Who is Maya Neelakantan? All about 11-year-old Chennai guitarist who stunned judges on ‘America’s Got Talent’

Who is Maya Neelakantan?

Hailing from Chennai, Maya Neelakantan rose to prominence with her metal rock renditions of iconic numbers Metallica, Tool, and others. She also has a YouTube channel, handled by her parents.

In 2022, she stunned Adam Jones, Tool’s guitarist with her rendition video on 7empest. In March this year, she received a gift from Gary Holt during her first meeting with the artist at his residence. “Look What Happened Today! Gary Holt of Slayer/Exodus gifted me his signature guitar!!!” she wrote on X.

Look What Happened Today! Gary Holt of Slayer/Exodus gifted me his signature guitar!!! #garyholt #slayer #loudwire #exodus pic.twitter.com/pQ0tji5qHC

— Maya Neelakantan (@MayaNeelakantan) March 30, 2024

Cut to 2024, Neelakantan took the Internet by storm with her appearance on America’s Got Talent. Sharing the video on X, industrialist Anand Mahindra wrote, “Oh My God. Maya Neelakantan is only 10 years old. 10! Yes, Simon, she’s a Rock Goddess. From the land of Goddesses. We have to get her back here to do her stuff at the @mahindrablues.”

Watch the viral video here:

Oh My God

Maya Neelakantan is only 10 years old. 10!

Yes, Simon, she’s a Rock Goddess.
From the land of Goddesses.

We have to get her back here to do her stuff at the @mahindrablues !@jaytweetshah @vgjairam pic.twitter.com/sRNHPBondg

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 29, 2024

Responding to Mahindra, Neelakantan wrote, “Thank you so much @anandmahindra ji! It’s an honor hearing that from you! I’m very happy to see that people enjoy my version of merging Carnatic Music with Heavy Metal since I love both of them. Thank you for all the love and support! It really means a lot!”

With over a million views, the video garnered several reactions from social media users. Reacting to it, a user commented, “Dressed in a traditional Ghagra and shining bindi on her forehead, Neelakantan looked like anything but a typical rock musician with an Indian twist.” Another user wrote, “I play guitar and can never play near this. For a 10 year old, proud and tears in eyes for a fellow guitarist. Child prodigy.”