A glimpse at the life and legacy of legendary self-taught Rajasthani sculptor, Usha Rani Hooja, a true icon of the art world. Usha Rani Hooja was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan in 1940. Hooja is a self-taught artist, creating art for over 40 years. Her sculptures are an ode to the rich heritage and vibrant colours of Rajasthan. Her art depicts intricate details, distinct styles and traditional Motifs.

Hooja’s creative journey began in the 1970s when she had begun experimenting with clay and other materials. Hooja’s inspiration was the local craftsmen whose traditional techniques led her to explore further about the craft. Incorporating those techniques into her work. She held her first exhibition in 1974, following which her artwork has been on display in a variety of exhibitions and galleries across the globe.

Usha Rani Hooja: Inspiration

The sculptures of Usha Rani Hooja mirror the culturally rich heritage of Rajasthan. Her artwork intricately has its roots in the state’s traditional arts and crafts, local folklore, customs and mythology where she finds her inspiration. Hooja’s sculptures are a fusion of modern and traditional styles. She often experiments with a variety of materials and techniques to create unique and innovative art.

Her terracotta sculptures are one of the most significant contributions to the art world. Usha Rani Hooja spent 30 years working with terracotta. She has mastered the technique to create detailed and intricate sculptures that depict local traditions, for example, the potters of Rajasthan. 

An additional distinct aspect of Usha Rani Hooja’s artwork is her use of colours. She mostly uses bold and bright colours in her sculptures, mirroring the colourful and vibrant culture of Rajasthan. To add to their visual appeal she adorns her sculptures with detailed patterns and designs.

Usha Rani Hooja: Legacy

Hooja’s artwork holds deeper meaning along with being aesthetically pleasing. They are a reflection of social issues and are a commentary on the prevailing state of society. Her sculpture series titled “Women in Society”, is inspired by and depicts the struggles and hurdles Indian women are subjected to. The sculptures hold as a strong reminder of the need for gender equality and women empowerment.

Her artwork has garnered numerous accolades and awards. In the year 1992, she was awarded the Rajasthan Lalit Kala Akademi Award for her contributions to the field of sculptures. In 2013 she was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards for her artistic contributions.

As of today, Usha Rani Hooja’s work is prevalent in inspiring and captivating art enthusiasts worldwide. Her sculptures serve as a symbol and reminder of the importance of preserving traditional art and craft and cultural identity. Her passion and commitment to preserving the legacy and cultural heritage of Rajasthan traditional art make her a true icon of the world of art.

The longing of relieving the past one more time before the future engulfs you. The urge to maintain a grip, ignoring the fear of a moment vanishing. To little and large discoveries within the people and loved animals, we come across. The permanence and lasting impact of our memories have, helped us a long way to carry on and make new ones. Stories that will instantly resonate with your core memories. 

Ek Dost Aisa Bhi – Nidhi Narwal 

A retreat back to memory lane, to relive and cherish them once more. A sense of familiarity when distanced from home, a sense beckoning you back, your happiest memories in bits that still guide you back home. Nidhi Narwal in her heart-touching, beautiful narration of the story gives us a sight of her pet dog Maddy, her smile throughout her anecdote establishes the impact he had on her life and the family. Nidhi’s unfolding of the story starts with a vibrant description of Maddy as well as his presence, particularly in her dad’s heart. A little menace, who managed to involve everyone in his business. Nidhi’s way of continuing is delightful, a retelling of memory as if one detached from us and shown right in front of us.  Storytelling of Ek Dost Aisa Bhi will tuck you back into the comfort layers of being with your pets and reminiscing or making core memories with them as well as appreciating these moments more. 

Yaari Dosti Mai Kya Rakha Hai?- Divya Chaudhary 

‘Yeh yaari doosti me kuch nhi rakha , Yari dosti sab chut jate hai’, a chain of words with a constant occurrence throughout her anecdote definitely takes a chuckle or two out of you while you shuffle back to the past. Minute details and instances created without a thought and passage of time are the ones who last the longest, Divya’s nineteen years of college friendship is living proof that cancelling the old phrase friendships are mere waste of time. A cycle and turn of events in Divya’s storytelling emphasise the significance of finding a home beyond a home. 

Sameer Oberoi is currently working as a radio jockey in Amritsar for India’s most renowned and popular radio station — Red FM. He is hosting an evening show which airs from 5 pm to 9 pm. Previously, he worked as an RJ with My FM. It is clear from his occupation that Sameer Oberoi is tooth and nail working as an entertainer for numerous audiences. So, therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise to us that this isn’t his only way of expressing his true self. Apart from being a radio jockey, Sameer is also a content creator, producing excellent content and art through various mediums. He writes and performs poetry and delivers original comedy content through YouTube and Instagram. On top of that, he is also an actor, with more than 7 years of experience in theatre. 

We had a little talk with RJ Sameer Oberoi and got to have a closer look at his self-built empire. The passion, the hard work, the challenges, few talk about what art is and is not theatre, and more. Let’s dig right into it. 

Early Life

RJ Sameer Oberoi’s real name is Paras Oberoi. He completed his BCOM honours from Lyallpur Khalsa College. Afterwards, he got a job at My FM for the position of a Radio Jockey. Along with his job at My FM, he also did his MBA in finance and marketing. Multi tasking and excelling at it has been his forte, we can assume. 

As a student, Sameer had tried his hands into a plethora of fields. He was into sports and dancing. In sports, he played cricket at district level, and baseball at the state level. Apart from this, Sameer was also in theatre and acting for seven years. Sameer says he has learned more from theatre and the stage than from the surrounding people. Since his college days, Sameer was determined to walk on the path of entertainment, and it is from there that the seeds for content creation were sown. 

RJ Sameer Oberoi on the Road of Content Creator and Entertainer

Sameer Oberoi performed his first poetry at The Social House. The Social House is a well loved platform for artists to speak and share their stories, and for the audience who love such performances. Sameer’s first self written poetry, ‘Kuch Ankahee Si Baatein’ was selected. In Amritsar, he performed it gracefully. This was the moment when he realised he has more to his creative energies than he had thought. 

This poetry emerged out of a very personal experience from his life, and that was his breakup with his girlfriend during that time. Sameer penned down his raw feelings, and thus emerged a poetry, and the blooming realisation that he can write. He also mentioned during the talk that he did not even know that what he has written is called poetry. After this discovery of his own hidden talents, Sameer looked into poetries, writers and what they are about. He firmly believes that poetry is free flowing, and should not be restricted by rules or moulded around them. Sameer writes most of his poetries from his own life experiences.

Along with this, Sameer also started producing comedy content, which included various kinds of humorous scripts. He says that through the funny content creation he posts, a more natural side of his personality is visible, which sometimes gets lost while showcasing his poetries. He’s an exceptionally fun, crazy and a loving person, who gels naturally with everyone. As a content creator and an artist, he wants to display his most authentic personae to the world.

Passion Against the Challenges 

Sameer’s father was not in support of him pursuing a career in the entertainment field. However, theatre was Sameer’s passion, and he was determined to keep it close to him, and follow in the similar pathway. Sameer shared that there was a time that he kept himself away from his home entirely and busied himself in practising theatre. This was one of the ways his parents realised that he was indeed very passionate about acting. His acting got him an award for best actor at the national level and also at the inter college level. Sameer Oberoi sees the world from a different perspective. He says that he views everyone around him as a character, and we’re all playing different roles. This is also why “people” are his biggest motivation.

Sameer Oberoi got a role in Namaste England where he played the character of Arjun Kapoor’s friend. This role was offered to him unplanned. Convinced by his friend to give the audition, Sameer had no plans for actually starring in a movie, and a few hours later, he was shortlisted for this role. He worked with Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra. He also made close friends with famous personalities like Anjum Batra and Vipul Mehta. 

Sameer confessed that one of the courageous things he did was to stand against his parents, and continue to push forward to pursue a career in the entertainment field instead of the conventional engineering and/or medical. His father wanted him to have job security, and since the entertainment field did not offer that, he didn’t want his son to step on such a turbulent threshold. Closing that generational gap is definitely a challenge. Sameer succeeded in making his parents understand why he wants to follow his heart. Today, his parents have completely accepted his choices and his profession, and fully support him.

Message for the Aspiring Artists

Sameer Oberoi shared a very thought-provoking piece on his Instagram recently. It throws light on why art is not a competition. He enlightened us how once we compare our art with other person’s art; we are devaluing the very essence for which art was produced, that is, art was produced for us and ourselves. A comparison diminishes its core fundamentals and does nothing but disrespect the artist and his art. One should only compare one’s art with one’s own. To be real and respectful of the other person’s art must be normalised. Even the audience has a role to play in this, and they too, should not draw lines of comparison.

For the young aspiring content creators and artists, RJ Sameer Oberoi brings forth a lot to be inspired from and learn through. One must follow their heart’s direction. You can earn money through various sources, but one thing remains constant, and that is that you must work hard. There is no other alternative to hard work. Also, as much as you can stay away from negative, toxic and burdening spaces, the more you will grow and stay content. Use your own creativity and don’t get burned/pressurised by others. Sameer Oberoi shared that as a content creator, there is always the pressure to create more and more new content and poetry. The artist’s creative energies are challenged every time. So, one must stay focused and learn. And lastly, never work for free, never let a person use your content or art for free.

He is that guy, the Gen-Z Funnyman, who spreads seismic waves of rollicking laughter through his audience. The obvious aftershocks are the thunderous roars of applause and the insatiable craving for more of his rib-tickling jokes. As an audience, we can never have enough of him. On stage, his witticism and sense of humour catch everyone’s attention, making him one of the most loved and endearing Stand-up comedians in India.

In an exchange with The Talented Indian, Kenny reveals “Stand-up happened accidentally”. Admitting he had an inclination towards filmmaking in his early school days, it was an impromptu participation in the Stand-Up Comedy Competition held at the IIT Mood Indigo Fest that set him on the sail for his career. He won the competition. From then on, there has been no looking back. He confides that his biggest strength is his ability to see the normal world ‘differently’. This perspective adds a breath of fresh air to his content and stylistics of his performance. The ‘everyday’ stories retold in a funny and light-hearted manner, interspersed with interludes of brief musical pieces, is what makes him a favourite with his audience.

Kenny Sebastian

He recognizes that the comedy is essentially a medium, designated for entertainment, and anything else that emerges during the act, for him, is “an amazing and a fortunate by product”. On the future of the Indian Stand-up Comedy, he forecasts that it harbours a huge potential for growth, precisely because its format is “honest”, “unregulated”, and moreover it “speaks to the audience at a deep level”.

Kenny Sebastian

When asked to pass on an encouraging message for all those upcoming artists, who wish to follow his footsteps, he asserts “Keep going at it. It isn’t enough JUST being a Stand-up comedian/ artist. In the days and age of the internet, you are your own manager/PR/producer/writer/performer. Acquire as many skills as possible. Don’t sit on a high chair on one skill.”

Getting A Hang Of Kenny In Tidbits

Kenny Sebastian with Jaison Padacheril

Ques: One friend, who has played the most crucial role, in your life?
Kenny: My childhood’s best friend Jaison Padacheril. He knew I had the talent, long before I knew it myself.

Ques: Your proudest moment?
Kenny: When my parents came up to the stage during my Amazon Prime Video special ‘Don’t be that guy’.

Ques: Your favorite Stand-up comedians?
Kenny: Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carrey.

Ques: The most courageous thing that you’ve ever done that required you to take a huge leap of faith in life?
Kenny: Recently, the biggest and the most ambitious project that I have ever done, is to write, act and produce a 7 episode web series for the Amazon Prime Video. I had never done anything like that before and I had to get it done, despite a lots of challenges and hurdles.

Ques: Your best-loved book?
Kenny: The Agile Mind: How Your Brain Makes Creativity Happen by Estanislao Bachrach.

Ques: Your style guru?
Kenny: It keeps changing.

Kenny Sebastian

Ques: The quote that you live by?
Kenny: No one has any idea what they are doing.

Ques: The superhero that you would love to be?
Kenny: Batman.

Ques: The sport that you love to play?
Kenny: Basketball.

The Talented Indian Community extends best wishes to him and his team for the brightest future.

Keep rocking!!! Keep tickling our funny bones!!!

The space of social media being heavily dominated by young creators is largely because they are better equipped to deal with the demands of the digital age. Yet, amidst the rising brands of Instagram influencers, there are many female creators who are breaking the expectations of age and carving a space for themselves through their different forms of work. From cooking to comedy, health or wholesome advice, here are some Instagram pages that are making things more relatable and accessible for all kinds of people, age no bar. 

Poonam Sapra

An old lady, with a loving smile and a placard that reads happy and wholesome updates and perspectives. Poonam Sapra’s page is dedicated to this alone, a simple idea with a lot of love to offer. ‘Mother with a sign’ naturally says all kinds of things you’d expect your mother to say, so it’d make you roll your eyes at times, while simultaneously go ‘aww’, and love her for all the sweet hope she has to give! 

Dr. Anjali Kumar

Dr. Anjali Kumar’s page is all about making things about women’s health more accessible, busting myths, explaining and giving information on things related to gynaecology, sexual health, and pregnancy. Coming from an authentic and experienced source, the importance of pages like ‘Maitri’, run by Dr. Anjali, cannot be stressed enough when often the social taboos involving women’s bodies make it harder for them to understand and seek help for their health and wellness. 

Ravi Bala Sharma

Dancing and grooving at the age of 63, calling herself ‘dancing dadi’, Ravi Bala Sharma’s energy will put your laziness to shame. Posting her lively dance performances on different Bollywood songs, old and new, her page has garnered a lot of support and fan following, including the likes of singer Diljit Dosanjh. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate a person set on enjoying life through her art, transcending the boundaries of age. 

Padma Balasubramanian

Padma Balasubramanian’s page with over 1800 posts and 37k followers is a delicious delight. She posts pictures of all the different dishes she cooks while also blogging her family recipes. Scattered around different cuisines, her page has gained a lot of attention from amateur cooks all over the world wanting to make the authentic ‘ghar ka khana’ on their own!

Vasanti Akhani

Vasanti Akhani presents relatable content meant to bring a pinch of warmth and humour in our rather monotonous and busy lives. Shattering the monopolisation of Instagram by otherwise mostly young influencers, Vasanti Akhani is using the same digital tools to entertain others through her improvised musical and drama performances.