Art is the universal language of the soul, and I draw inspiration from anything around me: music, painting, food, literature, or anything else. Here is the list of my favourite artists concerning global and Indian influences.

Music:

• AR Rahman: The “Mozart of Madras,” Rahman’s music cuts across religious and cultural boundaries, merging the best of traditional Indian instruments with modern global rhythms. His soundtracks for Dil Se and Roja still give me goosebumps.

• Bob Marley: Globally, the music of Marley speaks to unity, peace, and love. His anthem of One Love echoes deeply across cultures.

Drawing/Painting:

• Raja Ravi Varma: A trendsetter in Indian art, Varma’s paintings capture Indian mythology and culture so beautifully. I have always been impressed by the way he presents gods and goddesses with a modern sensitivity.

• Vincent van Gogh: On the global stage, the Starry Night of Van Gogh, with its emotional depth, shines vividly and timelessly through his expressive brushstrokes.

Culinary Arts:

•        Vikas Khanna: This Indian chef is taking the world by storm. Khanna’s take on Indian cuisine is artistic and creative in its presentation and flavour. His work innovatively brings out the richness of Indian spices.

•        Massimo Bottura: Bottura is known worldwide for redefining the boundaries between food and art in Italian cuisine. His creativity inspires because it transforms mere simple ingredients into a form of art, just as the precision of Indian cooking does.

Sculpture:

• Sankho Chaudhuri: The modernist sculptor of India, Chaudhuri’s abstract sculptures reflect a deep connection with Indian traditions melded into a modern style that is uniquely his own.

Writing

Rabindranath Tagore: The first non-European Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Tagore’s poetry and stories, like Gitanjali, are packed with wisdom and a strong connection to nature and humanity. His works inspire generations of Indians.

Gabriel García Márquez: He opened my eyes to magical realism with One Hundred Years of Solitude much the same way Indian folklore often does; the line between reality and fantasy is thin.

Each of the artists mentioned above, whether from Indian or international backgrounds, has contributed immensely to shaping my understanding and appreciation of art. Be it in the form of music, food, or literature, their work connects cultures to show how amazingly creative something can be across borders.