Before meeting the wonder kid Chef Nihal Raj (Kicha), I viewed his Youtube Channel ‘Kichatube’ many times. A cute child in chef uniform is preparing Orange jelly, coconut pudding, mango ice cream, tandoori baby potatoes, Easter egg, Oreo truffles, jam cookies, mug cake, idlis, ice-cream cake, and coconut water and ice cream, popsicles, etc, etc accompanied by his own gestures, explanations, songs, and descriptions. He tastes the dishes he prepared with a Wow sound. The entire atmosphere was positive. So, I thought he might be talkative and he loves talking with others. But, when I entered the three bedrooms flat of Kicha at Kochi, Kadavanthra, Kerala, he was watching a cartoon on the TV. When he saw me, he greeted me, then fled from the scene and engaged in playing with building blocks, toy guns, car, etc. He kept all his toys neatly. After playing with them, he picked every toy from the floor and kept them on proper places. It is very hard to believe that this little child is creating vibes in cyber world with his penchant for preparing delicious foods….
But, when he showcases his cooking skills for his Youtube channel, he transforms into a different personality. You cannot see an iota of shyness on his face during this time. His entire body language, activities, descriptions, etc can be connected with an experienced professional chef. At the same time, he is also careful to entertain his viewers with his songs, talks, actions, gestures, etc. He also sings songs when he prepares foods.
Kicha is studying in class 1 at Choice School, Kochi, Kerala.
Story Behind the Name ‘Kicha’
Nihal Raj’s grand father’s name is Krishnan. But, pronouncing Krishnan is very difficult for small kids. When the Hindu children chant the prayer, Krishna, Rama, Govinda, they used to pray, Kicha, Rama, Kovinda. Hindu families in Kerala have a custom to give their parents’ name to their children. During the naming ceremony of Nihal Raj, his father Rajagopal V Krishnan called him Krishnan. The pet name ‘Kichu’ is very common in Kerala. Rajagopal captured the word Kicha from child’s language. So, when they searched for a short name for their child, Nihal’s parents Rajagopal and Ruby preferred to call their son Kicha, which represents the name of Rajagopal’s father and at the same time, it makes a good pet name for their child.
Making of the Little Chef Kicha…..
Kicha was born on 7th Feb 2010. At the age of 4, he started using a computer. He is fond of watching Evantube, a US-based young boy Evan whose unboxing videos are very popular. Unboxing is the review of toys. Actually, Rajagopal has no idea regarding the word unboxing till his son Nihal told about it to him. When Rajagopal goes for duty and his elder sister Nitha goes to college, Kicha will be with his mother, Ruby. She is a home baker and Kicha used to help his mother when she cooks food.
One day, Kicha told his parents that he wanted to start a Youtube channel. At first, they were not sure about what to do. So, Kicha started reviewing toys. But it was not so interesting for him. One day, Kicha was preparing food. His presentations, actions, gestations, concluding parts, etc attracted the attention of Rajagopal. So, he started filming it on his mobile phone and shared the video on Facebook. He got lots of appreciation. At the same moment, they realized that this is the way and Kicha can move forward on this path. Thus, they started Kichatube HD.
Recognition From Facebook
The little boy Kicha in kiddie apron and an oversized home chef’s cap is teaching how to prepare Micky Mouse Mango Ice cream, with his rhythm, mumbling ‘awesome’ and ‘wow’. He talks in English and briefly switching over to ‘ek, do, teen…’ ice cream done, he signs off asking folks to watch Kichatube HD. The Youtube channel is meant for kids who are interested in cooking.
Kichatube was started his YouTube channel in January 2015. There were only 12-odd videos. But, everything changed when Rajagopal got a mail from a US-based company enquiring about a video uploaded on the channel. At first, Rajagopal had no idea about it. But the next day, he received another mail. So, he realized that the mail was from a casting company for Facebook. Thus, Facebook has acquired the rights for Kicha’s Micky Mouse Mango Ice cream $2000 (Around Rs 1,35,000). Though they acquired the rights, it is non-exclusive, so, Kicha can continue posting videos in Kichatube.
Kicha has always been interested in food and cooking. Ruby, Rajagopal’s wife and Kicha’s mother, is a home baker and the boy, often, hangs around his mother while she’s in the kitchen or baking. Kicha’s recipes are provided by Ruby, who keeps them simple and kid-friendly. For the wedding anniversary of his parents, Kicha, along with Chef JP of Le Meridien, made them a pizza. His parents conducted a ‘chef/kitchen’ themed Birthday party for his birthday at Kochi Marriott. He is very curious about food. Whenever they go out for having food, he used to go into the kitchen and meet the chefs with his questions. Chefs are also very happy to give answers to the questions of Kicha.
The videos are shot as and when Kicha feels like, which explains the 12 or so videos in more than a year. Recipes his mother may provide, other than that he works on the fly, script-free and improvising as he goes.
How His Parents Accepted his Passion?
When Kicha informed his passion in cooking, just like every mother, Ruby also discouraged him. She was worried about his safety. The kitchen is always a dangerous place for children. If not preparing food carefully, it can end up in various unpleasant incidents such as burns and other injuries. But, Kicha was not ready to suppress his passion. So, Ruby started giving him simple recipes, induction cookware, and ingredients that require less baking. She did the cutting and the other types of works for him. Kicha also instructs his viewers to seek help from elders for cutting, chopping, etc. While preparing food, Kicha is very careful and doing everything very neatly. He is doing everything with topmost professionalism. Even if he is preparing food, he is very careful to keep his dress and body neat and clean.
As per Indian custom, parents always try to keep boy children away from the kitchen. They are not allowed their sons to enter in a kitchen and help their mother. Even if they show interests, parents will tease them and will remind them that they are boys and they should not behave like a girl. Even today, the daughters are meant for doing all household chores, while the sons are given elite class status even inside the home. Girls are meant for preparing foods, cleaning plates, washing clothes, keeps home clean, etc. While, the sons enjoy all the privileges in a home, they get lots of time for playing, enjoying with friends, greeting guests, etc. But, the family of Rajagopal is different. He and his wife give equal importance to their daughter and son.
Kicha’s Way of Cooking
Some dishes require very fewer ingredients. But some others require lots. Now he is just 6 years. At this age, how he is remembering all these things? His father says, whatever may be the length of ingredients, Kicha has a very good grasping and memory power. He needs to hear the name of ingredients only one or two times. After that, he can prepare foods in his own way. Even though his parents try to give him dialogue for his channel, he is not ready to accept it. He conducts the show in his own way. Even the songs are also selected by him. Kicha’s parents are also not ready to compel him for anything. They are giving full freedom to their children. So, he can follow his dream without any hindrances.
Just like every kid, he likes to eat cookies and something sweet. While asking, he told with a secret smile, “I love to eat what I prepare.”
Sister Nitha, Kicha’s Mother Alternative!
Kicha maintains a close relationship with his sister Nitha Raj. She is a final year B.com student at Sacred Heart College, Kochi, Kerala. Due to their huge age difference, Nitha is mostly like a mother substitute to Kicha. She brings him to movies, shopping, parks, etc. She also finds time to play with Kicha. They sleep together. Their parents also want them to be together. Now, Kicha is getting love, care, and affection from his father, mother and sister. Nitha is also a brilliant student. She is first in her college for studies. She also gets lots of awards.
Parents, Kicha’s real Priceless Gifts
Kicha’s father is the head of a popular ad agency, Central Advertising, Kochi. He told that his son, Nihal Raj is an ordinary child. But the difference is, Kicha’s parents allow him to follow his dreams. They consider their children as free birds. They create their own world and fly there without any limitations. They are allowed to follow their dreams. Instead of thrusting the dreams, likes and dislikes of parents, Kicha’s parents observe their children very closely. They enquire about their dreams time to time. In such a way, they create lots of opportunities to open the minds of their children. They did not simply listen to the dreams, concepts, and thoughts of their children. Instead, they provide them the best possible ways to fulfill the dreams of their children. When their children tell an idea to them, even if they are very difficult, they just think why not so. They take everything in a positive mind.
Whatever may be the commitments at the office, Rajagopal comes back from office at 6 PM and spend the remaining time with his family. He spends quality time with his children and wife. They discuss many things. Once, when Kicha and his father taking bath together, Kicha told to him that he wanted to start a food company. Rajagopal told to him, “There are two types of food companies, one is making foods and sell them in packets. Another one is preparing foods and gives them to the customers then and there. This is called restaurants. What type of company you want to open? Then Kicha told he wanted to start a food company for kids. When you go out, you cannot see a restaurant completely dedicated for kids. For purchasing food items for children, you may have to visit more than one shop. He has plans to open a company that is fully dedicated to kids. I don’t know what he will think in future. But, his dreams and thoughts really make me proud.”
Kicha, A child with a Kind Heart
Kicha got $2000 for his Mickey Mouse Mango ice cream video from Facebook. But, he spent most part of that money for helping a child with autism, who studies in Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's school. That boy is also six years old. When Kicha hears about the story of that boy, he told that he will take care of the expenses of that child. Besides giving money to the child, he also went to his house and played with him. Kicha also bought dresses and food items for the boy. Rajagopal said, “It was very hard to bring back Kicha home. He liked the company of that boy very much and he loved to play with him. Kicha also loves kids and always want to play with them.”
During bed time, Kicha and his sister Nitha discuss many things. But the questions are not like ordinary children at his age. Once he informed that he wanted to travel in a double Decker train. When they Google the word, they realized that there are many such trains in India. But, it was new information for Kicha’s parents and sister.
“Once, the Al Jazeera team came to interview Kicha. We were not with him then. When we came back, we asked him what the media asked, but he didn’t tell anything. When the interview telecasted, Kicha told he wanted to become a chef for Astronauts. He is speaking mostly about the space and planets. Once, he asked to me that whether the Sun grows or not. I told him no. But later, I thought to check it in Google. Where I could see that the Sun is growing. He asks questions, but I am not able to give an answer without doing proper references. If I give him false information, later he will tell me that I am wrong. So, I will always research thoroughly before answering his questions.”
His mother Ruby told, “Kicha knows the toys and even the specifications. Whenever his father goes abroad, Kicha told him to purchase some toys. He will instruct him even the shops that sell that particular toy. He also tells about the specifications of that toy also. So, it is very easy to purchase toys for him.”
Kicha’s Dreams
Today, parents are very much concerned about the future of their children. Parents give their children everything as per their abilities. But, some parents try to trust their interests and dreams on their children. “When I attend events like trade shows, I carry Kicha. All things in trade shows are arranged as per the eye sight of adults. So, it will not be properly visible for children. So when I attend trade shows for Kicha, I carry him and explain everything to him. He also asks questions to me. I show patients to answer them all.” Rajagopal said.
“He is different from kids his age. Even this Facebook thing, he knows what is happening but he isn’t overexcited,” says Rajagopal. With a lakh plus rupees in his account, all Kicha has asked his father is for a Paytm account so that he can shop online without bothering his father.
As a parent, Rajagopal says his takeaway from the whole experience is something he’d like to share with parents out there. “We want our kids to play football or cricket or painting and enroll them in coaching classes too. It’d be so much better to take into consideration the child’s interests before thrusting him or her into something they might not enjoy.”
Today, lots of parents force their children to participate in lots of activities like music, dance, drama, etc. Lots of children are also participating in reality shows to become famous. Parents are also trying, sometimes shamelessly, to make their children famous. Kicha did not do any such things. His parents did not approach any celebrities to make their child famous. Kicha used the things that are available and became famous. There is a habit of people that when there is a successful way everybody follows that way. It is not good. Kicha’s attempt was a huge success. We allowed him what he loves to do. This is the proper way. Every child has some kind of abilities. Parents must be able to find it and guide them accordingly.
Now, Kicha got another mail from a US-based company asking to review their foods. We got the email only today. But Kicha did not say anything regarding this. After all, he is a little child.
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