To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the iconic patriotic song “Vande Mataram,” a global mega musical collaboration featuring 150 members of the Indian diaspora worldwide, including 15 participants from across the United States, was organized as part of India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2026.

Participants from the United States included Sreekrishnan Swaminathan (Dallas, Texas), Poornima Shivalingam (Bay Area, California), Sreedevi (Denver, Colorado), Raji Sivasubramanian (Iowa), Chitra Sridhar (Bay Area, California), Kamal Srinivasan (Herndon, Virginia), Dhivya Sivasankkar (Fairfax, Virginia), Rajambal Jothimani (Ashburn, Virginia), Aishwarya Shriram (Dallas, Texas), Ravishankar V.B. (Dallas, Texas), Vishali Nerai (New Jersey and New York), Pankajalakshmi Niatti (Dallas, Texas), Pavithra Vijayanand (Bay Area, California), Raghunathan Narasimhan (Los Angeles, California), and Jayaganthan (Charlotte, North Carolina).

The collaboration was led by Paadarivom Padipparivom (PP), “a vibrant musical ecosystem that empowers aspiring singers to learn, practice, and perform.” The organization launched the distinctive global group singing initiative from a worldwide pool of more than 600 singers. From this group, 150 participants were selected and divided into multiple teams, each rehearsing under the guidance of experienced leaders to ensure musical harmony and quality.

The project was carried out under the supervision of PP’s leaders Founder and CEO, Naggeswerran S, and Co-Founders Ramchander Koushik, and Sushmitha Anand, along with guidance from 15 dedicated music mentors. Despite logistical challenges such as time zone differences, the initiative “progressed seamlessly,” according to Rajambal Jothimani, a singer and mentor from Ashburn, Virginia. 

Through numerous “online rehearsal sessions, coordinated efforts, and a shared sense of purpose,” the production was completed and released successfully, she said.

Bringing together 150 voices in unison required significant discipline, commitment, and teamwork within a limited timeframe, said Naggeswerran. He recalled that PP began as a “passion-led initiative” among three friends during the Covid lockdown, when many were searching for hope and meaning.

“From day one, the vision was simple yet powerful: to help aspiring singers move from the bathroom to the greenroom,” he noted. “The organization believes that music, like any skill, can be learned by anyone who carries the desire to sing. Through its Paatashala and community-driven approach, Paadarivom Padipparivom has grown into a space where aspiration finds direction.”

Sushmitha Anand emphasized that when people are united by “passion, purpose, and love for the nation,” collaboration itself becomes a celebration.

“Marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, we felt it was the perfect moment to unite at least 150 singers from our community and present a collective tribute to Mother India,” Anand said, adding, “Seeing mentors and students come together for this was deeply moving, and we are grateful that the vision came to life.”

Ramchander Koushik highlighted the organization’s philosophy of blending innovation with tradition. “We strongly believe in adopting modern methods of teaching while staying rooted in the traditional values of music,” he said, noting that Indian music is one of the most profound expressions of “our culture, and our dream is to take it to every corner of the world.”

Today, PP has more than 600 members across 26 countries, including nearly 100 in the United States, and the organization feels it is moving in the right direction, Koushik added.

Rajambal Jothimani described the platform as “a one-stop community to learn, grow, and perform,” noting its pivotal role in shaping her development as a professional singer. She credited the organization with supporting her journey toward multiple awards and her entry into the Tamil music industry through her first independent album.

“As I continue my journey toward becoming a mentor through their ‘Train the Trainer’ program, I was truly excited to lead one of the groups in this remarkable 150-voices collaboration,” she said.

Dallas-based Sreekrishnan Swaminathan, who served as both mentor and singer, reflected on the emotional significance of the project. “What an experience it was to be a part of 150 voices, singing Vande Mataram on the song’s 150th year anniversary. Being away from India for the past 15 years due to work and career commitments, I really miss the motherland,” he shared.

As part of the initiative, “I was able to train a group of participants in rendering the song with the right diction and proper justice to the original,” he added.

Another mentor and singer, Aishwarya Shriram of Dallas, described the experience as “deeply moving.”

“The experience filled me with immense pride and a powerful sense of unity,” Shriram said. “It truly felt like the spirit of the nation resonating through every voice. When 150 voices from different locations came together, it wasn’t just a performance, it was a reminder of who we are, where we come from, and how beautifully united we can be when we stand together as one nation.”

Kamal Srinivasan of Herndon, Virginia, who participated as a singer, said, “When I heard about this initiative by PP and got an opportunity to be part of this group collaboration, I got excited.” He described the effort as “truly a great tribute to our motherland” and commended the mentors for teaching singers “proper pronunciation” and “nuances.”

Dhivya Sivasankkar of Fairfax, Virginia, also a singer, noted that such opportunities are rare. “I am honored to be a part of this wonderful dedication to our country,” she said. “Thanks to PP and the mentors. They made me learn and sing this song along with so many other passionate singers.”

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