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The Embassy of India in Berlin became the stage for a unique cultural exchange this week when Ambassador Ajit Gupte met renowned German singer Cassandra Mae Spittmann, known to her global audience as CassMae on 5 August. The meeting celebrated her exceptional artistry and the growing role of music in deepening people-to-people connections between India and Germany.
A Voice Bridging Two Worlds
CassMae, visually impaired since birth, has captivated audiences with her soulful renditions of Indian songs and bhajans in languages including Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi and Urdu. Her performances — praised for their precision and emotional resonance — have introduced Indian devotional and classical traditions to new audiences in Germany, while endearing her to listeners across India.
Her journey reflects a wider trend in Indo-German cultural engagement, where music serves as a shared language. From Indian classical maestros performing at Berlin’s Philharmonie to German orchestras collaborating with sitarists and tabla players, artistic partnerships between the two nations are steadily on the rise.
Recognition from India’s Leadership
CassMae’s dedication to Indian music drew national attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi featured her in the September 24, 2023 episode of Mann Ki Baat, praising her passion and playing clips of her multilingual devotional renditions. On February 27, 2024, the Prime Minister met CassMae in Palladam, Tamil Nadu, where she performed “Achyutam Keshavam” and a Tamil devotional song.
Music as Cultural Diplomacy
Recent years have seen marquee Indo-German stages spotlight such collaborations. In 2017, the Berliner Philharmoniker presented Ravi Shankar’s Rāgā-Mālā at the Berlin Philharmonie with Anoushka Shankar on sitar and Zubin Mehta conducting; Shankar returned to the Philharmonie in 2024 with her ensemble. Institutions like the Max Mueller Bhavan (Goethe-Institut) in India continue to host fusion concerts, workshops, and residencies that bring together artists from both countries.
At the Berlin meeting, the Embassy highlighted CassMae’s Indian-language repertoire. She has also performed at major events in India, including Mahashivratri 2025 and her appearance during the Prime Minister’s February 2024 interaction.
A Growing Cultural Footprint
Beyond music, Indo-German cultural ties extend into dance, theatre, cinema, and literature. Berlin’s annual IndoGerman Filmweek showcases Indian and German cinema to packed audiences, while German theatre productions have found experimental stages in Indian cities. Increasingly, artists from both countries are using digital platforms to collaborate, breaking down geographic barriers.
For CassMae, these exchanges are acts of connection. She has been working with Indian musicians and continues to explore opportunities to bring the two cultures closer through her art. As her voice weaves together two rich traditions, CassMae stands as a living example of how music can transcend borders, languages, and even physical limitations — carrying forward the Indo-German story in harmony and rhythm.
