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The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
G. Aravindan and the Legacy of New Malayalam Cinema
Published : Jul 02, 2025 17:32 IST - 7 MINS READ He had a short life and an even shorter tenure as a filmmaker: Just 15 years during which he directed at least half a dozen masterpieces that were both the pride and the envy of his best peers. The 90th birth anniversary of the Malayali auteur Aravindan is being observed across the country. Govindan Aravindan (1935-1991), was one of the key figures in New Malayalam Cinema genre. There was a time in the 70's and the 80's when Calcutta film clubs would unfailingly celebrate in varied ways—screenings, discussions, writings in journals— whenever Aravindan made a new film. Like many of his predecessors and contemporaries in Bengal, Aravindan never went to film school, nor did he serve apprenticeship under anyone. The innocence of his foremost characters can partially be attributed to his coming into films without any formal preparation, combined with his intrinsically philosophical temperament that were finely tuned to his eclectic sense of music. He had learnt nothing within the confines of a classroom, so the need never arose for him to unlearn anything when it came to making films. He started out with a tabula rasa, making it easier for him to structure his signature in varying styles and idioms in the few but markedly different films he made. All that he had by way of qualification to be a filmmaker were sharp, sympathetic eyes that took in the minutest detail of human conduct or nature's moods; an ear trained in both Carnatic and Hindustani music; the imagination of the poet, which at times veered on the theatrical, married to the temperament of a wayward minstrel; and the intellectual curiosity to experiment with every input that goes into the making of a film. Combined, these rare attributes make a joke of one of his distinguished contemporaries' constant carping that 'the man didn't know where to place his camera'. Seeing the fascinating end-result of Aravindan's alleged lack of technical knowledge, notably in such masterpieces as Thampu or Kummatty, one can only retort: 'Thank god the man never went to film school, for if he had, there was every possibility that he would have learnt where to place his camera but failed to keep his date with the muse.' Also Read | 'Cheriya Manushyarum Valiya Lokavum': G. Aravindan's eclectic work comes alive in an exquisite new collection The final outcome of Aravindan's delayed decision to gravitate to filmmaking was that when he died on March 15, 1991, at the age of 55, he left behind a body of work, which would match the best exertions of the best of his peers in this frenetic, highly competitive field. Varied in subject and style, many of his fictional features, starting with Uttarayanam (Throne of Capricorn, 1974) and ending with Vasthuhara, are leavened by a documentary flavour, indicating his interest in not just telling a story but injecting a veiled commentary on social realities. Spirit of free enquiry Aravindan's documentaries, which one would have normally expected to be critiques of the plaintive human condition in modern India, actually relate more to the arts and well-known practitioners of the arts and even include a mystical philosopher. All these point to a restless, esoteric spirit, a seeker of the higher realms of truth and beauty without divorcing himself from the here and now. Not that he succeeded in realising his goals in everything he did, be it fictional features, documentaries or fusions, but the thing to note was his spirit of free enquiry that drove him to tread difficult terrain. The well-read man that he was, it is likely that Aravindan was aware of Corneille's dictum: 'To win without risk is to triumph without glory'. April 5, 1991, was a day of grief and celebration for Aravindan enthusiasts in Calcutta. On that day, the all-India premiere of Vasthuhara (The Dispossessed), the director's swansong, was screened at Nandan, the West Bengal Film Centre. The screening was preceded by a brief, solemn function at which some of Bengal's best-known directors spoke, including Mrinal Sen, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and Goutam Ghosh. Two of Aravindan's associates had come from Trivandrum for the occasion. The speeches were part personal reminiscences of Aravindan, part a respectful assessment of the artist and his oeuvre, highly individualistic but never too far away from the concerns and conditions of the common man, the little man. What change can do to people's lives is the theme of Vasthuhara. The story is of dispossessed people; of men, women and children deprived of their homes and belongings, robbed of their identity and honour. Using Venu, a Malayali officer working for the Rehabilitation Ministry who makes periodic trips between the Andamans and Calcutta to select Bengali refugee families of 'lower' castes for resettlement in the distant islands, as his central character, Aravindan sought to bring home to viewers the pain and anger and humiliation that never leave the materially and emotionally dispossessed. Aravindan explained: 'The attempt in this story of tense personal relationships is to highlight the eternal phenomena of people being uprooted and swept away and forced to seek refuge in alien lands for no fault of theirs. The 1947 post-Partition exodus of people from East to West Bengal forms a prologue and the 1971 exodus from Bangladesh to West Bengal an epilogue to the stor'. Using documentary footage wherever he felt it necessary, Aravindan chose different locales to narrate a story of individual plight and pluck with collective suffering as an enduring backdrop. When Aravindan made Vasthuhara, he dwelt upon the theme of Partition, which had hardly been explored in the cinema of southern States. His choice of subject, and obvious involvement in it, points to his vast reading as indeed to his concern for fellow-beings in distress. Vasthuhara is a political document of unsurpassed value to film-lovers, especially those whose origins lie in East Bengal. Also Read | Aravindan: Anew and again However much the credit-denying contemporary or the insufficiently-equipped critic may try, they cannot take lightly the delicate vitality of Aravindan's work spread out thinly but securely over a period of just one-and-a-half decades. His humanism, his sense of calm even under pressure, his empathy with the loner and the underdog: Each of these remarkable qualities, without which no artist of substance is made, can be easily discerned in his best films. With Aravindan's untimely death, New Malayalam Cinema lost one of its true-blooded treasures, and the repercussions of that loss is felt to this day among film-lovers in far-flung corners of the country. In fact, such was the nature of the man and the quality of the art he produced, that his passing away is still counted as a personal loss by many in well-defined circles in the Indian film world. Like all originals, Aravindan was able to sculpt a small and steadfast audience, a family of like-minded kinsmen fiercely loyal to his kind of filmmaking that blended elements drawn from diverse yet united streams of thought and perception: Mysticism and materialism, modernism and primitivism, realism and fantastical. By his own admission, he felt attracted to philosophy, not so much in the abstract as a lived-living experience, which shows every now and then in his films. Allured by Buddhism With characteristic candour, Aravindan conceded: 'I cannot say I have an in-depth knowledge of Indian philosophy. The basic concepts of Indian philosophy are part of all of us. Something that we live and breathe every day. This interest in Indian philosophy was born and grew with my reading habit. Within Indian philosophy, what fascinated me most was Buddhism, of which I have read more. My association with Jiddu Krishnamurti also helped in deepening my interest and sensibilities'. One would normally expect a person like Aravindan who was inclined to view practically everything somewhat philosophically, be they related to the arts or to life in the raw, to be a solitary reaper of thoughts and deeds. But the reality was quite different. As if by twirling an invisible baton, Aravindan was able to fashion a gharana of his own, consisting largely of younger fellow-artists imbued with his notions of what was worth pursuing in camera, sound, storytelling. It was a group of talented young people that he enthused and inspired to creativity by his own example, by no means unblemished but remarkable all the same. It been said that the true artist lives and works not just for himself, but goes out of the way to make sure that those coming after him or working alongside him get the support and recognition they deserve, simultaneously enriching himself by his association with his peers. To remember Aravindan is to remember many things, but most importantly, the silences of the man, the silences that marked his best films, and the silences that spoke between the artist and his viewers. Vidyarthy Chatterjee writes on cinema, society, politics. He has been following Malayalam cinema for almost five decades.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Remembering Vechoor Harihara Subramania Iyer, a stoic stalwart of Carnatic music
Let your work speak for itself.' In today's PR-driven world, this adage may seem misplaced. But on June 7, its impact was felt. Gathered at Bharat Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram was a hall full of Carnatic music practitioners, aficionados, and experts. The event marked the inauguration of the centenary celebrations of Vechoor Harihara Subramania Iyer, one of Kerala's Carnatic doyens, who lived at Valiyasala Agraharam in the capital city. Vechoor resided for several years in Valiyasala's tranquil premises, where he taught music to generations of students. Many of them went on to become stalwarts of Carnatic music, such as Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma, Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, Ambika Devi and Vaikom Venugopal. Some shone bright in the world of cinema as well, like K J Yesudas and M G Radhakrishnan.
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Tamil Jazz Collective brings Carnatic fusion to global jazz stages
When Maria sang, 'how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?' in the Sound of Music, she was probably talking about Harini Iyer. Her hair is slicked back with a pastel bandana and a flowy shirt. Her look, as easy as Sunday morning, with a vermillion bindi firmly on her forehead. This bindi or pottu, a part of the Tamil Jazz Collective logo, is a nod to her Tamil roots even as jazz has given her wings. Singing as her musical alter ego, Ella Subramaniam, the journey to synthesise this unique Carnatic-jazz sound has been a decade in the making. Harini, a software engineer with a Masters in Engineering Management from the US, , credits her female gurus with her musical metamorphosis. Her mother initially 'pushed her to formally study Carnatic' and guru Akhila Siva is the soul behind her love for her Carnatic sound. Back in 2014 while in the US, Harini collaborated with Krithi Rao, creating the duo Harmonic Flaneurs. The artiste's journey began with performances of Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' at countless open mics. She learnt audio production and spent time furthering her craft at Berklee College of Music in 2018, where her mentor Lisa Thornson observed Harini had a natural predilection for Flamenco music that somehow synced with her Carnatic roots. This journey to Tamil jazz has clearly been long and eventful. Harini explored this unique Tamil-jazz confluence with Ella Fitzgerald's track 'Misty'. She says that it is an exercise in vocal production, where you take any piece of music, and add your mother tongue to it to produces certain tonalities. 'To me singing jazz in English sounded plain, I'm not Ella Fitzgerald. You can only explore that music with empathy, it is not instinctive. I felt a lot more confident and grounded singing in Tamil,' she says. Harini taught at the Nepal Jazz Conservatory, but somehow 'she's a Carnatic singer,' did not quite fit, and neither did she feel a full embrace with only her jazz persona. One had to meet in the middle. Creating a Collective The Tamil Jazz Collective was born during the last few months of 2024, with Sahib Singh and Shylu Ravindran , creative forces behind the fusion band, Jatayu. Sahib Singh says new sounds usually find a mixed reception in India. 'Earlier, when I had performed across South-East Asia, they were far more accepting of our experiments, than the Indian audiences. Off late, we find more crowds who come with an open mind, and enjoy the music even if they don't understand the language.' With an original Tamil version of 'Take Five' by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, with the original lyrics penned by Brubeck's wife Lola and performed by Carmen McRae in 1961, the collective has received mixed reviews online. Purists are calling out their fusion music, while others cannot wait to attend a concert, collaborate or even host them in Louisiana, the birthplace of jazz, soul and the blues. Performing in Kerala, Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Goa, Harini, Sahib and Shylu, plan to expand the collective with an eclectic group of musicians, possibly adding a 'string section, double bass, horn section, saxophone, and ultimately a full orchestra, when the budgets accommodate multiple collaborators,' adds Sahib optimistically. Currently Harini translates English lyrics of jazz songs into Tamil. However, 'just translation doesn't work sometimes because the metaphors and cultural context are different,' explains Harini. The collective has unique musical arrangements that even allow impromptu collaborations at various venues and cities. Harini's musicology encompasses classics like 'Summertime' , 'All of Me' and 'It Could Happen to You' besides original compositions. As the collective moves forward, it has ambitions to, make Chennai a hub for cross-cultural collaboration, says Sahib, while Harini is in Berlin at the moment to study filming musical compositions, while also performing with multiple ensembles at various music venues across the city (Community Chai, Music Pool Berlin and Sofar Sounds Berlin). The trio is currently booked for performances across India through 2025, and is keen on releasing their music on streaming platforms this year.
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Remembering The man who could never say no
Arun Vasu, whom I have known from the time I was a cherubin kindergarten, his older brother Arvind and I being classmates, called the other day to say that a two-day event is being planned at the Music Academy, to mark 20 years of his father T.T. Vasu's passing. That brought to my face a smile and to my mind vivid memories of Vasu himself. He was one of the most colourful personalities I have known. Not perhaps the most practical person, and certainly difficult to bear if you annoyed him, his vocabulary being of the chaste Madras Bhashai variety, but certainly a most lovable human. My earliest memories are of attending birthday parties of his sons at his Cathedral Road residence. To a child, he was an enormously tall man, with a booming voice and a ready grin. It was only later that I got to know of his T.T.K. lineage. S. Muthiah, who knew him intimately, filled me in on many aspects of Vasu. And I consider the biography of his that Muthiah wrote and titled, The Man Who Could Never Say No, to be among the finest in its genre. Vasu was brought to life, warts and all, by Muthiah, as only he could. The youngest son of T.T. Krishnamachari and Rajalakshmi, Vasu lost his mother when he was very young. His upbringing was largely left to an indifferent grandmother. To Vasu, his father was his idol but T.T.K., busy with his public career, could not care less. All of this in Muthiah's opinion, left a mark on Vasu. Having graduated, Vasu joined the family enterprise of T.T.K. & Co, and was hugely instrumental in setting up many of its businesses, including Prestige and the London Rubber Company. The ease with which he made friends, and established contacts in all rungs of society, made it easy for him to get enterprises going, in an era when the licence-quota raj was at its height. Today, all of this would be called networking but Vasu bonded with genuine affection. And he expected the same from those with whom he bonded. And he was hurt many a time for this naïve faith. Not that he changed. But once a business started functioning, he never focused on it and would move on. And that created its own set of problems. But certainly, the number of businesses he was involved in, for his family and also for friends, is legion. Not many may be aware that the Adyar Gate Hotel, later Welcomgroup Park Sheraton and later Crowne Plaza of late lamented memory, was his brainchild. Its Dakshin, which he conceptualised with his cook, still functions. The Iyer's trolley there commemorates his cook. A patron of many charities A huge fan of Errol Flynn, Vasu established a club for the former's fans in Madras. His efforts to learn Carnatic music may not have come to much, but his years as the Music Academy's President will always be remembered and bring a smile. He was enormously encouraging of the Youth Association for Carnatic Music (YACM), which did much to popularise the art in the 1980s and 1990s. Generous to a fault, Vasu was a patron of many charities, and the proceeds from this two-day event will go to the Balamandir Kamaraj Trust, of which he was president for long. It champions the cause of disadvantaged children all over the State. The two-day event, on July 5 and 6, at the Music Academy, features L. Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam on July 5, and T.M. Krishna on the next day. (V. Sriram is a writer and historian)
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Unstoppable 21: ‘They're Setting The Pace For The Bharat To Come'
What do you get when you put a group of prodigies together on stage, including a badminton sensation making headlines, a musical genius who bagged a national award at the age of 10, and a science innovator redefining cancer detection? Not a team of superheroes from the world of comic books, but not far from it either. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The second edition of The Times of India's #Unstopabble21 — presented by Reliance Foundation, and with the Uttarakhand govt as state partner — an initiative to recognise and award 21 young talents across the country, saw the coming together of winners aged from five to 21. Each name — traversing the diverse worlds of science, sports, and music — was chosen from hundreds of nominations received by a panel of eminent jury, including author Chetan Bhagat, eminent scientist Govindan Rangarajan, Carnatic vocalist Sudha Ragunathan, and entrepreneur Rohan Verma. Union minister of communications Jyotiraditya Scindia, the chief guest for the event, lauded the young guns. 'You're representative of the huge talent board of a 35 crore GenZ population across the length and breadth of our country... and the capability of our amrit peedhi . You are living in a period where, in many ways, you all are driving the wave, setting the pace and rewriting the playbook... for the Bharat that is to come,' Scindia said. Drawing upon the exhilarating story of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian on the ISS, Scindia also underscored how small nudges in life can take the dreams of young minds into a new orbit. The minister, who didn't let a cold prevent him from attending the event, also emphasised the importance of building a strong mind and body, and being rooted in spirituality. He underlined the need for moving away from 'FaceTime to real time', stating that 'too many among this young generation are using the dabbas (mobile phones) as a substitute for maintaining relationships. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now There's nothing that can replace pressing a hand, hugging someone, or speaking eye to eye to someone. ' Such awards are not just a recognition of the hard work put in by the winners from a very young age, but also the sacrifices made by their parents,' said Saurabh Bahuguna (R), minister of skill development and employment, Uttara- khand, who was guest of honour at the event. 'The power of youth today is such that they can be our conscience keepers and remind us about our values,' said Nupur Bahl, the head of skilling at Reliance Foundation Saurabh Bahuguna, Uttarakhand animal husbandry minister and a former professional golfer, pointed out how 'lucky' today's youth were to have a sea of opportunities before them. 'When I was playing golf and representing the country, I didn't have these many opportunities like you have today,' he said. 'I had a coach who used to tell me that the future doesn't belong to the one who is talented, or lucky. It belongs to the one who is ready to put in hard work and is ready to be consistent. ' As the winners were felicitated on stage, the message was loud and clear: the future is here, young, and now. Singer Sooryagayathri mesmerised the audience with her voice. performed a fusion of her song 'Azhage' with the Michael Jackson hit 'Bille Jean'. For the final act, flautist Anirban Roy and drummer Steven Samuel Devassy teamed up for a jugalbandi , the last strains of which lingered long after the curtains closed. Sports Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 14, Tajpur . His performance for Rajasthan Royals made him the youngest sensation in IPL history. During the 2025 IPL mega auction, Vaibhav, 13 then, became the youngest cricketer ever shortlisted. He debuted against Lucknow Super Giants, smashing a six off the very first delivery he faced. Over seven matches, Vaibhav racked up 252 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 206.5. On April 28, the cricketer from Bihar became the youngest to score a century in men's T20 cricket and also registered the fastest hundred by an Indian in IPL history. Anmol Kharb | 18, Faridabad . Anmol played a pivotal role in India's historic gold medal at the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships. Coupled with her recent international title wins, she has firmly been placed on the sport's radar as a rising ace. Born in 2007, in Haryana, she began training at the Sunrise Shuttlers Academy under coach Kusumm Singh, a former national player. By 12, she had claimed the U17 All-India Ranking title and was selected for the Khelo India scheme. She went on to win the singles and doubles U17 national titles in 2020. Her real breakthrough came in 2023, when she won the senior national championship in Guwahati. Last year, she won consecutive women's singles titles at the Belgian International and the Polish International. Tanvi Patri | 14, Bengaluru . When Tanvi first picked up a badminton racquet eight years ago, she was a hesitant sixyear-old in China. Today, at 14, she is one of India's brightest junior prospects — having clinched the Asian U15 singles title in Chengdu last year. Born in 2010, Tanvi's introduction to badminton came after the family relocated to China in 2016. Tanvi won her first U8 title in 2018. The next year, she claimed eight titles across U9, U10, and U11 categories. After her family returned to India, she joined Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru. 'I want to bring laurels to my country in the Olympics,' she said. My dream is to win anOlympics gold medal for thecountry. This award will motivateme to work harder towards that goal Tanvi Patri Esha Singh | 20, Hyderabad . Esha picked up a pistol at nine in 2014. By 13, she became the national champion. Specialising in the 10m and 25m air pistol events, she has won medals at the International Shooting Sport Federation Junior World Cup, Asian junior and airgun championships, and the 2019 Asian Championship in Doha. In 2022, she won four medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games in the senior category. Esha bagged gold in the 25m pistol team event and silver in the 25m individual, 10m individual, and 10m team events. At the Paris Olympics, Esha finished in 18th. And in April 2025, she won silver in the 25m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires — her first. Dhinidhi Desinghu | 15, Bengaluru . Last year, she became the youngest member of the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics, competing in the women's 200m freestyle. Her Olympic debut may have lasted four heats, but for Dhinidhi, it was a moment years in the making. She was also the youngest in the Indian swimming squad in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. In 2023, she became the youngest swimmer to win seven gold medals in a single edition of the National Games, held in Goa. At the 2025 National Games, she bagged 11 medals — nine gold, one silver, and one bronze — and was declared 'Best Athlete' of the tournament. To be chosen for thisrecognition from such alarge pool of youngsters feelsincredible, and makes me proud ofall the hard work I have put in Dhinidhi Desinghu Performing arts Sooryagayathri 19, Vatakara . It all began nearly a decade ago when a video surfaced on YouTube, directed and produced by musician Kuldeep M Pai, featuring a rendition of 'Ganesha Pancharatnam'— a devotional piece, with an unexpected twist. The voice rendering it wasn't that of an experienced vocalist, but belonged to a nine-year-old girl. Now 19, Sooryagayathri has performed at hundreds of venues worldwide — including the US, UK, Australia, Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and South Africa. She held 29 concerts in the US alone over the past two months. She lives a quiet, lowprofile life in Purameri, a village near Vatakara. She is often called 'Junior MS'— in a nod to classical music great M S Subbalakshmi. Instead of reality shows and competitions, it's live shows that appeal more to Sooryagayathri. The turning point for Sooryagayathri came when Kuldeep M Pai was looking for a child artiste to record the 'Hanuman Chalisa' for an ad. He uploaded her recording to his YouTube channel and since then, Sooryagayathri has continued to inspire millions with her soulful voice. Steven Samuel Devassy 19, Chennai . Music runs in Steven's veins. His talent for drumming was noticed at five with perfect rhythms on school desks. He was soon enrolled in classes — and gifted his first drum kit by his uncle, acclaimed musician Stephen Devassy. By six, he was performing with Sivamani, and at 10, became the youngest to clear Trinity College London's Grade VII in drums. Encouraged by his father, he also recorded gospel songs that went viral, inspiring him to study Indian and Western classical music. His online fusion experiments, blending drums with Indian instruments, drew praise from senior musicians. Now 19, Steven has released his own album in Tamil, Hindi, and English and was among 12 chosen by A R Rahman for his Indian classical band 'Jhalaa'. Switching from humanities to sound engineering, Steven dreams of composing for films, performing on international stages, and one day winning a Grammy. Uthara Unnikrishnan 20, Chennai . It was during a Golu celebration at singer Saindhavi's house when a young girl sang a song that left a lasting impression. So much so that when music director G V Prakash Kumar was looking for a fresh voice, Saindhavi remembered that moment. The little girl was Uthara Unnikrishnan. The song that followed — 'Azhage' from the 2015 film Saivam — became a defining debut for her. Uthara was 10 when she recorded it, earning her the National Film Award for best female playback singer. The daughter of renowned Carnatic vocalist P Unnikrishnan and Bharatanatyam dancer Priya Unnikrishnan grew up immersed in the arts. Seeing her love for music, her parents enrolled her in Carnatic music classes at five. Later, her classical base gave her the confidence to explore other genres — Hindustani classical, playback, and Western styles like pop, rock, and jazz, many of which she taught herself simply by listening. Her most recent work includes the title track 'Kanavellam' for the upcoming film '3BHK', slated to release on July 4. Anirban Roy | 15, Kolkata . He is perhaps Bengal's only child prodigy who's had Bollywood celebs dancing to his tune — quite literally. He first surprised his parents by playing the flute at his home when he was just four and a half. His father would teach his sister, unaware that the child spontaneously started learning to play. When he turned six, a video of Anirban performing at a Saraswati Puja concert at Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumder's residence went viral. Now 15, the star performer on the 'Hunarbaaz Desh Ki Shan' talent show has earned monikers like 'Kanha' and 'Gopal' for his melodious recitals. He has performed jugalbandis with Hema Malini, Madhuri Dixit Nene, and Ustad Taufiq Qureshi. A student of his father, Lokenath Roy, Anirban made his public debut at five during Pt Tanmoy Bose's 'Kal Ke Kalakar' programme. Apart from being the the youngest recipient of the Bharat Ratna Dr M S Subhalakshmi Fellowship in music, he has also won the Naad Brahma Award (2017), Master Mohan Award (2018), Byju's Young Genius Trophy (2021), Sama Bala Puraskar, Asian African Iconic Brand Award, and the Kalki Gaurav Award (2022). He has also played internationally — at the closing ceremony of the Shanghai International Film Festival and the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 opening. Fine arts and humanities Jiya Doshi | 17, Mumbai When Jiya Doshi's mother exhausted their stock of storybooks, she came up with a novel way of creating new bedtime stories. She'd revisit old tales, prompting Jiya to imagine new twists. 'She'd ask, 'What happens next?' and I'd help build the plot,' Jiya recalls. That early game shaped her love for writing — a passion she's nurtured since she was five. Jiya has authored three books: two novels and a poetry collection, squeezing writing into her study breaks and scribbling ideas in textbook margins during class. This award is going to be oneof my favourite memories Jiya Dosh Jiya also recites her poems on social media. Among her accolades is the International Exceller Under 18 Writers Awards and Golden Book Awards 2025. But writing will be just one half of her future. 'I want to study medicine or biochemistry and heal people,' she says. 'But I also want to write poetry — because poetry heals too.' Samarth Chitta | 13, B'luru 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' For most kids, it's a query that can spark confusion, hesitation, maybe even a nervous shrug. But Samarth Chitta did something different. He turned it into content for millions of kids like himself, all seeking clarity in a world full of endless possibilities. 'It started when I was four. With my parents' help, I launched a YouTube channel,' he said. When Covid-19 lockdown hit, Samarth's news show found a new format: podcasts and he soon zeroed in on one segment. 'Kids like me are curious about a thousand careers. So, I thought, why not interview professionals from different backgrounds. That helps us understand what different jobs really look like behind the scenes.' Samarth is also an author, with two books out and a third in progress. Anvi Vishesh Agrawal 5, Bhubaneswar When she walked onto a TEDx stage in Gurgaon this Jan to speak on 'Creativity is a Superpower', she didn't just win the room, she made history, becoming the youngest female TEDx speaker, an achievement recognised by Guinness World Records. 'I was excited, scared, and happy,' said the class 1 student. 'I was worried what people would say about my speech, whether they would clap or not. Happy because I was giving a speech before so many grown-ups. ' I am so happy. My heart isjumping. My next aim is tohave the Pradhan Mantri BalPursukar Award and many Guinnessrecords Anvi Vishesh Agrawal Before her TEDx debut, Anvi was already expressing herself — in colour, music, and words. Her artistic journey began before she could read. At just two, she entered the record books for having created over 72 paintings. By three, her artwork had already been showcased in exhibitions across Mumbai, Gurgaon, and Dubai. Her creativity does not stop at the canvas. She is also a budding author and pianist. Before she turned five, she became the youngest author of a bilingual book — 'Little Girl's Big Emotions' — published in English and Spanish. Austin Ajit | 12, Bengaluru He's a naturalist, activist, and author of 11 books on animals and conservation. His first, 'Grandma and Austin's Plant Kingdom', was published when he was eight, earning him recognition as the youngest author of fiction on plants and farming. 'I've always loved nature — all parts of it, even insects,' says Austin, who is homeschooled through Wolsey Hall Oxford. Keen to make conservation engaging, he turned facts into entertaining stories. Recently back from a dragonfly workshop in Mangaluru, he's planning one on butterflies next. His book earnings help care for a rescued sloth bear through Wildlife SOS. Austin hopes to be a professional naturalist and inspire others to love and protect nature. Science Mayank Pandhari | 20, Bengaluru This undergrad student is researching on cancer cells — tracking protein expression across cell lines and examining how matrix stiffness may influence protein localisation tied to cancer metabolism. He's won a gold medal at the 2022 International Biology Olympiad held in Armenia and secured an All-India Rank of 64 in the KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) fellowship, gaining admission into IISc's competitive BSc (Research) programme in Biology. As Wet Lab Coordinator for the IISc team at the 2023 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition in Paris, Mayank led experimental efforts to design a possible mRNA-based therapy for endometriosis — a condition that affects millions of women worldwide. Krisha Janaswamy | 19, Mumbai For over a year now, Krisha, an Mbbs student , has been developing a self-test kit that could revolutionise how gynaecological disorders, and potentially cervical cancer, are diagnosed in India. Her innovation is a compact device that uses an enzyme-coated strip to measure lactate levels in vaginal fluid. 'Lactate is a novel biomarker that can signal gynaecological infections or malignancy,' says Krisha, adding that the kit screens for several conditions often underdiagnosed due to stigma, inaccessibility, and lack of awareness. The device is tailored for post-menopausal and geriatric women, including those who are bedridden. Already patent-filed, the project was named one of the top five innovations at IIT Bombay's TechFest and is now heading toward clinical trials, regulatory approvals. Anirudh Nautiyal | 20, Vadodara Inspired by a Hollywood film based on war, Anirudh built a robotic arm that mimics human hand movements and makes bomb disposal faster and safer. He assembled a state-of-the-art robotic arm that could be controlled remotely via a flex sensor glove worn on one hand. It mirrors the user's hand movements in real time. 'After eight months of work, I developed the robotic arm and named it VENOM,' said Nautiyal. The innovation even caught the attention of PM Modi earlier this year. 'I focused on the technical aspects, while the financial support came from my parents.' The budding tech innovator is now working on another project — an anti-drone system that can be mounted on moving vehicles. 'The system I'm developing will detect and neutralise drones mid-air,' Nautiyal said. Aditya Kumar Jha | 15, Mumbai He has developed an AI-driven diagnostic tool aimed at detecting liver disease in its early stages. The idea struck when he was 13 in Raipur, after learning his close friend's father was battling severe liver illness. 'I wanted to help families like my friend's,' he says. His diagnostic device uses a paper strip that tests urine samples for chemical markers, with AI assessing disease risk. Though no one in his family works in science — his father is in private service and his mother a homemaker — they've always backed his passion. Aditya is now attending a prestigious summer programme in Boston, collaborating with young innovators from around the world. Social activism Saiyam Mazumdar 17, Guwahati His journey into wildlife conservation began when he was 10. He has since saved over 1,800 animals, becoming one of Assam's most inspiring young conservationists. Growing up in Pandu in Guwahati, he says, 'Rescuing animals became the purpose of my life.' He's been bitten multiple times, but says the pain only deepened his resolve. He learned how to administer injections and saline to the wounded. He developed a fascination for snakes and began rescuing them with makeshift tools. He's recieved the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar — the country's highest civilian honour for children. His efforts also include active involvement with 'Green Earth Guardians', where he mentors the youth in awareness campaigns, clean-up drives, and conservation projects across Assam and beyond. In Jan, Saiyam added a new milestone to his journey — summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, and hoisting the Indian flag. He plans to climb Mt Elbrus in Russia this Aug. Anoushka Jolly | 15, Delhi When Anoushka was in third grade, she was bullied by her classmates. She found herself doing chores no child should be forced into — tying shoelaces, cleaning plates — simply to avoid ridicule. 'There were moments when I was helping them with their shoes or plates,' she recalls. 'After a lot of struggle, my parents noticed something was off. They helped me find my voice.' With their support, the bullying stopped. But she wondered, 'What about the children who don't have someone to turn to?' In 2018, when she was nine, she launched AntiBullying Squad, a blog where victims could anonymously share their stories. But she realised that solutions and support were also crucial. In 2021, Anoushka developed a mobile app called 'Kavach', designed to allow anonymous reporting, realtime support, and educational resources for schools and students. Her efforts gained national recognition when she received investment at a Rs 50 lakh valuation in Shark Tank India, 2021. And in 2023, she was awarded the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her contribution. Entrepreneurship Vaibhav Shokeen | 21, Delhi He goes wherever data takes him. From monitoring air pollution in Delhi to joining an international research team fighting parasitic disease in Africa, Vaibhav loves solving challenges with numbers. A computer science student, he says, 'The sad reality with technology is that those who need it most have least access. I want to change that.' Last summer, he worked with international researchers developing a low-cost diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis, a chronic infection in parts of Africa. 'I was the only undergrad with a computer science background. My role was to design a machine learning module to aid detection,' says Vaibhav, who will travel to Nigeria in July to implement his system with grant support. Back home, he contributed to a Delhi project creating temperature-controlled bricks to reduce AC power use and pollution. Looking ahead, Vaibhav hopes to tackle rural computer literacy. 'Many govt staff lack even basic tech skills like Excel or PPTs. I want to develop a module to deliver technical education at the grassroots,' he adds. Ridhhaan Jaiin | 11, Pune When most children in Pune are tucked into bed with a story, Ridhhaan Jaiin is likely crafting one of his own. The 11-year-old author and budding publisher made his debut in Dec 2021 with 'Once Upon In My Mind', a collection of stories penned when he was eight. Since then, the book has sold over 1,000 copies. 'Storytelling started early for him,' says his father. 'Most parents read their kids bedtime stories, but Ridhhaan was the one narrating them to us. ' When Covid-19 hit, the Jaiins encouraged their son to pen down his imagination. Later, his principal urged his parents to get them published. Since then, he has written many books. But writing isn't where Ridhhaan's journey ends. In 2022, he co-founded RidhzWorld Publishing with his parents to help other kids become published authors. Now, over 25 child authors have published their work through RidhzWorld.
