Penn was represented at the Olympic Games in Paris by singers as well as athletes.
The South Asian a capella student group Penn Masala performed two shows at the India House in the Olympic Village. The 13 group members flew in from all over the world, some arriving with suitcases in hand just in time to perform and leaving right after appearing on stage to get back to their internships and jobs.
“We have a fusion of both Hindi Indian music and very popular American English songs; they’re mashed up together,” says fourth-year Ajay Kilambi, who is president of Penn Masala. “It was just unreal. You put all your time into making a mix, and then you put it on Spotify, and you go to Paris. Then people know your mix, and they’re singing along to it, standing up and dancing. The energy was crazy. It was a very, very lively event.”
Kilambi, who is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a finance major in the Wharton School and is pursuing an accelerated master’s degree in bioengineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. “It is just an incredible experience, and you’re doing it with your best friends,” he says.
One of several countries that had locations in the Olympic Village, the India House featured a variety of performers and traditional Indian food during the Games.
“You can see in our images and videos that the audience is just crammed in, completely sold out. That was just amazing,” says third-year Gaurish Gaur, the group’s business manager, estimating about 500 people at each of their two, one-hour shows, including Penn alumni. From San Diego, Gaur is also a finance major in Wharton and is pursuing an accelerated master’s degree in data science at Penn Engineering.
Founded in 1996, Penn Masala is known for original compositions and harmonies that capture experience with both Eastern and Western cultures. Often wearing bright-colored traditional Indian clothing known as kurtas, the all-male group sings together as an ensemble, with members stepping forward as featured soloists during the songs. The group has had successful albums and has toured in the U.S. and India.
Penn Masala has performed at several high-profile events, including twice at the White House; last year the group was invited for President Joe Biden’s state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in 2009, was invited by President Barack Obama to celebrate the signing of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Penn Masala became internationally recognized with its performance in “Pitch Perfect 2,” a 2015 film directed and produced by Penn alum Elizabeth Banks.
“It’s such an honor to perform at such an event representing our Indian heritage and representing Penn. I read about these amazing Penn Olympians,” Gaur says. “Representing Penn and its performing arts was specifically a point of pride for me.”
