Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan is currently undergoing treatment for COVID-19. He regularly shares updates on his health as well as meaningful life lessons on his social media handles from Nanavati hospital in Mumbai where he has been admitted. A few days ago, he was moved to tears on watching a Polish choir perform his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poem ‘Madhushala’.
This morning, he shared a Carnatic version of Ed Sheeran’s song ‘Shape of You’ saying that it brightened his day. He wrote, “Mixing Karnatak and Western pop is not an easy task .. but she has done it with such finesse and aplomb .. there is no compromise on either style .. simply amazing !!”
T 3605 – My music partner and dear friend sent me this .. I do not know who this is but I can just say “You are a very special talent, God bless you .. keep up the good work .. you have brightened my day in the Hospital like never before. Mixing Karnatak & Western pop.. amazing!" pic.twitter.com/9YfkXDopnP
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 25, 2020
The song has been performed by Carnatic vocalist, pop singer, and songwriter Arya Dhayal. She posted a note of gratitude saying, “@amitabhbachchan sir shared my song just now. It feels so soooo great. Never in my dream did I imagine he would listen to me sing. Thank you so much to each and every one of you for making this possible.”
Here are more of her fusion covers:
A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
Bad Guy by Billie Eilish
Believer by Imagine Dragons
Not only does she combine western and Indian classical music, she also plays the ukulele so well, don’t you think?