Rapper Big Deal: The 'Puri Toka' Who Would Not Fit In
The Boy Who Had to Stand Out
In the holy city of Puri, where the chants of "Jai Jagannath" echo through the air, a boy was born who would never quite fit the mold. Samir Rishu Mohanty looked different from his peers. His Japanese mother and Odia father had given him features that made him a target for bullies who saw him as a foreigner in his own homeland. "Growing up in Puri, I felt so confused. Why do I look like no one else in the school?" he would later rap in his breakthrough track 'One Kid'.
This is the story of a man who turned his pain into poetry, his confusion into clarity, and his identity as an outsider into a powerful artistic movement. Today, he is known as Rapper Big Deal-a pioneering hip-hop artist who raps in English, Hindi, and Odia, and who has become the voice of a generation of Indians who have felt like outsiders. He is the "Puri Toka" who put Odisha on the hip-hop map.
Early Life: The Seed of a Melody
A Childhood Between Worlds
Samir Rishu Mohanty was born on September 17, 1989, in Puri, Odisha, to an Indian father, Bidhyadhar Mohanty, and a Japanese mother, Michie Araki. His parents' meet-cute-a love story between a Japanese woman and an Odia man-was unusual for its time, and Samir would later tell this story to countless people who asked, "Wow, how did that happen?".
His childhood, however, was far from a fairy tale. When Samir was born, his mother had jaundice, and doctors advised that the baby should not be close to her. For the first several years of his life, he grew up in a typical Odia household, believing that his aunt and uncle were his real parents. He would visit his biological parents once or twice a week, where his mother would give him Japanese chocolates, confectionaries, and books, exposing him to the Japanese culture that would later become part of his identity.
The Pain of Being Different
Samir attended St. Paul's Boarding School in Darjeeling, where he faced intense bullying and racism over his mixed heritage and Asiatic features. "I was the only kid in Puri who looked the way I did," he later recalled. He was never considered Indian enough and was constantly called "Chinese" and "Nepalese". Even the teachers treated him like a foreigner when all he ever wanted to be an Oriya.
The torment left him feeling confused and ashamed. "I hated the way I looked, I wanted to fit in," he admitted. He wanted to look like Shah Rukh Khan, because everyone loved Shah Rukh, and he believed that if he looked like the star, people would stop calling him names and love him too. He would later channel this childhood aspiration into the track 'Shah Rukh Khan Flow'.
The Sanctuary of Hip-Hop
Everything changed when he was 16. During a movie night in his boarding school, he watched Eminem's 8 Mile. The film, which depicts the struggles of a young rapper from Detroit, shook him to his core. He saw in Eminem a reflection of his own struggles-a man who used words to fight back against a world that tried to silence him.
"Rap gave me a voice, rap got me attention, rap let me vent," Big Deal would later explain. He discovered that he wasn't meant to "fit in" but to "stand out." He adopted the moniker "Big Deal"-a common term in hip-hop parlance that also carries significance in everyday conversations-and began channeling his angst and personal experiences into his lyrics. His music became his sanctuary, his weapon, and his identity.
The Rise: From Bullying Victim to Voice of a Generation
The Early Days and Breakthrough
Big Deal started his rap career in 2011, forming a rap crew called "Two Much" with another rapper. After parting ways in late 2012, he emerged as a solo artist, releasing his English debut, "I Came, I Saw, I Conquered," in 2012. He first came to prominence in 2014 after appearing on MTV India's "MTV Sync," where he collaborated with rapper Blaaze to create the track "Microphone".
In 2014, he was nominated for the Radio City Freedom Awards for Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist. The following year, he won the Renault 'Free the Music' contest. He also toured India, supported by VH1.
Late 2016, while performing at a local club in Bangalore, Big Deal caught the attention of renowned music director Sneha Khanwalkar. She immediately got him into a studio to sing for a song in the upcoming Bollywood movie Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, which featured the late Sushant Singh Rajput. He contributed the track "Bach Ke Bakshy" to the film.
The Crowd-Funded EP and a Defining Song
In 2016, Big Deal took a sabbatical from releasing new music to focus on a body of work that would become his debut EP, "One Kid with a Dream." He chose to crowd-fund the EP-possibly the first Indian hip-hop artist to do so. The EP was released in January 2017 and was well-received by critics and fans alike. The lead single, "One Kid," where he talks about his childhood, was shot in three different places and went viral.
The Odia Renaissance
In late 2017, Big Deal released the first Odia rap track, "Mu Heli Odia". It was, as he described it, a joke that went viral. He was accepted in his own state for the first time ever. "I never had a fan base in my own state before that," he recalled.
He followed up with another Odia rap dedicated to mothers, titled "Bou," which was also well-received. These tracks helped establish him as one of the leading musicians of Odisha, and he claimed his position as a pioneer of Odia rap.
Standing Up to Racism
Mid-2018, Big Deal released a powerful track based on racism titled "Are You Indian" . The song was a dialogue between people from mainland India and people from the North-East, highlighting the discrimination suffered by people from the region.
"I have experienced racism myself," he told Condé Nast Traveler. "My mother is Japanese, and my father is Indian. I was the only kid in Puri (Odisha) who looked the way I did. So, I know first-hand what people from the northeast go through". The song was covered by publications across India and was widely appreciated for taking a stand against racism. He followed this up with tracks like "I'm A Chinkey" and "Call Me Corona," turning derogatory slurs into badges of honor.
Career Highlights: A Pioneer of Odia Hip-Hop
Awards and Recognition
Radio City Freedom Awards (2016): Winner, Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist (Judge's Choice Award) for "Be the Change"
Rolling Stone Cover with AR Rahman: He was handpicked by AR Rahman to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine
Major Collaborations
Big Deal has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the Indian music industry, including:
Official Work
In late 2018, the government of Odisha acquired Big Deal's skills to create an anthem for underprivileged children in Odisha titled "Skilled in Odisha." The video was directed by renowned filmmaker and Padma Shri awardee Nila Madhab Panda and featured National Award-winning actress Prakruti Mishra.
In 2019, he released another Odia track titled "Khusi Ta," which showcased the development of Odisha. The video was his most successful Odia song and was appreciated by the then Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik.
Musical Style and Philosophy: Authenticity Above All
Big Deal's music is defined by its honesty and social consciousness. He raps about issues that he thinks are important-identity, culture, racism, and social justice. He says, "I rap about things that I think are important".
His influences include Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Joyner Lucas, Big Sean, Nas, Jay Z, and 2pac. In India, he draws inspiration from AR Rahman, who he regards as a "music god".
He is also a music producer who produces all the beats he raps on, and he produces beats for other rappers and singers. He believes in the artistic integrity of music and refuses to talk about alcohol and women in his songs.
He made a conscious decision to rap in Odia because it helped him connect with his people in a way that English couldn't. "Every great movement begins at home," he said. "You first capture your own town, then you capture your state, and then it just breaks out". This philosophy has made him a regional icon while also building a national and global audience.
Key Takeaways
Pain Can Be a Powerful Muse: Big Deal channeled his childhood trauma into art, turning his experiences of racism and bullying into a voice for millions who have felt like outsiders. He raps about things that he thinks are important and has proven that authenticity resonates more than posturing.
Embrace What Makes You Different: "I realized I have to accept the way I am and be proud that I was never meant to fit in but meant to stand out," he said. His decision to rap in Odia, despite its challenges, opened doors he never expected.
Home is the Starting Point: His success shows that a regional artist can build a powerful career by first winning over their home audience. He proved that every great movement begins at home-he first captured his town, then his state, and then it just broke out.
Mentorship and Collaboration Matter: From AR Rahman to Sneha Khanwalkar, Big Deal has worked with industry legends who recognized his talent and opened doors for him.
Independent Artists Can Thrive: As an independent artist, Big Deal has achieved massive recognition through crowdfunding, strategic digital presence, and an unwavering commitment to his craft.
His journey from a confused and bullied child to a pioneering hip-hop artist is an inspiration to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. The "Puri Toka" has shown the world that it is a big deal to be yourself.
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