BRITISH ASIAN performers from London’s West End have united to record a song and raise money for the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in India.
A specially recorded version of It Means Beautiful from the West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie was released last week. The Same Voices Unite project features more than 30 performers, from south Asian and Middle Eastern heritage.
A music video to accompany the ballad is intended to create awareness about the Covid situation in India. The country has been overwhelmed by cases in recent weeks, with hospitals and crematoriums struggling to cope with demand.
Project director Irvine Iqbal told Eastern Eye the initiative was motivated by “a feeling of helplessness” after seeing the media coverage of the level of devastation in India. “When you’re in the UK and in your comfortable little bubble, you feel very helpless,” he said. “An idea had been going around in my head about creating a project that could raise awareness (of the situation), and I thought, ‘what better opportunity than coming together and assembling a team to create a song?’”
Iqbal reached out to fellow performer Sejal Keshwala, who is a regular cast member in Jamie. With her assistance, he was able to get permission from writer and composers Dan Gillespie Sells and Tom Macra to rerecord the track.
A number of West End performers, including Liam Tamne, Arun Blair-Mangat, Nadim Naaman, Hiba Elchikhe, Tony Jayawardena and Tim Mahendran, also offered to contribute to the video.
Keshwala, who also features in the recording, said the video was an opportunity for creatives to raise awareness of the crisis via music. “Music is universal and that was our way of reaching more people and getting more attention (on the issue),” she told Eastern Eye.
The song is originally sung in Jamie by the title character’s friend Pritti. Keshwala said its message was “there is beauty in everything and accepting who you are. Everybody can find their own connection to (the song).”
Iqbal added: “The song’s context really transcends into who we are as human beings – we must all love and support one another.”
Other performers in the video include Nadia Nadarajah, who uses sign language in the video
Despite restrictions being eased in the UK, Iqbal said it was important to remember that the pandemic was still impacting people around the world. “Now that lockdown is lifted in the UK, we may think life is ok again but unfortunately, outside of our world, troubles are still happening in places like India.”
Most of the cast and crew have been personally affected by the crisis in India, Iqbal added, with many having family members or loved ones residing in the country.
“We all feel helpless, because we can’t do anything as we’re over here,” he said. “The only way we can do something is raise awareness.”
Those who view the video online are directed to a charity appeal launched by the Amir Khan Foundation, One Family Global and Dasra. The money will go towards oxygen concentrators for hospitals, testing communities for co-morbidities, providing support to migrant communities and delivering food and healthcare.
Iqbal praised those who contributed to the project, acknowledging that many have been out of work due to the closure of theatres. No artists were paid for their work on the track.
“They’re all going through their own issues because nobody’s worked in our industry (due to the pandemic),” said Iqbal, who is also an actor. “But the cast, musicians and creatives gave their time for free, and despite having such a tough year, they said, ‘we will still open our arms, and we’ll still give you our art.’
“To me, that is the most profound thing anybody could ever do.”
Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami highlighted inclusiveness and sustainability.
Leicester hosted scaled-back celebrations without fireworks after a safety review.
Cities across England marked the festival with community events.
THE ROYAL Family and UK prime minister Keir Starmer shared Diwali greetings on Monday, as the High Commission of India in London highlighted inclusiveness and sustainability as key messages of the Festival of Lights.
“Wishing a very happy Diwali to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights in the UK and around the world,” reads a message from Buckingham Palace, shared across all its social media platforms.
Starmer also took to social media to wish “Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across Britain a joyful and peaceful Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas”. The prime minister, who attended the Gaza peace summit in Egypt during the Diwali festivities at 10 Downing Street last week, reflected on his visit to Mumbai earlier this month in his post.
“Earlier this month, I lit a diya in Mumbai as a symbol of devotion, joy, and renewed bonds. As we celebrate this Festival of Lights, let’s keep building a Britain where everyone can look ahead with hope,” he said.
Opposition Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch described the festival as a “celebration of light over darkness, hope over despair, and the power of family, community and faith”.
“Wishing a very Happy Diwali to all those celebrating the festival of lights in the UK, India, and around the world. May this Diwali bring blessings, peace, and prosperity to everyone,” said Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary.
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, in a video message, called Deepavali one of the central elements of India’s festive calendar.
“It is celebrated across all communities as an opportunity to bring together families and friends and celebrate the joys of the changing season, and the start of the cool season,” said Doraiswami.
“It is one of our most beloved festivals, not least because of the lights and traditional diyas that are lit up, but also for the opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Diwali these days is seen as an opportunity for an inclusive festival, a sustainable festival,” he said.
“Sustainability not just purely in the environmental sense with the use of renewables in our lights and displays, but also in terms of ensuring that you make it sustainable by bringing together all communities amongst whom you live,” he added.
“That is particularly applicable here in the United Kingdom as we celebrate the start of what is a longer festive season that continues right through to the end of the year,” he said.
Many of the annual Diwali festivities in the UK, including the Mayor of London’s Diwali on the Square, took place earlier this month.
In Leicester, known for its large-scale Diwali celebrations, this year’s event was scaled back with no fireworks display following a local council safety audit. The city’s Diwali Day celebrations were centred around a Wheel of Light — a 110-foot-high Ferris wheel on the Golden Mile at Belgrave Road — which was closed to traffic and lit up with thousands of colourful lights.
“We know that this year’s celebrations will feel different, but our priority must be the safety of the public,” said Councillor Vi Dempster, Leicester’s assistant city mayor for culture.
“We are absolutely determined that Diwali continues to be part of the city’s festive calendar. We will be working with partners and the local community to explore options for how the city builds on its proud tradition of bringing our communities together to celebrate the Festival of Light,” she said.
Meanwhile, Basingstoke and Reading in southern England hosted outdoor Diwali celebrations organised by Kala the Arts over the weekend, attracting hundreds of people.
The events featured theatrical processions with illuminated puppets, dhol music, classical dance performances, and lantern installations as part of the free-to-attend festival, now in its fifth year.
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