777 Keyboard Players Ring in Guinness Feat
Augustine Dandingi Venugopal, who led the initiative, said nearly 10,000 musicians were trained as part of the project, with participants from 22 countries. The final 777 performers were selected based on the quality of execution during a one-hour performance.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad has added another feather to its cap by setting a Guinness World Record for the largest electronic keyboard ensemble. Certificates were distributed to the participants on Thursday, following which the entire team gathered at the Osmania University Arts College grounds to celebrate the achievement.
The record was achieved by 777 participants aged between eight and 80 years. The group included students, homemakers and retired persons.
The record attempt was held on February 2. Initially, around 2,000 musicians took part in the event. After a detailed evaluation, Guinness World Records shortlisted 777 keyboard players who performed Sarali Swaralu, the basic exercises of Carnatic music, on their keyboards simultaneously.
One of the organisers, Gurram Rhema, said, “There was tremendous enthusiasm among all the musicians during the practice sessions leading up to the record attempt. Every participant spent countless hours preparing for the event.”
Sarali Swaralu form the basic exercises of Carnatic music and are used to develop finger dexterity and pitch accuracy.
Among the participants was Harshit Shaun, a Class III student of St Paul’s High School. His mother said, “Music has always been part of our home, and we wanted our son to learn an instrument. He began learning the keyboard in Class II, and being part of a Guinness World Record is a proud and memorable moment for our family.”
Augustine Dandingi Venugopal, who led the initiative, said nearly 10,000 musicians were trained as part of the project, with participants from 22 countries. The final 777 performers were selected based on the quality of execution during a one-hour performance.
Pramila Rani, a homemaker from Sainikpuri, said, “I learned the keyboard and participated in this event within three months. It is an unbelievable moment for me. Since childhood, I had wanted to learn the piano or a similar instrument. I started learning the keyboard in March 2025, and I feel fortunate to have become part of a Guinness World Record within a year.”