all the way, Raveena starts her day with a meditation practice - which comes through in her 2022 album, Asha's Awakening. The 15-track record is a gentle, melodious amalgamation of R&B, soul, jazz and pop, with Indian and South Asian influences. "Indian culture and Punjabi culture has always surrounded me whether I embraced it or not," Raveena said. Growing up in an immigrant family that had moved to America shortly before she was born, a strong Indian influence pervaded her childhood, she recalls "going to the Gurdwara all the time." It meant she was "inundated and surrounded by that music, that celebration of colour and spirituality, that beautiful culture I'm so grateful to be part of."

Raveena began her musical career in 2017, releasing her EP, Shanti, after she graduated from NYU's Tisch School of The Arts. Her debut album, Lucid, followed in 2019. She loved pop, R&B, soul and jazz, all of which she leaned into for her own song writing. Then came a deep dive into Indian music, and Raveena began working on incorporating Hindi into her songwriting and collaborating with other South Asian artists.

Diljit Dosanjh

Diljit Dosanjh needs no introduction. This week, Diljit fans were ecstatic to hear that the 'Super Singh of Punjab' is going to be a headlining act at Coachella, alongside acts like K-Pop megastars Blackpink and Bjork. "I will sing in Punjabi, like always," the singer announced. His fans are thrilled and Diljit himself loves the festival, but remains as stoic as ever. "Jo ho raha hai, mere daayre se badi baat hai. Coachella is something I never even thought of, it was never in my plan. Whatever is happening in my life is.. maybe I don't even deserve it. I am just grateful to God."

Born in Dosanjh Kalan in Jalandhar district, Punjab, Diljit's father was an employee of the Punjab Roadways and his mother was a homemaker. Diljit began his singing career by performing Kirtan at local gurdwaras in his home town and also in Ludhiana, where the family relocated when Diljit was still in school. In 2004, he released his debut album, Ishq Da Uda Ada. Dosanjh's fame and popularity skyrocketed with his third album, Smile, and two of its tracks, Nachh Diyan Alran Kuwariyan and Paggan Pochviyan Wale. He wouldn't make it to pan-India glory for a few more years and by the time he did so, was already a Punjabi music star, touring for the diaspora around the world and performing to packed stadiums in Toronto. In 2011, he made his debut in Punjabi films, playing the lead in The Lion of Punjab, which was a flop, although his song, Lak 28 Kudi Da, a collaboration with Yo Yo Honey Singh, was a big success. One year later, he played the lead in Jatt & Juliet, which became one of the Punjab film industry's biggest hits and put him in the spotlight around the country.

Diljit's 2020 album G.O.A.T made it to the Billboard Global Chart and the Canada Top 20 and in 2022, he announced his collaboration with Warner Music, in a bid to further his global presence. Unapologetic, down to earth and totally at ease with himself, Diljit Dosanjh promises to be formidable ambassador for India's soft power at the iconic Coachella festival.

Jai Paul

[caption id="attachment_26563" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Jai Paul[/caption]

If Diljit Dosanjh is a household name, Jai Paul is an enigma. The singer-songwriter will, however, be at Coachella this year and, you might be surprised to learn, it's will be his first-ever live performance! In 2022, the musician made an appearance in Donald Glover's Atlanta and in 2019, released the album Leak 04-13, an official version of the material that had been famously leaked in 2013.

Jai Paul was born in Rayners Lane in northwest London and entered the public eye, in a manner of speaking in April 2013. An unknown user had uploaded a number of untitled tracks to the music streaming website Bandcamp, where they were made available for sale. It didn't take long for the media to pick up on a scam, atrributing the music to Jai Paul. Even so, the album did well, making it to The Guardian's Best Albums of 2013 and number 20 in Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2013.

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