The International Indian Icon (3iii), an acclaimed global talent platform for the Indian diaspora, reached a remarkable milestone with its Season 8 in 2024. Referred to as 3iii S8, this season embodied a powerful confluence of diversity, creativity, and global reach. The event, founded and spearheaded by the 3iii Talent Foundation, continued its mission to unite Indian-origin talent from across continents, transcending boundaries of geography, language, and age. With an innovative digital format and professional production, Season 8 stood as a vibrant tribute to cultural pride, artistic expression, and global community spirit.
Season-8 of 3iii opened its auditions in April 2024, receiving an overwhelming response from Indian-origin individuals across the globe. More than 5,466 registrations poured in from over 98 countries, making it one of the most widely participated seasons in 3iii's history. Notable participation came from countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, India, the UAE, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, showcasing the platform’s continued influence among the Indian diaspora.
The magnitude of this global engagement was further evident in the fact that over 5,000 audition videos were submitted from the USA and Canada alone, while participants represented a total of 62 distinct states and regions from major nations. This surge in participation underscored 3iii’s global recognition as a premier destination for discovering and celebrating Indian talent on an international scale.
Recognizing the changing dynamics of international travel and cost, the organizers adopted a fully online competition model. Over 80% of the participants chose virtual participation, making the event more inclusive and accessible than ever before. All performances—from auditions to semifinals and the grand finale—were held via platforms such as Zoom and StreamYard, with meticulous attention to production quality.
The format enabled participation from remote locations and empowered underrepresented individuals to present their talents without the burden of logistical challenges. Importantly, the professional virtual setup mirrored the essence of a live stage performance, ensuring authenticity and impact in every presentation.
The competition commenced with a rigorous audition process. From thousands of submissions, 200 exceptionally talented individuals were shortlisted as semifinalists. These semifinalists participated in the Online Episode Production, which was organized in four structured batches. Each batch was designed to assess performers across two key rounds: a solo live performance and a duet or collaborative live performance.
These rounds allowed judges and audiences alike to witness the versatility, creativity, and stage presence of each artist. The format was thoughtfully curated to highlight both individual talent and collaborative synergy, culminating in a comprehensive evaluation experience.
Following the intense semifinal rounds, 58 finalists were chosen across different categories to advance to the Grand Finale. The finale was held virtually on December 29, 2024, and presented as a 4–5 hour cultural extravaganza, blending competition with celebration. Finalists delivered their recorded high-definition performances, which were streamed with professional transitions, interactive sessions, and live audience participation via Zoom.
Adding to the grandeur were appearances by renowned personalities, including Jatin Pandit, along with respected judges and guest speakers. The event was hosted with flair and energy by RJ Anya Ahuja, Ajai Sharma, and Aric, who kept viewers engaged throughout the finale.
3iii Season 8 featured a diverse set of talent categories, reinforcing its inclusive approach to performance arts. Participants competed in the following disciplines:
Singing (Solo, Duet, Group)
Dance (Solo, Duet, Group)
Fashion Walk & Presentation
I Got Talent (IGT) – showcasing unique skills like Acting, Comedy, Instruments, Martial Arts, Painting, Yoga, and Mimicry.
Age-based participation segments ensured that the platform remained generationally inclusive. Contestants were divided into three categories:
Junior (≤19 years)
Senior (19–55 years)
Super Senior (>55 years)
This categorization encouraged a wide spectrum of talent, from young prodigies to seasoned performers, promoting intergenerational appreciation of Indian performing arts.
The 3iii S8 judging process maintained the event’s reputation for integrity and professionalism. The evaluation followed detailed rubrics focusing on technical skill, originality, stage presence, creativity, and emotional impact. The judging expectations were publicly available, ensuring transparency and setting clear standards for participants.
The esteemed judging panel included:
Abbas Ali Mirza
Dhananjay Bhatt
Dr. Shubada Nain
Yogesh Bahadur
Anupama Shrivastava
Their collective experience and discerning eye played a pivotal role in identifying the most promising talents while nurturing a positive and encouraging environment for all.
The results of Season 8 highlighted the incredible diversity and global reach of the competition:
Super Senior Singing:
Winner: Ravi Yedery (Canada)
1st Runner Up: Rajan Sharma (USA)
2nd Runner Up: Raj Kumar Seth (India)
Judges’ Choice: Murali Collur (USA), Vasanthi (Canada)
Senior Singing:
Winner: Apoorva Srivastava (USA)
1st Runner Up (Tie): Moonmita Ghosh & Pundeep Kaur (USA)
2nd Runner Up: Poonam Bhandari (UK)
Judges’ Choice: Het Kamlesh Bhatt, Arjun Iyer (USA), Varun Raina (Dubai)
Junior Singing:
Winner: Aashi Allani (USA)
1st Runner Up: Sanjana Krishnan (USA)
2nd Runner Up (Tie): Koushani Samui (India), Mishka Kacholiya (USA)
Judges’ Choice: Bindu Mandava (Canada), Varsha Karthik (USA)
Junior Dance:
Winner: Flying Colors Dance Group (USA)
1st Runner Up: Little Angels
2nd Runner Up: Tiny Tots
Judges’ Choice: Shanaya Agrawal, Ashoka Dance Group (USA)
Senior Dance:
Joint Winners: Pratikshya Panigrahi & Arshia Kathpalia (USA)
IGT (India’s Got Talent):
Super Senior Winner: Anil Sachdeva (USA)
Junior Winner: Charith Sai Nallapilly (USA)
These winners not only earned prestigious trophies, medals, and certificates but also gained global visibility through 3iii’s media partnerships and digital presence.
Every semifinalist and finalist in Season 8 received certificates signed by judges, recognizing their commitment and talent. Winners were awarded custom-designed trophies and medals, and many were offered invitations to future 3iii productions.
A special highlight was the release of the original song “Salona” by renowned artist Arko, dedicated to the winners from 3iii. Additionally, finalists were offered opportunities for media exposure on platforms like:
3iii’s YouTube Channel
LykStage
Sahara One
Filmy TV
Samay Channel
Episodes from the competition were compiled into 27 broadcast-ready episodes, providing long-term visibility and documentation of participants' performances.
More than a competition, 3iii Season-8 was a cultural initiative aimed at democratizing talent discovery among Indian-origin communities. It successfully created a global platform that honored Indian traditions while embracing technological advancement.
By removing economic and geographic constraints through its virtual-first format, 3iii ensured that hidden, local, and underrepresented talents had an opportunity to shine. It celebrated not just skill, but effort, perseverance, and authenticity—values deeply embedded in the artistic journey.
Furthermore, the 3iii platform emerged as a nurturing ground for long-term creative development, paving the way for participants to explore careers in media, music, film, and performance.
The success of Season 8 laid the foundation for an even more ambitious future for the International Indian Icon platform. Plans are underway to:
Expand into feature films, music albums, and web series.
Launch 3iii Records as a dedicated label for Indian-origin talent
Establish mentorship networks for past winners.
Host onsite semifinal events in select countries
Introduce AI-driven judging support for fair and scalable scoring
These initiatives aim to create a sustainable talent ecosystem that nurtures Indian creativity across generations and geographies.
3iii Season-8 (2024) will be remembered as a season of firsts—its largest global reach, highest virtual engagement, and most diverse talent pool. It celebrated artistry, built bridges between cultures, and empowered individuals to dream without boundaries.
As the stage lights dimmed on 2024, they simultaneously lit the path for Season-9 and beyond—where the mission of 3iii to elevate, connect, and celebrate Indian talent worldwide continues with renewed vigor.
To be a part of this growing legacy, visit the official website:
🔗 www.internationalindianicon.com