After conducting the largest ever Symphony Orchestra (100-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, UK) to perform the Indian National Anthem at Abbey Road Studios, London in 2023, Indian Music Composer and 3X Grammy® Winner Ricky Kej has taken the celebration of a new Bharat to unprecedented heights by breaking a Guinness World Record. Building on his previous achievement, Ricky Kej has assembled an extraordinary ensemble of Indian living legends, culminating in a ground-breaking musical experience of the Indian National Anthem.
The impressive recording features performances by illustrious maestros such as:
- Ricky Kej 3x Grammy® Award Winner
- Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia – Bansuri Maestro, Padma Vibhushan winner
- Rakesh Chaurasia – Bansuri Maestro, Grammy® Award Winner
- Rahul Sharma – Santoor Maestro
- Amaan & Ayaan – Sarod Maestros
- Sheik Mahaboob Subhani & Kaleeshabi Mahaboob – Nadaswaram Maestros, Padma Shri winners
- Jayanthi Kumaresh – Veena Maestro
- Giridhar Udupa – Virtuoso Carnatic Percussion
In a remarkable addition, Ricky Kej in collaboration with Dr. Achyuta Samanta has recorded a choir of 14,000 tribal children from Odisha, creating an awe-inspiring choir that performed together in one location at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This grand collaboration was made possible with the support of Dr. Achyuta Samanta – Founder of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, home to 80,000 indigenous children (40,000 current students and 40,000 alumni), is a fully free, fully residential institute and university with UN Consultative Status and the UNESCO International Literacy Prize. “We have so much to learn from these communities” said Kej. “Their deep connection with nature and sustainable living practices are lessons the world needs to embrace.”
This extraordinary event has set a new Guinness World Record for the “Largest Singing Lesson”, previously held by Sweet Adelines International, Nashville, USA with 6,651 participants. The video also features the 14,000 children forming a human map of India and the word ‘Bharat’ in Hindi and English. The achievement symbolises the unity and diversity of India, showcasing the nation’s rich cultural heritage and the limitless potential of its youth. The recording is a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary elements, representing the essence of a new Bharat. It serves as a beacon of inspiration, celebrating the nation’s journey and its bright future. An intergenerational masterpiece.
The recording will be released on the 14th of August (eve of India’s Independence) at 5 pm across all streaming platforms, YouTube and Ricky Kej’s social media accounts. In a move to further celebrate and share this historic achievement, the entire recording will be made available completely royalty-free for any purpose provided the content is completely unedited and unadulterated to ensure that there is no disrespect to the Indian National Anthem. Individual versions of this recording featuring each maestro performing the anthem from beginning to end will be released after 15th August so the public has access to individual recordings by their favourite artists.
This announcement was made at The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, which recently celebrated a significant milestone, reinforcing its position as an embodiment of Indian Exceptionalism. Recognised among the Top 3 World’s Best Hotel Brands for 2024 by the esteemed readers of Travel + Leisure USA, this accolade marks the fourth consecutive year of this honour since 2020. The recognition is a testament to Leela’s unwavering dedication to service excellence and its commitment to celebrating Indian provenance. The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts celebrates this milestone as it upholds its experiential-first approach.
Moreover, Ricky has collaborated with renowned VR filmmaker Sairam Sagiraju and developers Krishnaprasad Jagadish and Raksha Rao to create a Virtual Reality version of this project. For
For the first time, music lovers and tech enthusiasts can immerse themselves in an VR experience of our Indian National Anthem. This state of the art mixed reality journey will transport viewers directly into the studios where musical legends perform, allowing for an unparalleled level of interaction and engagement. This innovative rendition will be exclusively available on Apple’s Vision Pro through the Chaarana app.
This version of National Anthem will be released across platforms by Universal Music India.
Quote from Rishi Nath, Official Adjudicator of Guinness World Records:
“I’m the official adjudicator for Guinness World Records headquartered in London. Today, I adjudicated the record attempt “The Largest Singing Lesson” here in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. The record to beat was 6651 and what we achieved here today was a phenomenal 13944 participants in “The Largest Singing Lesson”, so congratulations Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Ricky Kej and of course, Professor Samanta, congratulations from Guinness World Records – this is a wonderful, wonderful achievement. Thank you.”
Quote from 3X Grammy® Award Winner Ricky Kej:
“This project is a testament to the power of music in bringing people together. It is a celebration of our diverse heritage and a tribute to the spirit of Bharat. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.”
Dr. Achyuta Samanta, – Founder of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences says:
“I profusely express my thanks and gratitude to Ricky Kej for this event, as well as for his support and inspiration to KISS and to me. This record is a remarkable milestone for our institution and a reflection of our children’s dedication to making a positive impact on the environment. The students of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, who have consistently championed environmental causes, used this platform to issue a clarion call against plastic pollution and to advocate tree plantation. This event marks the fifth Guinness World Record achieved by KISS, highlighting its commitment to innovative educational initiatives and social impact.”
Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, commented on this achievement: “At The Leela, we strive to create authentic, unparalleled luxury experiences that embody the essence of Indian hospitality for global travellers. The recognition from Travel + Leisure and our collaboration with Ricky Kej further strengthen our dedication to excellence and innovation in the ever-evolving luxury hospitality landscape. This award is not just a recognition of our commitment but a celebration of our journey towards setting new standards in the luxury hospitality industry. Our pursuit of exceptionalism extends beyond our guest experiences to the distinguished personalities we associate with, reinforcing our brand’s ethos. We remain committed to curating immersive and meaningful experiences that resonate deeply with our guests.”
About Ricky Kej:
3-time Grammy® Award Winner, US Billboard #1 artist, United Nations “Goodwill Ambassador”, “GQ Man of the Year 2023”, Ricky Kej is an internationally renowned Indian Music Composer and Environmentalist. Ricky has performed at prestigious venues in over 35 countries, including at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and Geneva. Ricky has been awarded the United Nations “Global Humanitarian Artist” award. Among other awards to his credit, he has also won the prestigious “Ban Ki-Moon Award”.
About The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts:
Headquartered in Mumbai, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is owned by a Brookfield Asset Management-sponsored private real estate fund and operates twelve award-winning properties in major cities and leisure destinations across India. These include the flagship hotel in the capital city of New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Gurugram, East Delhi, Mumbai, Gandhinagar and now Kovalam and Ashtamudi in Kerala. The Leela celebrates each hotel through its unique location, art, culture and cuisine with thoughtful services, celebratory rituals, and immersive experiences. The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts was voted the World’s Best Hotel Brand twice in a row by Travel + Leisure, USA, World’s Best Awards Survey, 2020 and 2021. In 2023, the brand has once again been featured in the top 3 World’s Best Hotel Brands. An epitome of true Indian luxury hospitality, The Leela is committed to providing guests with unforgettable stays in settings that capture the essence of India. The brand has a marketing alliance with US-based Preferred Hotels & Resorts and is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.
