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The Hindu
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Delhi's 3plus4crew wins big at K-pop dance finale
Inside the packed O.P. Jindal auditorium auditorium in New Delhi last weekend, the stage pulsed with energy, light, and synchronised movement. The music touched a crescendo and so did the applause. By the end of the electrifying performances, the local team, 3plus4crew not only won the crowd's hearts, but also the national title. Winners of the 15th All India K-pop Contest 2025, 3plus4crew made history by becoming the first team to win the competition twice — a feat they first achieved in 2016. Organized by the Korean Cultural Centre India, the event saw an overwhelming response from K-pop fans across the country, with over 1,278 teams participating. In the end, only three winners stood out, 3plus4crew (dance), Shylee Preetam from Hyderabad (vocal), and Riniya Taku from Itanagar (rap). Nitin Theo and Nikhil Noyal founded the group in 2016 featuring seven young college students. They have come a long way and grown into a 13-member professional crew. 'We are full-time dancers, teachers, and choreographers now. Returning to the K-pop stage after a decade is like coming full circle,' says Nitin. Most members of 3plus4crew are trained in styles ranging from hip-hop and jazz to open-style choreography. Several have taught or performed in reputed institutions across the country and overseas. Despite varied schedules, they regrouped this year eyeing a win. 'Last year, we weren't selected for the K-pop competition and it hit us hard. Later, we came across an interview where choreographer Choi Youngjun mentioned how his inspiration for this choreography came from being rejected at the Street Fighter competition. That really resonated with us. We had been facing similar hurdles in our dance careers. It was a unanimous feeling. This song, 'Super', was something we could pour all our energy into,' says Siddharth Choudhary. Rehearsals began weeks in advance, with long nights and scheduling the routines to fit around work commitments. The challenge was not choreography but coordinating the dancers. 'Balancing personal commitments with intense practice wasn't easy. Aligning our visions, energy, and timing took patience, but it made us stronger,' Nitin recalls. The crew will now represent India at the K-pop World Festival in Changwon, South Korea, later this year — an opportunity they narrowly missed after their 2016 win. 'Though we travelled to Korea then, we didn't get to perform at Changwon,' says Nitin. 'This time, we hope to not just attend, but truly represent India. That's our dream.' While their success story is a source of pride, the group has also faced scepticism. 'People often question why we follow a genre not originally ours,' says Rishabh Negi. 'But for us, dance goes beyond borders. K-pop is a language we've embraced — and we speak it with our own rhythm.'
News18
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Delhi-based 3plus4crew wins top dance prize at All India K-Pop contest
New Delhi, Jul 19 (PTI) Delhi-based '3plus4crew', Shylee Preetam from Hyderabad and Riniya Taku from Itanagar were top winners in different categories at the 15th All India K-pop contest here. Organised by the Korean Cultural Centre India, the event concluded with a grand finale at the OP Jindal Auditorium. '3plus4crew' impressed judges with their rendition of Seventeen's 'Super" to win the top prize along with Rs 2 lakh in the dance category. In the vocals, the top award went to Preetam from Hyderabad. She also took home the award and Rs 2 lakh for her soulful rendition of Ailee's 'U and I". In the newly introduced rap category, Taku from Itanagar secured first place performing Zerobaseone's 'Backpacker". She also won Rs 2 lakh. More than 1,278 registrations were received for the contest, including newcomers from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Itanagar and Kohima. The top 15 finalists competed in dance, vocal and rap categories. Winners will go on to represent India at the K-pop World Festival in Changwon, South Korea, later this year. The major highlight of the event was the special performance by Korea's rising boy band NOMAD delivering hits such as 'No Pressure", 'California Love", 'Compare", and 'Carnival". The group members, Sangha, Doy, One, Rivr and Junho, also engaged with fans in a lively fan-meeting session. Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India, praised the deepening cultural ties between the two nations, lauding the contest's growth and the spread of K-pop across India. The All India K-Pop Contest has served as a major platform for young Indian K-pop enthusiasts since its launch in 2011. PTI BK OZ OZ (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 23:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
