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'{{Infobox musical artist | name = Ananya Birla | image = Ananya Birla.jpg | caption = Birla in 2016 | background = solo_singer | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|07|17|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Mumbai]], India | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|Songwriter|Activist|Entrepreneur}} | genre = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[dance-pop]]}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|santoor|piano}} | years_active = 2016–present | label = [[Universal Music India]] | website = {{URL|Ananyabirla.com}} }} '''Ananya Birla''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|n|æ|n|j|ə|_|ˈ|b|ɜːr|l|ə}}, born 17 July 1994) is an Indian singer, songwriter and entrepreneur. In 2016, Birla signed with Universal Music India and released her debut single, "Livin The Life".<ref>{{cite news|title=Ananya Birla is India’s newest musician on the block|url=https://www.vogue.in/content/ananya-birla-indias-newest-musician-block/#s-cust0|publisher=Vogue India|date= 11 November 2016}}</ref> After topping the charts with her first song, she released her second single "Meant To Be"<ref>{{cite news|title=After topping charts with her first, Ananya Birla announces her second single |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/after-topping-charts-with-her-first-ananya-birla-announces-her-second-single/articleshow/59631843.cms|publisher=The Economic Times|date= 17 July 2017}}</ref> which was certified platinum by IMI in December 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ananya Birla's 'Meant to be' certified platinum|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/ananya-birla-s-meant-to-be-certified-platinum-117112800524_1.html|publisher=Business Standard|date= 28 November 2017}}</ref> Ananya is the first Indian artiste with an English language single to go platinum.<ref>{{cite news|last1= Chaudhary |first1=Deepti|title=Ananya Birla's 'Meant to be' certified platinum|url=https://in.style.yahoo.com/ananya-birlas-meant-certified-platinum-084005552.html|publisher= Indo Asian News Service|date= 28 November 2017}}</ref> == Biography == Ananya is the founder of Svatantra Microfin, a company that provides [[microfinance]] to women in rural India.<ref>{{cite news|last1= Chaudhary |first1=Deepti|title=Ananya Birla: Her father's daughter|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/india-rich-list-2015/ananya-birla-her-fathers-daughter/41389/1|publisher=Forbes India|date= 29 October 2015}}</ref> Ananya is also the founder of CuroCarte<ref>{{cite news|title= Ananya Birla ventures into luxury ecommerce business with CuroCarte |url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/ananya-birla-ventures-into-luxury-ecommerce-business-with-curocarte/44257/1 |publisher=Forbes India|date= 8 September 2016}}</ref> and cofounder of Mpower.<ref>{{cite news|title= MPower urges India to #StampOutStigma on mental health |url=http://www.campaignindia.in/video/mpower-urges-india-to-stampoutstigma-on-mental-health/424280 |publisher=Campaign India|date= 19 February 2016}}</ref> Birla has received awards for her work and entrepreneurship, including the ET Panache Trendsetters of 2016 award for Young Business Person.<ref>{{cite news|title= ET Panache Trendsetter Awards 2016: Ananya Birla wins the Trendsetting Young Business Person Award |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-panache-trendsetter-awards-2016-ananya-birla-wins-the-trendsetting-young-business-person-award/videoshow/55048385.cms |publisher=The Economic Times|date= 25 October 2016}}</ref> She is the eldest child and daughter of industrialist [[Kumar Mangalam Birla]] and Neerja Birla and the sixth generation scion of the [[Birla family]], which is a [[Rajasthani people|Rajasthani]] [[Marwari people|Marwari]] business family.<ref>{{cite news|last1= Chaudhary |first1=Deepti|title=Ananya Birla: Her father's daughter|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/india-rich-list-2015/ananya-birla-her-fathers-daughter/41389/1|publisher=Forbes India|date= 29 October 2015}}</ref> ==Early life== Ananya Birla developed an interest in music at an early age, learning to play the [[santoor]] at the age of eleven.<ref>{{cite news|title= Birla heiress hits the high note with musical debut |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/birla-heiress-hits-the-high-note-with-musical-debut/article9268001.ece |publisher=The Hindu BusinessLine|date= 25 October 2016}}</ref> She studied economics and management at University of Oxford, United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news|title= Meet India’s Young & Successful Heiresses |url=http://www.pursuitist.in/meet-indias-young-successful-heiresses/ |publisher=Pursuitist}}</ref> She is the daughter of the 10th richest Indian, chairman of the Aditya Birla group, [[Kumar Mangalam Birla|Kumar Mangalam]]. ==Musical career== Ananya plays the guitar and the santoor. While at university, Ananya started singing and playing the guitar at pubs and clubs. She also began writing her own music.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ananya Birla is India’s newest musician on the block|url=http://www.vogue.in/content/ananya-birla-indias-newest-musician-block/ |publisher=Vogue India|date= 11 November 2016}}</ref> Birla’s track ‘I Don’t Want to Love’ caught the attention of Universal Music India where she was eventually signed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ananya Birla set to launch her debut single |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/ananya-birla-set-to-launch-her-debut-single/17753153 |publisher=Mid-Day|date= 12 November 2016}}</ref> Her debut single, "Livin’ the Life", was co-written, and produced, by [[Jim Beanz]] (who previously collaborated with [[Nelly Furtado]], [[Cheryl (singer)|Cheryl Tweedy]] and [[Demi Lovato]]) and was recorded and produced at a studio in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ananya Birla launched a single in collaboration with Afrojack and Jim Beanz |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/music/ananya-birla-launched-a-single-in-collaboration-with-afrojack-and-jim-beanz/story-D2Ow6kVAzWgQCqLl1wevZI.html |publisher=Hindustan Times|date= 14 November 2016}}</ref> A remix by Dutch DJ [[Afrojack]] of "Livin’ the Life" makes Ananya the first Indian artiste to get a worldwide release through PM:AM Recordings and hit over 14 millions views on YouTube as of June 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title='I love making history' |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/601020/i-love-making-history.html|publisher=Deccan Herald|date= 13 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Livin' the Life by Ananya Birla (Afrojack remix) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQDXkdH9sbE |publisher=YouTube}}</ref> She released her next single "Meant to be" in July 2017 which was subsequently certified Platinum as per the Indian Music Industry (IMI) recognised criteria for certifications. This makes Ananya the first Indian artiste with an English single to go platinum.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ananya Birla's 'Meant to be' certified platinum |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/ananya-birla-s-meant-to-be-certified-platinum-117112800524_1.html|date= 28 November 2017}}</ref> In January 2017, she supported [[Coldplay]] at the Global Citizen Festival.<ref>{{cite news|title=Coldplay Concert Live Updates: Global Citizen Festival has an all star lineup|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Coldplay-Concert-Live-Updates-Global-Citizen-Festival-has-an-all-star-lineup/articleshow/55511650.cms|date= 29 January 2017}}</ref> She released her single "Hold On" on 1 March 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=English music is my calling: Ananya Birla |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/exclusive-interviews/english-music-is-my-calling-ananya-birla-1502626761.html|date= 24 March 2018}}</ref> On 7th June,2018,she released the single "Circles". ==Career== Ananya Birla founded Svatantra Microfin at the age of 17. The organisation makes small loans to women entrepreneurs based in rural India. As of April 2016, the company had more than 600 employees across 70 branches in four Indian states.<ref>{{cite news|title=Making her Mark: Ananya Birla|url=https://www.svatantramicrofin.com/pdf/Ananya-Birla.pdf |publisher=IndianCEO|date= April 2016}}</ref> Under her leadership, Svatantra won the Gold Award for Best Start-Up (Skoch Financial Inclusion and Deepening Awards, 2014), Spirituality @ Work: Sach Bharat Samman (Sach Bharat Confluence 2015) and has maintained a quality loan portfolio, offering one of the lowest interest rates in the country.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ananya Birla paves her own path|url=https://indianceo.in/general/ananya-birla-fortune-talks-success/ |publisher=IndianCEO|date= 27 September 2016}}</ref> Birla is also the Co-Chairperson of ASSOCHAM’s Microfinance Council of India. In 2016, Birla became the founder and CEO of CuroCarte, an inventory-based global luxury e-Commerce platform.<ref>{{cite news|title= Ananya Birla ventures into luxury ecommerce business with CuroCarte |url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/ananya-birla-ventures-into-luxury-ecommerce-business-with-curocarte/44257/1 |publisher=Forbes India|date= 8 September 2016}}</ref> The same year, [[Forbes]] named her one of Asia's Women to Watch.<ref>{{cite news|title=Asia's Women to Watch 2016|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/gigk45efh/ananya-birla-21-india/#11a220949857|publisher=Forbes}}</ref> ==Campaign Work== While in England, Birla became aware of a student helpline that supported young people suffering from anxiety and depression.<ref>{{cite news|title=What's in a name: I want to build my own legacy says Ananya Birla |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ananya-birla-kumar-mangalam-birla-svatantra-microfinance-build-my-own-legacy/1/667226.html |publisher=India Today|date= 13 May 2016}}</ref> After university, she returned to India and, along with her mother, set up a mental health initiative called MPower aiming to stamp out the stigma towards people with mental illness across India. MPower is also responsible for opening a treatment centre for children suffering from mental health conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mpowerminds.com/|title=Mpower homepage|accessdate=23 January 2017}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.ananyabirla.com/ Ananya Birla's official website] {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Birla, Ananya}} [[Category:Indian female pop singers]] [[Category:Indian female singer-songwriters]] [[Category:1994 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Indian women company founders]] [[Category:Indian company founders]] [[Category:Indian microfinance people]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Businesswomen from Maharashtra]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Mumbai]] [[Category:Women musicians from Maharashtra]] [[Category:Singers from Mumbai]] [[Category:21st-century Indian singers]] [[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]]'