She was barely a teenager when her euphonious voice was unveiled before a crowd at a small countryside mandir at Mibicuri, Berbice. Little did she know that, several years later, she would be wooing audiences worldwide through spellbound performances that keep the vibrant Indian culture alive.
Vishale Sukram, 25, grew up in one of the country’s most rural communities in the ancient county itself, and her rise to fame as one of Guyana’s leading stars is nothing short of inspirational. She lived with her parents and four sisters at Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice – a village which, up until 2009, was experiencing serious social problems and deteriorating infrastructure.
The depressed state of her hometown was no deterrent to her family who basked in the pleasures of singing sai bhajans – Hindu devotional hymns. In fact, it became a family tradition to sit in circles and sing bhajans every Thursday before they watched television. The Hanuman Chalisa – one such religious rhythm – was one of her favorites. For Vishale, there was no one moment where she realized her astounding talent. Singing has always been a big part of her family’s lives and the music just lived within her too.
“My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all sing… I grew up hearing my parents and older siblings sing and it just happened.” With a voice so angelic, this young lady stuck to her roots and developed a thriving career based on her heritage and culture.
Why Indian music?
According to Vishale, there is just something about the rhythm of the tablas, jaals, dantals and sitars that keeps her alive.
“Towards Indian music, I feel more connected… In ways I can’t explain. I do listen to other genres of music, such as chutney, soca, reggae, etc. But Indian music will always be within me,” she said.
Vishale started singing in the temple at religious sermons. Then, she started performing at school events. Before she knew it, this small town girl was performing at one of the biggest cultural activities in the country, the annual Diwali Motorcades, which attract hundreds of people.
“It was nerve-wracking, but also thrilling. I just enjoyed doing what I loved,” she told this magazine.
One day, Pandit Jagmohan Persaud, a popular religious leader, visited Black Bush Polder where he discovered the young lady. He opened avenues for Vishale to perform outside of her hometown until she made it to the big stage at the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) X at the Providence National Stadium, Guyana.
At just 12-years-old, she entered her first competition at the Kala Utsav at the Dharmic Kendra and copped first place. The Kala Utsav is an initiative of the Ministry of Human Resource Development in India to promote the arts. Vishale kept entering various local singing competitions, wowing the judges every time.
Her big break came along when local television network, E-Networks, decided to host a national singing competition called “Emerging Voices”. It was a huge production that was broadcast across the entire country. Though she was confident with her voice, Vishale was terrified of partaking in such a major competition.
“I was scared. I didn’t want to enter, plus I didn’t know how I was going to get to Georgetown and back home,” she remembers.
After much convincing, she entered just for the fun of it. “I never thought that I would win at all!”
Not only did she win the title and earned a lifetime’s worth of bragging rights, but the doors to greater opportunities opened up. Vishale and the runner up, Artie Sookhai, went to India where their talents were nurtured. She learned the basics in Indian Classical singing and tantalized the locals with her mesmerizing vocals.
In 2014, Vishale performed alongside Indian superstar, Sonu Nigam, at the opening of the Bal Nivas Shelter in Port Mourant, Berbice – a memory she will always cherish.
Her talent was recognised by many, including the Naya Zamana family, who quickly brought her on board. Vishale was then exposed to the whole world of Indian theatrics and eventually performed at the much-loved broadway-styled concert at the National Cultural Centre.
Her musical career was at its zenith, and she was in high demand for Indian cultural activities. She continued to perform at the annual Diwali Motorcades and around the country with the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha.
Vishale was even featured as the opening act of the Atif Aslam concert in Canada. Atif Aslam is one of Bollywood’s most sought playback singers with super hits such as “Pehli Nazar Mein”, “Tu Jaane Na”, “Piya O re Piya”, “Tera Hone Laga Hoon” and “Jeena Jeena”.
In 2015, Vishale moved to New York to further her studies and though she was very much occupied with school work, her passion for the arts was still very much alive. “I moved to the United States, but it didn’t stop. I have started and am still learning Indian classical music from my Gurus: Kinnarji and Payalji.”
Though she has inspired many young girls in Guyana to embrace their religion, culture and their ‘Indianess’, Vishale believes she still has a lot more to do before she can be considered as contributing to the development of the arts. For her, the Indian culture is so vast, diverse and colorful and everyone should be proud that it is a big part of being Guyanese.
“When it comes to the Indian culture, I love the cultural beliefs, books, music, the food, the clothes, the people, everything. What’s not there to love?”
