The three-time Grammy Award-winning Kannada film music director, Rickey Kej, has achieved another remarkable milestone, likely to be featured in the Guinness World Records.
Grammy Award winner Rickey Kej collaborated with Leela Palace Hotels & Resorts to compose the Indian National Anthem, involving 14,000 tribal children in the project.
Leela Palace Hotels & Resorts recently celebrated a significant achievement. Leela Palace was recognized as one of the Top 3 World’s Best Hotel Brands of 2024 by the readers of Travel + Leisure USA. It has received this honor for four consecutive years, from 2020 to the present. The Leela Palace Hotel in Bangalore is ranked 4th in Asia and 1st in the country.
To commemorate this milestone, Leela Palace Hotels & Resorts partnered with three-time Grammy Award winner and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Rickey Kej. Together, they recorded the Indian National Anthem with 14,000 tribal children, earning a place in the Guinness World Records. Renowned musicians also joined the project.
Rickey Kej was accompanied by bansuri maestro and Padma Vibhushan winner Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Grammy Award winner and bansuri virtuoso Rakesh Chaurasia, santoor maestro Rahul Sharma, sarod maestros Aman and Ayan, Padma Shri winners and nadaswaram maestros Sheikh Mahbub Subhani and Kalishabi Mahbub, veena maestro Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh, and Carnatic percussionist Giridhar Udupa.
Rickey Kej recorded the voices of 14,000 tribal children from Odisha in collaboration with Dr. Achyuta Samanta. The national anthem was recorded at a single location—the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
“It is a special moment to share this privilege with The Leela Palace Hotels & Resorts. The Leela is India’s largest hotel brand. Everything rare and beautiful about our country can be found here. I echo the brand’s commitment to highlighting our rich heritage, diverse culture, and India’s unique contribution to the world. It is truly an honor to join hands with such an iconic brand to celebrate the unity and diversity of India,” proudly stated Rickey Kej.
“Our Indian national anthem was sung by 14,000 tribal children, and it was recorded with the largest orchestra. The recording took place at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences in Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the founder of the institute, which provides free education, accommodation, food, and healthcare to more than 30,000 indigenous tribal students,” he said.
Anurag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer of Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, said, “At The Leela, we offer luxurious service that embodies the essence of Indian hospitality for global travelers. Our collaboration with Rickey Kej further strengthens our commitment to luxury hospitality and innovation.”
