MUMBAI: The daughter of a streaming aggregator boss has just delivered a performance to remember. Vanshi Mudaliar, the 12-year-old daughter of Avinash Mudaliar, co-founder and chief executive of OTTPlay, claimed the gold prize at the Golden Classical Music Awards in Tokyo on 20 August, performing live at the world-renowned Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.
The victory follows her silver medal at Vienna’s International Arts Festival in 2024, making her one of the youngest Indian musicians to secure consecutive top honours across Europe and Asia in Western classical music competitions—a field historically dominated by European, American and Russian performers.
“Her victory at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall marks a breakthrough moment for Indian talent on the international classical music circuit,” says her father, clearly basking in paternal pride.
The competition attracted global participants, with winners selected through online auditions before the most exceptional performers were invited to Tokyo for three days of live performances. Vanshi took the stage on the final day, 20 August.
Her success stems from five years of intensive training under Rahel Shekatkar at Rahel Music Academy in Pune—a 150-kilometre journey from the family’s Mumbai base that has proved worthwhile. Despite the distance, this student-teacher partnership has now produced two major international victories.
Shekatkar’s academy has established itself as a premier destination for western classical vocal training in India. Vanshi’s achievements demonstrate the quality of musical education available domestically, bridging Eastern and Western musical traditions.
At just 12, Vanshi has carved out a unique position in India’s musical landscape through her dedication to Western classical music—a genre demanding exceptional technical precision, vocal control and interpretive skills. Her journey from Mumbai to Vienna to Tokyo illustrates the global recognition Indian artists can achieve in traditional western art forms.
With two major international victories already secured, Vanshi represents a new generation of Indian classical musicians making their mark globally, opening doors for other young artists and highlighting the importance of nurturing musical talent early.