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Between Bollywood and Gully Boy, we sometime forget that India has 29 states, 7 union territories, 22 major languages and around 1.3 billion people. With rap being such a direct form of self-expression, there are bound to be great regional artists showcasing their craft beyond the usual suspects of the gully scene. One such gem is Samir Rishu Mohanty: a half Japanese, half Odia, socially conscious Indian rapper who raps in English, Oriya and Hindi. He is, Big Deal.
“I rap about things that I think are important”, says Samir. Born to a Japanese mother and an Indian father in Puri, Odisha, Samir was introduced to rap music by Eminem’s 8 Mile during his schooling in Darjeeling. Samir admits about undergoing an identity crisis as a child due to his distinct oriental features. “I hated the way I looked, I wanted to fit in”, he admits. Little did he know that he would find a way to express his angst through hip-hop and rap later.
“I think I’m the best person to make that song”, says Samir with regards to his hit ‘Are You Indian?’ which aims to take a stab at perception, tradition, culture, and its underlying racism. He credits the hardships he faced growing up to be the fuel behind the songs he makes to invoke empathy. His most recent song, ‘Dreamers’, explores societal pressure and academics; stories for which he sourced from fans who had been bullied and were under pressure.
But what makes him truly singular is his love for Odisha. While he admits that Oriya is a difficult language to rap in, it surely didn’t stop him from writing ‘Mu Heli Odia’ and ‘Khusi Ta’, both of which have garnered a whopping half million views and are a fitting tribute to the people of Odisha and the city’s progress.
Hip-hop in its true form has always empowered authenticity and with its culture gaining momentum in a country like India, one can only hope that it helps people from diverse walks of lives find their voice. With that regard, there’s no question that people like Samir are needed to push the envelope further. This is why, he’s a Big Deal.
