Svetha Yallapragada Rao, professionally known as Raja Kumari, is an American rapper, songwriter and singer from Claremont, California. She started performing since she was 14 and has been known for her collaborations with Gwen Stefani, Iggy Azalea, Fifth Harmony, Sidhu Moosewala, Knife Party, Fall Out Boy and others. She is also a trained dancer in Kuchipudi, Kathak, and Bharatanatyam. She made a cameo in Gully Boy as a judge, and has collaborated with the singer Divine on the songs City slums and Roots. Her first collaboration in Hindi films began with AR Rahman, for whom she sang the song Jugni for the Tamil film Kaatru Veliyidai (2017). She sang the song Never give up for Anirudh Ravichander the same year for the Tamil film Vivegam. Her recent collaboration with Ravichander, the title track of Jawan, has made waves this year. The singer, who looks up to Shah Rukh Khan, is on cloud nine for being part of his film. Excerpts from an interview with the euphoric singer.
How have things changed after the massive success of the Jawan anthem?
It’s been great. I want to be more involved in the Telugu scene. I want to keep making more songs in Indian cinema. I feel it’s a wonderful platform, and I’m manifesting it. Every single person that watched Jawan either knows my name or voice, and that kind of response is something I can never replicate. I’m thankful, and I want to keep using it to spread the good vibes and let people know that if your daughter wants to do music or art, there is a way to do it. If I can be an example of that, then I’m happy to do it.
What was your first reaction to being approached by Shah Rukh Khan for a song in his film?
I am a magic manifester, so the things I ask for, the universe gives them to me. I got to work with Shah Rukh Khan for the first time in Husn parcham in Zero, but that interaction was just on the phone. There’s a video of me talking to him. My friend is recording, and I’m literally crying. This time, it was a little bit better for me. I was a little more adjusted. Meeting him at the screening was such a special experience. SRK’s someone I’ve always wanted to work with and who I respect and love. So much so that when he hugged me at the screening, I felt my heart chuckle.
Did you tell him about this whole emotional moment you had?
I always tell him I’m shameless with my fandom. I moved to India because of Swades. The day Jawan was released, I watched Swades again. And I remember I was just crying because I realised what an impact that film had on me. I remember the last scene when Shah Rukh is washing his feet on the steps of the temple and it just pans away. I remember when I watched it in America just thinking, “What will I have to do to one day be able to live in India? This could be something I could experience.” And I think the Jawan theme song—being on stage and being able to tell him—was so beautiful for me.
How involved was he in the making of the Jawan anthem?
With Husn parcham from Zero, I always tell people that SRK was my co-writer because I wrote it when we had our first talk. With this one, it was a different experience. I got to write something on behalf of all his fans. Anirudh, the music composer called me on the day that I was releasing my album The Bridge, which is an independent release. He called and said that he needs me to give him a vocal tomorrow, and it’s for Shah Rukh. So I dropped everything I was doing. I went straight to the studio, and I love that it happened on the day my album came out because it was an amazing day. Anirudh just told me three things: it’s sharp; Shah Rukh is with a gang of badass females, and they’re vigilantes for the good; there’s a lot of guns. So I watched the trailer and I kept watching it on loop. I wrote the song because I wanted to. He told me, “You can go ahead and say King Khan.” I got so excited because I have referenced Shah Rukh a lot in my music. I’m just happy to be a part of it in that way. I didn’t come in and just sing a song that someone else wrote. I got to participate in writing the song and creating a vibe, which has always been my dream.
Now that the dream of working with Shahrukh has been fulfilled twice, who’s next on your wishlist?
Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Because my soul is something out of an ancient past and because of my training in classical. I would love to be in a period piece and I could sing a song. I think it’d be really fun.
How has Hindi music influenced you growing up abroad?
Bollywood was the connection I had to what it meant to be Indian. My understanding of Indian culture was classical, mythological and historical because that’s what I studied. I studied Kuchipudi, Kathak and Bharatanatyam and in college, I studied religions like South Asian religions. But to think about modern India, Bollywood was that bridge. Shah Rukh is the archetype for the guy we all want to fall in love with in some ways. I feel this has always been the way to understand Indian culture, and I wouldn’t be the same without it.
Tell us about your collaboration with Madhuri Dixit Nene in Made in India.
It wasn’t just about Madhuri Dixit Nene, the star, but just as a human being. I think she understood my passion for my art and we met in America. She wanted to work on an English-language album and I got the opportunity to be the writer. And she walked in, and I thought I would faint, but I just took a deep breath and carried on. I told her, as a fan, we want to know about the time when you got married, moved to Colorado and were doing groceries by yourself. That is such a fascinating period. What was it like when you first got married? So a lot of the music we wrote was about her experience. And I feel like we were able to get to know each other. And when I came to India in 2017, I didn’t have a plan. I was just kind of trying to figure it out. And I went to see Madhuri and asked if you wanted to work on some more music. She just asked me to move to her place and I was there for four months. We worked on eight songs and I got to have a unique experience with her. She’s always going to be my inspiration.
What is the perception that the West has when it comes to Bollywood music?
Barbie had a little Karan Johar segment. We’ve always influenced the world. I think Michael Jackson was influenced by Bollywood when he made his videos. When RRR was at the Oscars, there was a huge performance in Telugu, which growing up, I would have never imagined to be possible. But there wasn’t one South Asian dancer on stage. And that was painful for the dance community in America because I’m friends with a lot of South-Asian dancers who want to be dancers in America with Indian parents. I think with the type of work we’re putting out as a community, we’re changing people’s perspectives. The capabilities we have and the music have always been the heart and soul of Indian cinema.
Do you recall your most challenging phase while trying to find your footing in India with your work?
A lot of people don’t realise that when I moved to India, my family was still in Los Angeles. So I had to put up my house here by myself. I went through numerous management deals and record label contracts, ultimately becoming independent today and controlling my destiny. It helped me understand who I am and what my worth is and I feel like now I’m standing in my power.
I turn my pain into power. I’ve had the loneliest days. It’s an alienating career because there’s so much competition that you don’t quite know if people are trying to be your friend, to be close to you, or to take your ideas and outdo you or learn from you. And that used to be something I worried about a lot. But now I’m so secure in who I am and what I’m doing.
What motivated you to get up and get going during that lonely phase?
I think my mom. The one thing my mom instilled in me was that God is there and he called me for something and as long as I do everything with good intentions, even if things are not working out, it’s a redirection. And now I’m living proof. It took me a year to cut out all toxic relationships, work, relationships, people, energies and substances. I was sleeping for four hours because of the two time zones. And I was eating a bunch of chocolates and whatnot. As a little girl, I wanted to fulfil that dream of representing Indian culture in the mainstream and people growing up in America having a better understanding of where I come from.
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