TEDxREVA University

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Ananya Bhat

  Indian Play Back Singer

  Ananya Bhat is an acclaimed Indian playback singer known for her powerful voice and versatility across Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil cinema. She rose to national fame with her iconic songs “Hold On” and “Namma Kaayo Devane” from K.G.F, which earned her the National Film Award and the SIIMA Award. Trained in Carnatic and Hindustani music, Ananya brings a unique blend of classical depth and contemporary energy to her performances. Her work spans films, independent music, and live concerts, where she is celebrated for her emotive expression and dynamic stage presence. Ananya has collaborated with leading composers and continues to be a defining voice in South Indian music. Beyond her artistic achievements, she inspires young musicians through workshops, mentorship, and her commitment to preserving Indian music traditions while embracing modern sounds.

• Ashwini Kondadakuli

  Ashwini Kondadakuli is a distinguished Yakshagana artist who has dedicated over 27 years to the traditional art form of Karnataka. Inspired by watching her father, Ramachandra Hegde, perform, she began her journey in Yakshagana at the age of eight. With more than 2,000 performances to her credit, she has become a prominent voice in preserving and evolving this "Gandu Kale" (traditional masculine art form). Known for her range, she has portrayed over a hundred mythological characters, including both powerful male leads and complex female roles such as Krishna, Arjuna, Abhimanyu, Drona, Dakshyayini, Daksha, Satyabhama, Hanuman, Keechaka, Rama, and Ravana.

• cauvery Adiga

  COO, NEB Sports

  A dynamic leader with over three decades of experience, she has consistently transformed ideas into successful enterprises and people into high-performing teams. Her career spans startups, technology, media, and sports event management, where she blends strategic vision with practical execution to deliver meaningful impact. She has built two offshore development centers — one for a U.S. supply chain product company and another for a Dubai-based BFSI software firm. As co-founder of a digital media company, she led three business units across content production and distribution, an OTT video platform, and an ad network, forging strong partnerships with top creators, broadcasters, and telecom operators. Beyond business, she believes leadership should uplift communities. This commitment led her to initiate a civic project that evolved into Spandana, a model Residents’ Welfare Association known for citizen-led transformation.

• Dr. Kavitha Mishra

  Agripreneur

  Kavitha Mishra, a progressive woman farmer from Kavital, Sirwar Taluk, Raichur, is a Computer Science Engineer with an MA in Psychology. With deep expertise in agriculture, horticulture, agroforestry, and integrated farming, she practices beekeeping, sheep rearing, desi poultry, dairy farming with indigenous breeds, and manages a fruit and agroforestry plant nursery. She also serves as a Board Member of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal & Fisheries Sciences University. Her excellence in sustainable farming has earned her numerous honours, including the Best Farmer Award from UAS Raichur, Gold Award from ICRISAT Hyderabad, Best Horticulture Farmer Award from UHS Bagalkot, National Innovative Farmer Award from the Government of India, Honour of Excellency Award, Prerana Deep Award, Krishi Rushi Award, Mannina Magalu Award, Krishi Ratna Award, Vasundhara Samman, Women of the Year 2017, Rajyotsava Award, Superstar Raita Mahile, and the Rani Chennamma Award (2021).

• Dr. Prahlada Rama Rao

  Indian Aerospace Engineer & Former Director, DRDL

  Padma Shri Prahalad Rama Rao is a distinguished Indian aerospace engineer renowned for his pioneering contributions to missile technology and defence systems. With a career spanning over four decades at DRDO, he played a pivotal role in the development of several strategic programmes, most notably the Akash missile system, guiding it from concept to deployment. He served as the Director of DRDL and later as the Vice-Chancellor of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, strengthening advanced research and academic excellence in defence engineering. An alumnus of UVCE, IISc, and JNTU, he has made significant contributions to aeronautics, propulsion, systems engineering, and indigenous defence capability. Known for his commitment to nation-building and scientific leadership, he continues to guide institutions and think tanks in aerospace and defence. His exemplary service earned him the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours.

• Ms. Anagha Ajay

  A national award–winning artist, renowned for her mastery, grace, and devotion to Kuchipudi

• Nishanth A

  Nishanth is a passionate artist whose work is defined by a deep commitment to the traditional performance arts of Manipur. Specializing in the rigorous discipline of Thang-Ta, he brings an intense focus and creative energy to the stage. His artistry centers on the "Art of Balance," where he bridges the explosive power of martial combat with the fluid grace of rhythmic movement. Driven by a desire to preserve and innovate within folk traditions, Nishanth views every performance as a journey of discipline, dedication, and cultural storytelling.

• Prashant Parameswaran

  President –TATA Soulfull

  Prashant Parameswaran is the President of Soulfull at Tata Consumer Products Ltd. since September 2024. He earlier served as the Co-Founder and MD/CEO of Kottaram Agro Foods (Soulfull) from 2011 and, after its acquisition by Tata Consumer in 2021, continued to lead the brand. He has championed the revival of traditional grains like millets by bringing them to modern consumers in contemporary formats. With over two decades of experience, he began his career in 2001 with the Kottaram Group, establishing distribution and retail operations in India and building strong sales and marketing systems. His international experience includes leadership roles at Limited Brands and Information Resources Inc. in the US, supporting marketing strategy at Safeway. An engineering graduate from PSG College of Technology with an MBA from Babson College, he is a member of YPO. Residing in Bangalore with his wife and two daughters, he is passionate about swimming, tennis, and following Formula 1.

• School of Performing Arts and Indic Studies

  The School of Performing Arts and Indic Studies at REVA University, Bengaluru, focuses on the study and practice of Indian performing arts. Through academic programs in dance, music, theatre, and Indic studies, the School works to uphold, document, and pass on Indian art forms to the next generation. Its approach combines traditional knowledge with structured education, performance, and research.

• Shashi Kumar

  Co-founder & CEO Akshayakalpa Organic

  Shashi Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Akshayakalpa Organic, began his career at Wipro Technologies after earning a degree in computer science and a master’s in telecommunication engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Leaving behind 17 years in technology, he co-founded Akshayakalpa with Dr G.N.S. Reddy in 2010. Today, the company is India’s largest certified organic milk brand, empowering over 2,000 farmers and delivering fresh organic milk to more than 1,60,000 households across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.

• Smitha Murthy

  cofounder, myndstories

  Smitha Murthy is a writer, speaker, and co-founder of MyndStories and Habitize, two platforms reshaping how India approaches mental well-being. At MyndStories, she builds a content-led ecosystem that blends therapy, storytelling, podcasts, and community sessions to humanise emotional wellness. Through Habitize, she promotes a science-backed, habit-first approach with emotional literacy and simple evidence-based practices for younger generations. With over two decades of experience, her writing has appeared in Deccan Herald, Hippocampus Magazine, and Kitaab. She co-authored the memoir Worlds Apart, with her debut novel upcoming, and hosts two podcasts featuring personal stories and mental health conversations. She has spoken at Bosch India, Google, LSR, Christ University, and more. Guided by kindness, feminism, and real human connections, she enjoys reading, writing, lifting, running, travelling, and time with her dog, Khushi Bun.

• Steven Santhosh

  Steven Santhosh is a national-level award-winning musician known for his original compositions and expressive musical style. His work reflects a deep engagement with rhythm, structure, and emotional storytelling. Through Rhythm & Resonance, Steven presents a self-composed piece that brings together technical precision and artistic intuition, offering audiences a glimpse into his evolving musical voice and creative journey.