logo
Indian-Origin Restaurant Owner Features In Guinness World Record-Setting Song '195'

Indian-Origin Restaurant Owner Features In Guinness World Record-Setting Song '195'

NDTV02-06-2025

New Delhi:
India-born British restaurateur Asma Khan is among women from 195 countries who have featured in the "195" song, which has entered the Guinness World Records for most nationalities to contribute vocals to a musical recording.
The song has been produced to raise awareness about gender equality and to ignite a global movement to uplift people through the transformative power of sound healing frequencies.
The Frequency School, co-founded by US Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum music producer Maejor, Martina Fuchs, Kingsley M, Brandon Lee and Aaron Dawson, has produced the powerful and universal campaign which premiered during the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from January 20 to 24.
"It has always been my dream to produce the first song in history featuring every country on the planet. Our vision was to unite 195 ordinary women from all walks of life in this pioneering and groundbreaking initiative to advocate for gender equality and the rights of women and girls, and to help people struggling with mental health issues," said Fuchs, who is also the executive producer of "195".
"Breaking this record is only the beginning, we are on a global mission to make our world a more peaceful place," she said.
Asma Khan, an immigrant to the UK and star of Netflix's Chef's Table, is one of the UK's most prominent female chefs.
She is the founder and owner of Darjeeling Express, a well-known London-based Indian restaurant known for its all-female kitchen and homestyle Indian cuisine. The restaurant features dishes from Khan's family recipes and the cooking traditions of her upbringing in Kolkata.
In 2024, TIME magazine named her one of the world's 100 most influential people. She is a chef advocate for the UN World Food Programme and holds honorary fellowships from Queen's College, Oxford, and King's College, London, where she earned a PhD in British Constitutional Law.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Legendary composer who gave Kishore Kumar a break, once owned 3 luxury cars, died alone; no family members attended his last rites
Legendary composer who gave Kishore Kumar a break, once owned 3 luxury cars, died alone; no family members attended his last rites

Economic Times

time9 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

Legendary composer who gave Kishore Kumar a break, once owned 3 luxury cars, died alone; no family members attended his last rites

Agencies OP Nayyar and Kishore Kumar came together for several hit songs. Once, he was one of the most influential composers in Bollywood, making stars dance to his tunes and bringing evergreen chartbusters to life. However, OP Nayyar, the mastermind behind timeless songs such as classic club banger 'Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu' and the soulful and seductive 'Aaiye Mehrban', spent his twilight years in complete isolation and in dire financial straits. According to a DNA report, not one of his family members or anyone from the Bollywood fraternity attended his last rites when he passed away in 2007 following a heart onto the scene in the 1950s as a confident, young refugee from Lahore, Nayyar challenged the titans of his day—Anil Biswas, Naushad Ali, Shankar-Jaikishan, S.D. Burman, and C. Ramchandra—and emerged as one of the most successful and highest-paid music directors in Bollywood. As per a Hindustan Times report, despite lacking formal training in classical music, Nayyar composed songs deeply rooted in Indian ragas, like Chhota Sa Balama in Raag Tilang and the entire Phagun soundtrack in Raag Pilu. As the golden era faded, so did Nayyar's prominence in the industry. By the late 1970s, personal and professional setbacks started taking their toll. He distanced himself from his family in 1979, and although he returned briefly, he permanently separated from them in 1989. A After spending some time with singer Madhuri Joglekar in Virar, Nayyar moved in with the Nakhwa family in Thane as a paying guest. According to Indian Express, he had chosen a life of quiet withdrawal, asking to remain disconnected from both his biological family and the glamorous film world that once idolised him. Rani Nakhwa, who came to know him through a small telephone booth where she worked, had no idea of his celebrity status when they first met. She offered him a room in her modest one-bedroom home. Over time, the bond deepened. He became a father figure to her, and she affectionately referred to him as Babujee. He, in turn, called her Raju, having disliked her real name. In his final years, he preferred the company of these ordinary yet kind-hearted people, choosing familial warmth over material an interview with , Nakhwa said, "He lived like a king here. He liked having a beer in the afternoon and had his staple of two pegs of scotch in the evenings."When O.P. Nayyar passed away in January 2007 due to a heart attack, the music world lost one of its most influential voices. However, in accordance with his wishes, none of his family members or anyone from the film industry was informed. His funeral was attended only by the Nakhwa family, who had become his closest companions in his final chapter. Reminiscing about his death, Nakhwa told , "He had told us not to inform his family of his death. We performed his last rites.' Nayyar's artistic contributions remain unmatched. Though his debut film, Asman, was unsuccessful, his big break came with Aar Paar in 1954 under Guru Dutt's guidance. With a revolutionary blend of Indian rhythmic patterns and Western instrumentation like saxophone, clarinet, and sarangi, as highlighted by the Hindustan Times , Nayyar transformed the soundscape of Hindi cinema. He once owned three luxury cars and hosted lavish parties at his music room in Kemp's Corner, but his final years were marked by simplicity, detachment, and emotional depth—mirroring the very soul of his compositions, the HT report revealed. He introduced and championed major voices like Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar. He worked with Kumar on several successful songs, including those in films like 'Baap Re Baap' (1955) and 'Ragini' (1958).

EXCLUSIVE: Thalapathy Vijay starrer's producer says ‘Jana Nayagan is not just a farewell but…'
EXCLUSIVE: Thalapathy Vijay starrer's producer says ‘Jana Nayagan is not just a farewell but…'

Pink Villa

time14 minutes ago

  • Pink Villa

EXCLUSIVE: Thalapathy Vijay starrer's producer says ‘Jana Nayagan is not just a farewell but…'

Jana Nayagan, starring Thalapathy Vijay in the lead role, is slated to release on January 9, 2026. As the actor is celebrating his 51st birthday on June 22 this year, the makers have dropped the first glimpse titled 'The First Roar,' with the producer detailing how this movie will not just simply be a farewell film. In an exclusive note, Venkat K. Narayana, producer of Jana Nayagan and KVN Productions, expressed that Vijay's final movie is not just a professional milestone for them, but also a personal one. The producer said, 'Working with Thalapathy Vijay on his final film is not just a professional milestone — it's a deeply personal honour. As fans ourselves, we know how much this film means to millions across the world. The 'First Roar' is just a glimpse into the cinematic and emotional scale of what we're building.' 'We're crafting a film that does justice to Thalapathy's extraordinary journey. Jana Nayagan is not just a farewell, but it's a celebration of an icon who changed the face of Indian cinema,' Narayana added. The producer also credited director H. Vinoth's vision and powerful music by Anirudh Ravichander for enhancing Jana Nayagan to a great extent. As the superstar is celebrating his birthday, the makers of the film unveiled the first glimpse at midnight. The short video featuring Vijay showcased him as a menacing police avatar with his twirled-up moustache and a fearless look in his eyes. With a fiery, riot-like background in the glimpse, the First Roar was attributed to Anirudh Ravichander's thrilling track titled, The True Leader Theme. Watch Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan - The First Roar Jana Nayagan is an upcoming political action drama, directed by H Vinoth. The movie is touted to be Thalapathy Vijay's final cinematic project as he is turning his focus completely towards politics. As Pooja Hegde and Bobby Deol play the co-leads, the film features an ensemble cast of actors, including Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, Priyamani, Mamitha Baiju, and many more in key roles. Interestingly, reports indicate that Thalapathy Vijay has crooned for a track titled One Last Song in the film, serving as a celebration to his career in Tamil cinema.

Trump's Iran Attack Tweet Receives Unexpected Democratic Thumbs-Up, MAGA Blows Up Internet
Trump's Iran Attack Tweet Receives Unexpected Democratic Thumbs-Up, MAGA Blows Up Internet

Time of India

time19 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Trump's Iran Attack Tweet Receives Unexpected Democratic Thumbs-Up, MAGA Blows Up Internet

HRH Controversy Explodes: Meghan Markle Slammed For 'Living a Royal Fantasy' Meghan Markle's royal title drama isn't over. Despite stepping back from senior royal duties years ago, Meghan continues to use the Duchess of Sussex title, and royal watchers say she's holding on to the "Princess fantasy" for influence, branding, and public image. Now, as tensions within the monarchy resurface, experts and insiders are calling out Meghan's ongoing use of royal styling, questioning the authenticity behind her public persona. With growing backlash from the British press and whispers from inside the Palace, the calls for Meghan to "drop the act" are growing louder. 4.1K views | 2 days ago

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store