#chefkicha

Like any six-year-olds, Nihal Raj watches cartoons and enjoys playing with lego blocks, but not all kids get invited to become a guest at the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Nihal, fondly called Kicha, is the little chef behind the famous YouTube channel Kichatube HD, that features cookery videos. While most-six year olds’ expertise are limited to preparing instant noodles or frying eggs, this precocious child has proved his talent in making cookies, ice-creams, puddings, etc.

Nihal made news when Facebook bought the rights to his video that depicts how to make Mickey Mouse mango ice-cream. According to reports, the little chef got paid $2000 for that.

Soon, the first standard student’s fame crossed the seas, which landed him an opportunity to showcase his talent to famous talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. The first standard student from  

Choice School, Kochi — who became the yougest Indian to be featured on the show — made quite an impression on Ellen as he showed her how to make “puttu” — the steamed rice cake highly popular among Malayalis and Sri Lankans.

Nihal’s didn’t stick to the simplistic version of puttu, but made a variety version with steamed  bananas and honey. The kid’s stage presence and impressive articulation won the hearts of all those who were present at the show.

Nihal reportedly has drawn inspiration from his mother, Ruby Rajagopal, who is a baker. He used to enthusiastically watch his mother in the kitchen, and one day tried his hands on making popsicles. His dad shot a video and later uploaded it on YouTube. That was how it all started.

Nihal is not just articulate, but he handles the kitchen like a pro, without making the slightest mess.  

According to his father, Rajagopal, apart from cooking, Nihal is enthusiastic about watching unboxing videos on YouTube. The primary school kids has thousands of fans already, and is also friends with some of the renowned chefs in the country, from whom he takes tips.

Six year old Chef Kicha a.k.a Nihal Raj became the youngest Indian to be invited to Ellen's show. Son of Rajagopal Krishnan, Branch Head - Central Advertising Agency & Ruby Rajagopal - a lecturer turned home baker, Kicha grew up watching his mother bake. Ruby says "Kicha would ask me whether he could help me. Instead I would give him small recipes which he could make. One day, he wanted to make ice popsicles and insisted that his dad take a video and upload it on Facebook". Seeing his interest, his mother gave him kid friendly recipes which involved no cutting, chopping or cooking over fire. Ruby adds "If any recipe demands cutting or chopping, I help him out and Kicha mentions the same in the video but mostly, the recipes I select are baked or refrigerated ones ".

Kicha, a first grade in Choice School, Kochi was interested in starting his own toys Unboxing channel (toys reviews) when he was four but it didn’t go well as he was more curious in playing with the toys than reviewing it! At age four, Kicha aspired to be a Youtuber.  Kicha took his dad’s help to start a Youtube channel which he named “Kichatube”, inspired from the famous “Evantube”. He is now a " veteran" with two years as a Youtuber! His mother Ruby says that he has this innate ability to grasp things quickly and is a natural in front of the camera. Kicha's videos are all shot at home either by his father or sister Nidha who is a final year commerce student.

On The Facebook Deal

Ruby shares "One day we got a mail from a casting company asking us for the rights of Mickey Mouse Mango Ice-cream and then we received an agreement from Facebook to acquire the rights! We were shocked and Kicha became an overnight celebrity! He is the youngest person to sell a video to Facebook. He is aware of it but is very cool about the deal and wasn't overexcited". Kicha was paid $2000 for the video rights.

Future Plans

Kicha will be continuing with his channel kichatubehd and there are plans of doing food reviews too. Ruby shares "He wants to be an “Astronaut Chef” and wishes to cook in space! He also want to invent a machine which has gravity that will help to cook in space. That’s what he says but I am not sure how long this interest will last. We have left it on him and will support whatever he likes".

On Being On Ellen's Show

Kicha's mother says that they never applied nor tried for any show but got a mail from the producer of Ellen's Show inviting Kicha for the segment which features "Adorable Kids". She adds "There were a few Skype chats with the producers and later they confirmed and gave us the recording dates. All the travel, hotel and other expenses were taken care of by them. We flew on 19th September and the program was recorded on 22nd September and aired the next day in the United States. I am not sure when it will be aired in India though, perhaps before 26th September".

At the show, Kicha gave a cooking demo and taught how to make Kerala's traditional breakfast Puttu. His excitement and confidence was evident in the show. He even taught Ellen to pronounce Puttu Kutti, the vessel in which Kuttu is made.

Speaking of the special treatment given at the show, Ruby elaborates "We really don't know from where Ellen's team got to know about Kicha and how we landed there! He was treated like a celebrity and the hospitality was amazing. He was given a dedicated room room filled with his favourites like candies, fruits, juices etc. A chauffeur driven car received us and the entire staff seem to have known Kicha forever! They made him feel so comfortable and of course, Ellen was simply awesome with Kicha. We call it miracle"!