From Mysore—a small town in South India—to international acclaim, Vijay Prakash (born 1976) has become one of India’s most treasured creatives. The award-winning Carnatic singer and composer's story embodies the hopes, ambitions and drive of modern-day India and the wider Global South. Prakash shot to commercial success after working with A. R. Rahman on the title track for 2002’s runaway smash hit Swades. The multilingual artist went on to lend his voice to the soundtracks of iconic films such as Blue, Cheeni Kum, Yuvvraaj, Lakshya, Tere Naam and many more. In combining his classical training with chart-topping pop nous, he’s earned widespread critical and commercial popularity. After their successful collaboration on Swades, Prakash became a regular feature in Rahman’s work. The duo’s collaborative efforts produced “Jai Ho”, a track from 2008’s Oscar®-winning film Slumdog Millionaire which captivated audiences around the globe. It won an Academy Award® for Best Original Song as well as a Grammy for Best Song Written for Motion Picture. Prakash continues to play a pivotal role in the music industry, inspiring the next generation of Indian composers hoping to follow in his footsteps.