Bhubaneswar: Noted music composer and 3X Grammy winner Ricky Kej’s monumental version of Indian National Anthem has created a new Guinness World Record.
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, 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 with 14,000 tribal students of Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), Bhubaneswar.
Addressing a joint press conference with KIIT and KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta in Bhubaneswar, the Grammy winner said that the recording will be released on August 14 at 5 pm on the eve of India’s Independence Day across all streaming platforms, YouTube and Rickey Kej’s social media accounts.
He said the impressive recording features performances by illustrious maestros such as Bansuri maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Bansuri Maestro, Rakesh Chaurasia, Santoor maestro Rahul Sharma, Sarod maestros Amaan and Ayaan, Sheik Mahaboob Subhani & Kaleeshabi Mahaboob – Nadaswaram Maestros, Veena maestro Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh – Veena Maestro and virtuoso Carnatic percussionist Giridhar Udupa.
Kej said the grand collaboration was made possible with the support of Dr Samanta, founder of KISS, home to 80,000 indigenous children (40,000 current students and 40,000 alumni).
It 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.
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, said Kej.
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 the first time, music lovers and tech enthusiasts can immerse themselves in an VR experience of our Indian National Anthem.
Official Adjudicator of Guinness World Records Rishi Nath said the event of Rickey Kej had beaten the last record of 6651 participants held by Sweet Adelines International, Nashville, US.
He said, “What we achieved here in Bhubaneswar was a phenomenal 13944 participants in “The Largest Singing Lesson”, while congratulations Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Ricky Kej and Professor Samanta.
Rickey Kej described the project ss a testament to the power of music in bringing people together and a celebration of our diverse heritage and a tribute to the spirit of Bharat.
