She Mixed Carnatic with Pop — and the World Took Notice | Arya Dhayal Exclusive on TFT - video Dailymotion

Creator Connect

She went viral. She got trolled. She sang for Brahmastra. 🎙️ Meet Arya Dhayal — the voice behind the Malayalam version of “Deva Deva” — as she sits down on Table for Two for a raw, inspiring, and unfiltered conversation.  From her viral poem “Sakhavu”, which sparked both admiration and outrage, to becoming one of India’s most exciting fusion artists — Arya’s story is as fearless as her music. She opens up about her love for A. R. Rahman, her dream of meeting Amitabh Bachchan, the birth of her Carnatic-Pop fusion style (Popnartic), and the criticism that almost broke her — but didn’t.  If you’ve ever chased your passion in the face of judgment — this one’s for you.  ✨ Highlights:  How “Sakhavu” changed everything Finding her sound during lockdown Singing Deva Deva (Malayalam) for Brahmastra The rise of Popnartic — her signature style A.R. Rahman’s influence & meeting Big B dreams Dealing with hate, fame, and finding peace through music   We break the gloss and glamour to bring the reality: the compromises, the courage, the choices. For actors, creators, or anyone who thinks about what goes on behind the camera — this is for you.  Host: Shizaa Arshad Khan Direction & Production: Gouri Prabhakar Location: Zoe integrated wellness Editors: George C Alex, Sajin Raj Editorial Head: Sunita Iyer  Watch now & join the conversation. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to Asianet News for more exclusive sit-downs with India’s most influential voices.    #AryaDhayal #TableForTwo #Popnartic #Brahmastra #DevaDeva #Sakhavu #IndianMusic #CarnaticFusion #ViralSinger #FemaleArtists #MusicInterview #MalayalamMusic #AsianetNews #AmitabhBachchan #ARRahman #InspiringStories   🔊 LIKE ➡ SHARE ➡ SUBSCRIBE  Download the Asianet News App now!  Available on Android & iOS  👉 Android:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vserv.asianet&hl=en_IN   👉 iOS:  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/asianet-news-official/id1093450032   For More Updates:  Follow us on our What's app Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va5Bq3yKwqSLSQTxam0r  English: https://newsable.asianetnews.com/  Hindi: https://hindi.asianetnews.com/  Malayalam: https://www.asianetnews.com/  Kannada: https://kannada.asianetnews.com/  Tamil: https://tamil.asianetnews.com/  Telugu: https://telugu.asianetnews.com/  Bengali: https://bangla.asianetnews.com/  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsianetNewsa...  Follow us on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AsianetNewsEN  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ann.newsable/  ➡ If you like our video, give us a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel to get the daily dosage of news, entertainment, sports and more.

Transcript

00:00Everything happens in such a way that people, when they grow, when they have new experiences, they discover themselves.

00:08And when they share their experiences and their love, that's when the power comes in, right?

00:12How did ARA Dayal Unplugged come to be?

00:15It just happened. Everything just happened eventually for me. Nothing was planned out. Because again, during Covid.

00:21One of my favorite songs actually happens to be something that you sang the Malayalam version of.

00:26Okay.

00:27It's from Brahmastra.

00:28Brahmastra.

00:29Brahmastra.

00:30Brahmastra.

00:31Brahmastra.

00:32Brahmastra.

00:33Brahmastra.

00:34Brahmastra.

00:35You sang the Malayalam version.

00:36How did that happen?

00:37In the Indian music industry, who do you feel is your favorite?

00:41I think it's ARA Ramani.

00:43Is that a dream for you to sing with him?

00:45I would love to meet him.

00:47So, I also would love to meet Amitabh someday.

00:50Pop Nartic.

00:51Yeah, Pop Nartic.

00:52That's the fusion.

00:53Yeah.

00:54Of the Nartic and Pop.

00:55Takes it to something called Pop Nartic.

00:58I could show you incredible things.

01:03Magic man is talented.

01:05Saw you dance and I thought, oh my God, look at that face.

01:10You know, just putting those phrases or quadratic bits or flavors into the song completely takes it to something called Pop Nartic.

01:20So, you took a chance upon that and that's what met with a lot of criticism.

01:25What did that teach you early on in your life?

01:28It taught me a lot.

01:29I want to ask you, what is next to you now?

01:34Aha.

01:35It's definitely new.

01:36So, today we have somebody very special with us.

01:39The voice that made the internet sit up and listen by Nartic Roots with Global Pop.

01:46And she's proven time and again that music really doesn't have any borders.

01:51She's the woman, the magic, the voice behind so many sensational items that we all have heard.

01:59The virals.

02:00And I'm so glad to be interviewing her today because she truly is the pride of Kerala.

02:07Kerala and her voice is magical.

02:11So, I'm happy to meet the person.

02:14Hi.

02:15The sensation.

02:16Arya Dayal.

02:18Welcome to Sable for 2 by Asian.

02:21Thank you so much for having me.

02:22So, good to have you here at this time because this month you got married.

02:27So, congratulations.

02:29I still don't know how to react to that.

02:30Really?

02:31Yeah.

02:32The transition has been fast.

02:34Yeah.

02:35And it was the birthday right after that?

02:37Yeah.

02:38This month only?

02:39Yeah.

02:40And so, double celebration?

02:41Yeah, we just planned everything for October.

02:43So, finish off all the celebrations in one month and then we are done.

02:48How will it be?

02:49His birthday is also in October.

02:52His birthday is also in October.

02:53So, it's coming?

02:54It's on October 9th.

02:55Mine is October 7th.

02:56Okay.

02:57Okay.

02:58So, y'all have celebrated the birthdays and everything?

02:59Done.

03:00We take the average.

03:01I don't know.

03:02What special would you like to reveal it?

03:06Anything?

03:07Special?

03:08It is about the marriage.

03:11You are asking about the marriage.

03:13Okay.

03:14We didn't have a very grand wedding or things like that.

03:17I got to know that.

03:18It was a very simple register marriage.

03:21It happened in Kannur.

03:22So, both of our places are Kannur.

03:24And I had beautiful moments with my mother, my friends, my father and my grandmothers and my grandfathers.

03:33Because they all came in together.

03:36And my mom put my saree on.

03:39And my makeup and hair was done by my friends, Kartika, Ishurya.

03:43Yeah.

03:44It was wonderful.

03:45That sounds very intimate.

03:46It is.

03:47It is.

03:48It is.

03:49Like familial.

03:50Uh-huh.

03:51Yeah.

03:52Right?

03:53Because I wanted to have my very close, close to heart people to be there for that day.

04:00And I didn't want it to be quite chaotic.

04:03You know?

04:04It was a lot.

04:05Yeah.

04:06I didn't want it to be noisy.

04:07Rather, I wanted it to be pleasant.

04:09And I wanted to meet everybody.

04:11Yeah.

04:12Take it as an occasion to meet my very close, favorite people.

04:17Yeah.

04:18Yeah.

04:19Yeah.

04:20So, it's blissful.

04:21I got to know you're like, sort of like a, like you like to write letters.

04:27Yeah.

04:28I do.

04:29I am going to do that.

04:30I love to write.

04:32Basically.

04:33I do lots of journals.

04:35I write letters.

04:38Not just to Abhishek.

04:41I think you've seen my post.

04:43The letter one.

04:44I see it.

04:45But not just to Abhishek.

04:46I write letters to all of my favorite people.

04:49Yeah.

04:50Yeah.

04:51So, in the age of like, you know, social media, we think you're still in old school.

04:57I don't know if it has to be called an old school.

05:00It's something that I love.

05:01So, just because you record something digitally doesn't mean you are new school or because

05:08you write it on paper doesn't mean you're old school.

05:11It's just a medium for me to show my love or gratitude or to, you know, convey my pain

05:16or just to share stuff.

05:17So, just a medium.

05:18That's it.

05:19Okay.

05:20That's it.

05:21Okay.

05:22So, Chalo, if I had to like ask you that Arya, you have to right now, write a love letter,

05:32prompt.

05:33Okay.

05:34Yeah.

05:35To your fans who love your music, your Malayalam music, but they don't know the language.

05:43Okay.

05:44Just say something to them.

05:45Uh-huh.

05:46What, like what, how would you do that?

05:48I would do that.

05:49I love to start it with dear, whoever it is.

05:52Dear my.

05:53Yeah.

05:54Yeah.

05:55Dear my people.

05:56Yeah.

05:57Yeah.

05:58That's the way I like to put it.

05:59So, dear my people, there is only that much capacity for my brain to learn, you know.

06:09So, I know these many languages.

06:11I know English and I know a bit of Hindi.

06:14I know to read and write Hindi.

06:16I'm learning Telugu.

06:18I know to read, write and speak Tamil.

06:21I know to read, write and speak Malayalam.

06:24It's my mother tongue.

06:25I'm learning a little bit of Chinese.

06:27I'm learning a little bit of Korean.

06:29But, since I have only that much time and time to learn language, I have to tell you

06:40all that even if I don't know your language, I love you lots.

06:43What a beautiful thing.

06:44I'll have to edit it out, but.

06:48No.

06:49Yeah.

06:50That's a beautiful way.

06:51Like, you know, love, I believe, is like a very, very, very beautiful thing.

06:55It is.

06:56It is.

06:57Anybody.

06:58Sure.

06:59Right?

07:00Yeah.

07:01And I'm a big believer of love.

07:02I love love.

07:03And I'm sure you love love.

07:04Because if somebody loves love, like the idea of being in love with their people or whoever

07:10it is, with books or with, you know, whether it's a relationship or anything, that comes

07:18out in some way or the other.

07:20Yours comes out nasty way through your voice, through your vocals.

07:24Yeah.

07:25And coming to that, now, I think you sort of were like a YouTuber.

07:31You began your journey as a YouTuber.

07:33Yes.

07:34Yes.

07:35In 2016, I believe.

07:372016, yeah.

07:38Yeah.

07:39You can see my very old videos in 2016.

07:40Ah, it's nine years it's been now.

07:42So, in 2016, the term YouTuber or there wasn't content creators as such.

07:49It was just, yeah, I sing.

07:52So, I'm a singer.

07:53I post them on YouTube.

07:56That's it.

07:57Yeah.

07:58There is no, something called, you know, term.

08:01It's like viral, these many number kind of stuff for pressure was in there.

08:06So, it's just, I'm going to put out my songs.

08:08That's all.

08:09Yeah.

08:10So, you don't look at numbers at all.

08:11Numbers don't concern you.

08:12It did concern me in the past.

08:14But then, I realized that only if I get out of it, I'll be able to create good art.

08:19Because, obviously, the pressure that every artist or every creator that phase right now

08:27is with numbers.

08:28Because they'll have to show their strength through numbers, which isn't actually the

08:36strength.

08:37You know what I mean.

08:38They'll have to put it out through numbers and to convince a label or to convince another

08:42person or even to get to work, they might have to show their numbers.

08:46So-called follower counts to, you know, whoever it is.

08:50They'll have to show it to get a gig or to close a project or to get a contract.

08:55But that doesn't determine the quality of the projects that they're doing.

09:01So, it's an entirely different thing.

09:03I'm so sorry that it's happening right now.

09:06But it's happening.

09:07So, I just realized that and I didn't want to lose my art over that pressure.

09:15I wanted to put out something very authentic, which is very true to my heart, close to

09:20my heart and which touches myself.

09:23And I believe that it's then only that people will be able to connect you rather than numbers.

09:30Yeah, yeah.

09:31Because, you know, correct me if I'm pronouncing it wrong.

09:36Angani Vedam.

09:37Angani Vedam.

09:38Yeah.

09:39Now, that was one song where you sort of like advocate in a very artsy way for women.

09:48Yeah.

09:49But there's also things like when you sort of like want to give out a message.

09:54A lot of people do not want to take out a message out of the song.

10:00They do not.

10:01Sometimes they just listen to song and songs and they're like, ah, because we're in the

10:04mood to listen to something, we're just listening.

10:07So, how do you make it possible that your pieces that you make are meaningful?

10:14They're not just covers.

10:15The ones that you compose yourself.

10:17Okay.

10:18How do you make sure that there is the right message is being sent in a way that people

10:23enjoy it?

10:24Okay.

10:25Devour it.

10:26And, you know, like the message also sort of reaches to society.

10:30Yeah.

10:31So, you were asking about right messages.

10:34Hmm.

10:35I just want to correct it to, there are only grayish parts.

10:40I don't want to put things into a box of right and wrong.

10:44Hmm.

10:45Because only after being in another person's shoes would you know what's right for them

10:50or what's wrong for them.

10:51Yeah.

10:52So, the thing is, I trust my experiences.

10:56I trust my senses and I write songs that connect me as I told before or touch me.

11:03And since I'm coming from, everybody comes from a certain background or, you know, from

11:09a place where the place will have its own history.

11:11The place will have its own culture, own language, own rhythm.

11:17And, you know, there'll be few more people there who can connect to you.

11:22Hmm.

11:23So, it's the shared experiences that happen or it's the shared experience that determine

11:27whether something is right or wrong.

11:29Or, uh, is that, is that a right message or is that a wrong message?

11:33If I'm staying in, um, in a Western country, the culture is entirely different.

11:38Something that's wrong here is going to be right there.

11:41Something that's true there is going to be false here.

11:44You know, I'm not talking about science stuff, but culture stuff.

11:47Yeah.

11:48So, uh, the idea is to share my experience, stay truthful to myself.

11:53And, uh, uh, there are, uh, experiences that I've had as a woman, um, which feels quite

12:04real to me.

12:05So I'm sharing that.

12:07And after overcoming it or coming out of it, um, I have learned something.

12:12I would love to put that out as words and then compose it and then give it to the world.

12:17Just share it.

12:18It's just like, like I said, close to writing a letter for me.

12:22Yeah.

12:23Yeah.

12:24That's all.

12:25That's beautiful.

12:26But coming up to your career, you didn't get into playback singing.

12:31Um, right.

12:33Uh, why, when you were on YouTube, so you, until I think 2020, you didn't get into playback

12:38singing.

12:39No.

12:40Every industry was like shut.

12:41Huh.

12:42You remember COVID time.

12:43There's nothing happening.

12:44There wasn't shows happening.

12:46There wasn't, um, anything.

12:48So pretty much everything that was happening was online shows that we had.

12:52Yeah.

12:53So that's all.

12:54We weren't seeing people, right?

12:55Yeah.

12:56And, uh, it was, uh, something that Amitabh Bhattin shared.

13:00Yeah.

13:01The Ed Sheeran cover.

13:03Yeah.

13:04Uh, and I think, uh, uh, there was one more cover.

13:08Uh huh.

13:09Yeah.

13:10There was a Thodi Varanam.

13:11Yes.

13:12Yeah.

13:13Yes.

13:14Believer song.

13:15Believer.

13:16Yes.

13:17So, uh, he shared it.

13:18And then boom.

13:19Yeah.

13:20You're in Tamil industry.

13:21Yeah.

13:22You're singing from Malayalam industry.

13:24That, um, sort of your art sort of, uh, got that recognition from that.

13:29Mm-hmm .

13:30Uh, now for people, now tell us that story.

13:33Like what did it feel like at that point, that day, that moment?

13:37I didn't know how to react to it.

13:39When?

13:40He did it.

13:41Yes.

13:42Because I'm sure it must have been a surprise for you.

13:43It, it was a surprise indeed.

13:45Yes.

13:46Um, I didn't know how to feel about it.

13:48I got numbed immediately.

13:49I was also in the middle of an interview, uh, here because, uh, two or three days back,

13:54a lot of, uh, movie stars here, uh, shared, um, another video of mine.

14:00Mm-hmm .

14:01And, uh, uh, even when my, my father is the one who called me and said, uh, this happened,

14:06uh, more, uh, video share a bit in Dutch and he called and told me and I was like,

14:10ah, no, no, no, that, that, that's not gonna happen.

14:13No, no, no, no.

14:14And then.

14:15So you weren't believing it?

14:16Nah.

14:17So unbelievable.

14:18No, no, that wasn't, uh, position.

14:20Uh, so, uh, what happened is the song that was viral here was Believer.

14:26Hmm.

14:27And what I thought was the song that he should have shared would have been Believer.

14:32Yeah.

14:33But when I checked it out, it was another song.

14:34Yeah.

14:35It was the shape of you.

14:36Yeah.

14:37I was like, uh, what, what just happened?

14:39How did it reach him?

14:41And it was the caption that really touched me.

14:44Uh, he saying, uh, thank you.

14:46Uh, thank you for, uh, making my hospital days.

14:50Uh, yeah.

14:51You healed him in a way.

14:52Your voice healed him.

14:53And I'm sure there's so many people who just, uh, I'm sure you guys don't get to know

14:58as singers, as performers, you do, you can't get to know every fan of yours, but your voices

15:03reach millions and they must be at a, some people are in difficult places in life and your

15:09voices have the power to heal people.

15:12And that is the greatest gift I think that you've gotten.

15:15It is.

15:16Yes.

15:17So what does that make you feel like?

15:20Uh, does it make you sort of, um, think like, um, there's more to give?

15:30Uh, I think every human has that power to heal another human.

15:35I do believe in that.

15:36You believe in that?

15:37I believe that every human has that power.

15:41It's just that my medium is music.

15:43You'll have a different medium.

15:44It might be through interviews that you're healing people.

15:46Every, uh, everything happens, uh, in such a way that people, when they grow, when they

15:53have new experiences, they discover themselves and then they share their experiences and their

15:58love.

15:59That's when the power comes in.

16:00Right?

16:01So imagine you have, uh, you have your very best friends.

16:04They are your biggest healers.

16:06They can't sing.

16:07Yeah.

16:08Do they sing?

16:09No.

16:10Does your best friend sing?

16:11No.

16:12But do they heal you?

16:13Yes.

16:14It's not just one single person or one single art that can do it.

16:18Yeah.

16:19No, but then it's good that, you know, you do it, uh, like through music.

16:24Uh huh.

16:25So it reaches, uh, a lot of people and heals them.

16:28Like I'll tell you, I'll give you an example.

16:29Okay.

16:30Recently I was reading an interview of Jennifer Aniston.

16:33Okay.

16:34And she, uh, told the media, like, um, she said in some interview that, uh, you know, the

16:41greatest thing that happened to me is, uh, has been some fan encounters.

16:46I've been told that my TV show friends, uh, which was in the nineties.

16:51Yeah.

16:52Yes.

16:53Um, yeah.

16:54Yeah.

16:55Oh, wow.

16:56Yeah.

16:57So, uh, it's he, it's still heels people.

16:59Yeah.

17:00Like when they're low, they watch it even now.

17:02And that is the biggest compliment I can get.

17:04So this is, I think a good thing that I feel that, you know, if you've gotten that platform

17:11and if you're using it in the, in the rightful manner and, uh, it's reaching out to people,

17:17then, I mean, what else could be greater than that?

17:20Okay.

17:21So, so I agree.

17:23So you're trying to be very humble, huh?

17:26Uh, no, it's just that I'm thinking a lot.

17:30Maybe.

17:31Maybe I'm thinking too much.

17:32Are you like somebody who like keeps chop his gantis?

17:35Yeah.

17:36Yeah.

17:37My brain doesn't shut up.

17:38It's the same.

17:39Likewise.

17:40You know, I just keep talking to me.

17:42Huh?

17:43Are you like one of those people who are like, this I have to do, this I have to do, this

17:46I have to do, this I have to do.

17:47Like currently, what are you thinking?

17:49Are you thinking about lunch?

17:50I'm thinking about the question that you are asking and Jennifer Aniston and your friend

17:55I was ringing in my head, right?

17:58Yeah.

17:59That music is actually something that stays.

18:01Yeah.

18:02It stays.

18:03What do you like watching?

18:04Personally.

18:05I love investigation thrillers and stuff.

18:09Do you want Law & Order by any chance?

18:12No, I didn't.

18:13No.

18:14PID?

18:15Is it something that you recommend?

18:16Yes.

18:17Sure.

18:18100% Law & Order.

18:19Okay.

18:20Okay.

18:21Sure.

18:22Yeah.

18:23I don't have the kshama in Malayalam.

18:26Ah, kshama.

18:27Kshama.

18:28Yeah.

18:29Yeah.

18:30What do you want to do in English?

18:31Patience.

18:32I know patience.

18:33Yes.

18:34Hello guys.

18:35I knew it.

18:36She knew.

18:37I knew it.

18:38I don't have the kshama.

18:39Yeah.

18:40Patience to, you know, get tensed what's going to happen next.

18:42But you did have the patience to compose a poem very early on.

18:49Uh-huh.

18:50Sakha.

18:51Sakha.

18:52Sakha.

18:53Yeah.

18:54If I'm, correct me if I'm like financing it wrong.

18:56Yeah.

18:57You did have the patience to do that.

18:59And that sort of, I think was the beginning of the virality.

19:04Yes.

19:05So you took a chance upon that and that's what met with a lot of criticism.

19:09Mm-hmm.

19:10Not a lot of criticism but some.

19:11Controversies.

19:12Yeah.

19:13Controversies.

19:14Yes.

19:15So what did that teach you early on in your life?

19:16It taught me a lot.

19:18I've been learning music since I was like four years old.

19:22Yeah.

19:23I don't even remember my first music class.

19:24Mm-hmm.

19:25So every Sunday, I go for my music class no matter if there is a wedding or if there

19:30is another function.

19:31Skip.

19:32Music class was priority.

19:33Yeah.

19:34So that was how it was.

19:35In 2017, some of my friends sent me a poem called Saghava.

19:40They wanted me to sing for them.

19:43Mm-hmm.

19:44It usually happens in college, you know.

19:46Yeah.

19:47When you're a singer, your friends and teachers want you to sing.

19:50So that's how I got the poem and I sang it and I posted one video of it on Facebook

19:58and it got viral.

19:59Yeah.

20:00And then multiple people came in claiming that I wrote the lyrics.

20:05I wrote the lyrics.

20:06That's the controversy that happened.

20:07Yes, yes.

20:08And then it's still unsolved kind of.

20:10Correct.

20:11Yeah.

20:12Nobody knows who wrote it.

20:13Nobody knows.

20:14Even I don't know.

20:15Because it was like, I think it was in a magazine or something.

20:19Yeah.

20:20Yeah.

20:21Yeah.

20:22Yeah.

20:23Which was later.

20:24It was kind of, you know, crime story.

20:26It was an investigation going on.

20:29Not crime, sorry.

20:30Investigation story.

20:31Yeah.

20:32Cut that crime part.

20:33It's not crime.

20:34Yeah.

20:35Investigation story.

20:36Yeah.

20:37Yeah.

20:38Kind of.

20:39Yeah.

20:40So that's it.

20:41It just happened.

20:42So there were a lot of people calling me from Malayalam and telling me that, okay,

20:47we're going to make you sing in this movie.

20:50We're going to, we're going to introduce you to this music director, that music director.

20:54At that point.

20:55At that point.

20:562017.

20:57Huh.

20:58So what I thought was, yes, success.

21:02But did I meet somebody?

21:04No.

21:05No.

21:06Nothing happened, right?

21:07Nothing happened.

21:08Nothing happened.

21:09And it taught me a big lesson.

21:11What?

21:12Things doesn't move or go in the way that you want it.

21:20It happens according to its own time, you know.

21:25And I was very hopeful those days.

21:28Hmm.

21:29I had so much desire to do a lot of songs.

21:32Because people recognize me everywhere.

21:35But if you ask me, could I start of my art career?

21:40No.

21:41Or can I, can I have a good living with it?

21:43No.

21:44Okay.

21:45And I got back to my studies then.

21:48Hmm.

21:49So it taught me that, it taught me this.

21:52Do not expect much out of anything.

21:54Yeah.

21:55Anything could happen.

21:56Yeah.

21:57Do not expect a result for, or let it be positive or negative.

22:02Do not expect a result for anything is what you're talking about.

22:05Yeah.

22:06I mean, lower your expectations and life will surprise you.

22:08Yeah.

22:09Yeah.

22:10I know.

22:11But I do believe that you have to do your homework.

22:14You have to keep learning.

22:16You have to keep studying.

22:18You have to improve yourself.

22:19Yeah.

22:20Polish your skills.

22:21You have to do that and things will come in your way.

22:23Yeah.

22:24So, send me one thing.

22:25One of my favourite songs actually happens to be something that you sang the Malayalam

22:30version of.

22:31Okay.

22:32It's from Brahmata.

22:33Brahmata.

22:34Yeah.

22:35Om Deva.

22:36Deva.

22:37Om Deva.

22:38Deva.

22:39Nama.

22:40Nama.

22:41Nama.

22:42Yeah.

22:43I love that song.

22:44And I normally listen to it because I believe a lot of manifestation and everything.

22:48Okay.

22:49Whenever I'm feeling low, I normally listen to it.

22:51And while I was trying to, you know, search for, like, you know, I was doing my research

22:58homework on you, I got to know that you sang the Malayalam version.

23:02Yeah.

23:03How did that happen?

23:04Did Ayaan Mukherjee contact you?

23:06Who contacted you?

23:07Yeah.

23:08It was actually, um, Srijesh Etan.

23:10Srijesh Nair is one of the biggest names in the Indian industry and I know him personally.

23:18Wow.

23:19He's very, very dear, near close to me.

23:24So, it was, uh, to be recorded from his studio.

23:28Yeah.

23:29And, uh, uh, he called me, I am free today evening.

23:32Uh, we'll take this, just four lines.

23:35Okay.

23:36I just got the lyrics, went and within 10 minutes finished, came back home.

23:40That's it.

23:41That's it.

23:42Yeah, that's it.

23:43That's how it happened.

23:44Yeah.

23:45It's the Malayalam version of Dhammas.

23:46Yeah.

23:47We didn't, I didn't even know that it was Dhammas.

23:49Oh.

23:50Yeah.

23:51Okay.

23:52So, how, uh, did, uh, like, ARA Dayal Unplugged come to being?

23:57Unplugged?

23:58Yeah.

23:59Like, your band.

24:00Okay.

24:01Yeah.

24:02How did that come to being?

24:03It shows up in it again.

24:04Yeah.

24:05Because I believe, like, I heard somebody else's interview, some other musicians interview

24:10and they said that musicians don't really earn from recording.

24:12They earn from doing concerts.

24:14Mm-hmm.

24:15Is it true?

24:16Uh, depends on, uh, your profile.

24:18Okay.

24:19It completely depends on your profile.

24:21If you have a very big Spotify or something streaming stuff, and if you're good with talking

24:26to people and things like that.

24:27No, but like playback singing music, in movies, I'm saying.

24:31You're talking about playback movies and?

24:34Versus live concerts.

24:35Okay, okay.

24:36So you, I think musicians are more with their live shows than playback singing music.

24:41That is true.

24:42Except, uh, like, I was, uh, thinking that you were asking about, like, independence.

24:46No, no, no.

24:47I just asked.

24:48Okay.

24:49Compared to playback.

24:50That's true.

24:51That's true.

24:52Yeah.

24:53How did that come into being?

24:54Like, you know, forming your own band and everything?

24:56Yeah.

24:57It just happened.

24:58Everything just happened eventually for me.

24:59Nothing was planned out.

25:00Yeah.

25:01So, uh, it was again during COVID.

25:03I moved from, uh, Bangalore to Kochi and, uh, I have, I met a couple of, uh, boys who

25:10were from Trivandrum.

25:11Uh, and, uh, I was singing in a studio in Bangalore and, uh, I knew Febill from Bangalore.

25:18So, I called him.

25:19I want to do this.

25:20I want to do that.

25:21Can you help me out?

25:22Can you suggest some names for me?

25:24And that's how, uh, I gradually built, uh, the group and, uh, we were ready to explore.

25:30We were ready to experiment and, uh, I, I wanted to, uh, you know, share our talents.

25:39There's this incredible pleasure in, uh, sitting together and doing music.

25:44We were actually enjoying that.

25:46Yeah.

25:47Yeah.

25:48Brainstorming.

25:49Brainstorming and doing.

25:50Doing.

25:51Like the art.

25:52Yeah.

25:53The art.

25:54And simply sitting and jamming gives us so much joy.

25:56Yeah.

25:57Jamming.

25:58Sorry.

25:59It gives us so much joy.

26:00Uh, uh, it's beautiful.

26:02It's beautiful.

26:03It's, it's, it's, uh, shared emotions.

26:05And then, uh, on stage, we, we are able to share our talents.

26:08We are able to share the same experience with, uh, hundreds of thousands of people.

26:13Yeah.

26:14It feels good.

26:15Yeah.

26:16That's amazing to know.

26:17You know, um, I, I like people who are very authentic when they talk about their work

26:21or whatever.

26:22Um, um, and people love people like that also.

26:26Okay.

26:27Like I'm sure as a musician, you must be, because you interact in live concerts with so

26:31many people, crowd, young crowd.

26:32I'm sure all kinds of people from different walks of life.

26:36I'm sure this much to aapko pata hooga that people love authenticity now in 2025.

26:40Yeah.

26:41Yeah.

26:42So, uh, if we were to talk about your beginning.

26:45Mm-hmm.

26:46I'm sure I'm sure Condonactic music to aat kai, you told me since, age of four, yeah.

26:49Yeah.

26:50Learning Carnatic, ha.

26:51Yeah.

26:52I was learning Carnatic.

26:53Lekin, um, apko, um, yeh English pop, uh, jo hai, Sai.

26:57How did you discover that genre?

26:59How did you discover like fusion, like bringing it together?

27:02The same happened organically or authentically.

27:06It just happened.

27:07Again, I was going to music class and while coming back from classes,

27:12we would play music in the car.

27:15And I had the Sony Walkman,

27:18which had a couple of English songs from Taylor Swift and,

27:22you know, Gravity.

27:25And all the songs, like I was completely unaware of that part of music.

27:32But I learned a couple of ragas in my music class and while coming back,

27:36I started singing Carnatic with the songs that I've been playing in the car.

27:43So it happened and I loved it.

27:46And there's a song, Taylor Swift, Blanc's Pace.

27:49Oh, I love that.

27:50You love it.

27:51Nice to meet you, where you're still.

27:53It's a beautiful song.

27:55I love Taylor Swift.

27:56I love how simple the lyrics are.

27:58Same, how far is.

27:59I know.

28:00Wifty.

28:00And you know what's common between you and Taylor Swift?

28:02What?

28:03You'll write your own song.

28:05Uh-huh.

28:06You'll compose it.

28:07You'll sing it.

28:09Yeah.

28:09She writes her own song.

28:10Yeah, I know.

28:10She composes them.

28:12That's her authenticity.

28:13Yeah, it's there.

28:14So it's a big inspiration because while I was thinking, the thought is that if a song could be crafted with such simple words, why can't I try it?

28:28Why don't I try it?

28:30So I initially started writing three or four lines and I wouldn't show it to anybody or anything.

28:37Just for the pleasure of myself, I would write something or maybe listen to a song and I'll add some Carnatic bits to it.

28:43You know, just putting those phrases or Carnatic bits or flavors into the song just completely takes it to something called Pop-Nartic.

29:07Pop?

29:07Pop-Nartic.

29:08Pop-Nartic.

29:09Yeah, Pop-Nartic.

29:10And the fusion of the Nartic and Pop.

29:13Pop.

29:13Wow, lovely.

29:14Yeah, that's how it happens.

29:15Is it coined by you?

29:17Kind of.

29:17Kind of, yeah.

29:18It's something that I know.

29:19Queen of Pop-Nartic.

29:20Can I find it?

29:20I don't want to be queen in anything.

29:24Come on.

29:25You don't have to be bad humble.

29:27No, no, no.

29:28Because I don't want to.

29:29I'm not being humble.

29:30No, it's a no.

29:32But it's a coined by you.

29:34I'm not quite sure how it started.

29:36I think I had an interview somewhere in Dubai before the expo, right?

29:44Before the expo, Dubai expo, 2021.

29:49Okay.

29:5022?

29:512022 Dubai expo.

29:52Because I was in a couple of interviews and somebody from there was talking about something

29:57like this.

29:57So that's how it came out.

29:59But it's quite catchy.

30:01Yeah, it is quite catchy.

30:03It is quite catchy.

30:03So more catchy, what's your favorite piece that you've sung yourself?

30:08It's for sure Believer.

30:11Oh, Believer.

30:12Yeah.

30:13It's for sure Believer.

30:14I love how it's done.

30:18You know, such complicated, intricate sangradis and ragas are used.

30:24Yeah.

30:24But it blends beautifully with Believer.

30:28And it has got multiple parts.

30:30It has got Kathakali, Sangeetam in it.

30:33Kathakali, Sangeetam.

30:34And then it has got some Swara, Sundaraga, Todi.

30:39And I don't know.

30:42That song gives me so much happiness.

30:43Yeah.

30:44Yeah.

30:44With multiple reasons.

30:46I actually saw that on YouTube.

30:48Your cover of Believer.

30:50Your version of it.

30:51And you were playing a ukulele.

30:53I have a very interesting question regarding this.

30:55Yeah.

30:55Why did you choose the ukulele?

30:57Is it because that's something you could have taken a guitar like Taylor Swift, no?

31:01Um, the thing is, I am a person who would not like to ask my parents for anything.

31:10So, I'll tell you.

31:13I had this very, very bad habit of biting my nails.

31:17Oh.

31:18Okay.

31:18Can I see that?

31:19Now it's completely stopped.

31:21Now I don't bite my nails.

31:23Thank God.

31:24They look beautiful, by the way.

31:25Yeah.

31:25Are these the wedding nails?

31:27There's no wedding, wedding.

31:28My lady.

31:31I don't want to have a perfect, some wedding something.

31:36Okay.

31:36Fine.

31:37Okay.

31:38Yeah.

31:39So, what happened is, I had a habit of biting my nails.

31:43It was that bad.

31:44Because I get a lot of times, a lot of times, a lot of times, um, so, during COVID, it was

31:51boring.

31:51I was in Bangalore.

31:53Yeah.

31:53I had very less money, about some 10,000 rupees.

31:58And I, uh, didn't want to ask my parents for anything.

32:03Yeah.

32:04I was too proud, you know.

32:06I don't know what to ask.

32:07Kind of like that.

32:08Uh, it's not a sad story.

32:10Don't make a face like that.

32:11Yeah.

32:12I was like, rapid.

32:14Okay.

32:14Uh, so, uh, so, I said to myself, if you don't bite your nails for like, two weeks or three

32:23weeks, you can gift yourself a ukulele.

32:26Okay.

32:27That's the story behind ukulele?

32:28That's all.

32:31Plus, it was small, affordable, under 12,000, you can get something.

32:36I told you, nothing happens, you know, out of plan for me.

32:44But then, this girl, who used to bite her nails, and who used to be nervous, abhi stage fright

32:50kabhi hoka hai?

32:51Ah, nothing like that.

32:53Abhi?

32:53Nothing like that.

32:54I'm on stage, I'm the queen, I'm the king, whatever you call.

32:57Yeah.

32:58You call it.

32:58I have the crown.

33:00Yeah.

33:00And, uh, uh, fans ki baat kareeta?

33:02Uh-huh.

33:03Uh, kuch achha, tell me one of the beautiful encounters you've had.

33:07The good part is that, uh, I went for a concert in Ireland.

33:11And, uh, uh, there is, uh, this, uh, a chichi who, um, had a baby during COVID.

33:19Mm-hmm.

33:20And, uh, the, both, both of them, the baby, and, uh, she, her baby's mother came to me

33:28and said, they were too anxious about the COVID stuff and that she was pregnant and things

33:34like that.

33:35Uh, but, uh, my song would calm them down and even after, uh, she gave birth to, uh,

33:42Patu, uh, she gave birth to baby, uh, they would listen to my songs and they were so happy

33:50to see me also.

33:51Wow.

33:51That's lovely.

33:52That's lovely.

33:52It's very lovely.

33:53Who, who comes, who's music calms you down?

33:57Like, who, who's your, like, favorite?

33:59Like, in the Indian music industry, who do you feel is your favorite?

34:04I think it's ARM1.

34:07ARM1.

34:07Sure, yes.

34:08You, you signed his, uh, Karno to Karno.

34:10Yes, yes, yes.

34:12Uh, so, does he, like, did he get to know about it?

34:15Have you had an encounter with him?

34:17Uh, never an encounter except in my dreams.

34:20I've seen Sopnam.

34:23That he's coming to Nadal.

34:24Nadal is my home place.

34:27Uh, Karnoor in the bus stop.

34:29Okay.

34:29He'll, he'll call me Adam Mr. Singers.

34:34Oh.

34:34So, I'm saying that.

34:35Is that a dream for you to sing with him for?

34:38Oh, yes.

34:38I would love to meet him.

34:39Yes.

34:40So, I also would love to meet Amitabh, sir, someday.

34:42Yes?

34:43Yeah.

34:43Yes.

34:44I hope you do.

34:45I really hope you do.

34:46I wish.

34:47I wish.

34:47Yeah.

34:48Yeah.

34:48Okay.

34:49So, I don't know.

34:50What we're going to do is we're going to play a very fun game.

34:52Okay.

34:52And because, like, we've been talking music so much, um, so this I would be needing my

34:57phone.

34:57Okay.

34:58So, um, this game I've prepared for you.

35:00It's, um, called, uh, Musical Rapid Fire.

35:05It's called Musical Rapid Fire.

35:06Okay.

35:07Uh, chalo.

35:08Since you mentioned Amitabh Bachchan, if I mentioned Amitabh Bachchan, what song would

35:11you sing?

35:12It's definitely Shape of You.

35:14Sing the one line for us.

35:15The club is in the best place, the final ever since the bar is where I go.

35:19Me and my friends at the table in shots, drink it fast, and then we talk love.

35:24Come over and start up a conversation with just me, and trust me, and give it a chance.

35:29Now I take my hand and stop when the man in the jukebox, and then we start to dance, and

35:33I'm singing, let go.

35:34You know, I want your love, your love is happening for somebody like me.

35:39Come on now, pull on my lead, and I may be crazy, don't mind me.

35:43Say, boy, let's not talk to mine.

35:45Grab on my waist and put that body on me.

35:48Come on now, pull on my lead, come, come on now, pull on my lead.

35:52Na na na.

35:53Yes.

35:55Yeah.

35:56Okay.

35:57Tell me something that if I talk about your wedding day, what song comes to your mind then?

36:04Bavira malli putu ranja neelavaanam.

36:07It's so Malala song.

36:09I know, sing her.

36:09It says, it's beautiful.

36:22Wow.

36:23Beautiful.

36:23Your voice is beautiful.

36:25Okay, heartbreak.

36:27Heartbreak?

36:27Why?

36:28Have you ever loved it in life?

36:32Kind of.

36:33Experience.

36:34Na na?

36:34Good and bad ones.

36:35Brave ones.

36:37What song comes to your mind when I say heartbreak?

36:39The thing is, I forget stuff like that, so go fast.

36:42The feeling of heartbreak.

36:44Okay, feeling of heartbreak, let me think, let me think.

36:51I am a person who listens to very up-tempo, peppy songs.

36:56That's my favorite kind of song.

36:59Maybe it has to be, some memory has to be associated with some songs so that, let me think.

37:07Heartbreak, heartbreak.

37:09Nothing is coming.

37:10Nothing is coming.

37:10We move on to first crash.

37:13First crash.

37:14Of course.

37:14Standard.

37:15Yeah.

37:16What song comes to your mind?

37:17Ah, it's ninja, kurpe, de, dumba, de.

37:20Because he knew guitar.

37:21I didn't know guitar.

37:22So I, I adore people who have skills that I don't have.

37:27Oh.

37:27Okay.

37:27So before learning to drive, I used to adore people and just respect people who know to drive.

37:34After learning to drive, I was like, ah.

37:35Before, now I don't know how to play much guitar.

37:41But this, he was a friend of, I mean, he was a cousin of my friend that studied in a girl's school.

37:48Yeah.

37:48And, ah, he played some songs.

37:52Hmm.

37:52So he played ninja, kurpe, which, it's, this song is quite famous here.

37:57You know this song?

37:58No.

37:58Please say it.

37:58Okay.

37:59Okay.

37:59It's called ninja, kurpe, de, dumba.

38:00It's one go-to song for, you know, youth lovers kind of song.

38:05Where the scene is coming, like, he's in the train with the guitar and the girl is sitting opposite him.

38:11So, ah, something like that.

38:13Say it's not one line for me.

38:14It's not one line for you.

38:44Satsang with Mooji

39:14Something that

39:16Reminds you of Kanoor

39:18Me of Kanoor?

39:20Yeah, any song that reminds you of Kanoor

39:22Okay

39:23Oh my god, I'm instantly

39:25Reaching my home

39:27When you say Kanoor

39:30It's home

39:31It's home

39:31I don't know if there is any song

39:39That can

39:39That makes you feel at home

39:41That makes me feel at home

39:44Oh my

39:46Very difficult question

39:48You're giving me tough questions

39:50You want me to skip this over?

39:53It's not

39:54Just you suggest that I don't have any song

39:57You don't have any song

39:58Okay

39:58Then something that describes your feeling

40:02Of let's say

40:04Rainy day

40:07In Kerala

40:09You're sitting

40:10Out of the window

40:12Rainy day

40:13Would be

40:13Old Malayalam song

40:16Yeah

40:16Very old ones

40:18Because

40:19Myself

40:21My father

40:22My mother

40:23And my brother

40:24We all sit outside our home

40:26And we watch

40:27And we watch

40:27Raining

40:29And we'll be listening

40:31To very old

40:31Old

40:32Old

40:32Malayalam song

40:35Something like

40:36Something like that

40:56Or maybe

40:58Something like that

41:19Or multiple songs

41:26That old

41:28That old

41:28Malayalam playlist song

41:30It reminds me of

41:32Because

41:32First thing

41:34Kerala rains

41:35It's not Kerala

41:36It's home

41:37It's home

41:38So June, July

41:40The schools reopen

41:42And after vacation

41:43It reopens

41:44And it's the time

41:45When we get back to school

41:46It will be completely drenched

41:48In the rain

41:50And it's a different feeling

41:51Yeah

41:52And in the night

41:53After doing all our homework

41:54And stuff like that

41:55And our parents

41:56After having food

41:57And I almost every day

42:00Have a very intimate conversation

42:01With my father

42:02Whenever we are together

42:05I have conversation

42:06With my father

42:06He's one strong person

42:08So during rainy days

42:12We all sit together

42:13We listen to songs

42:15We nibble

42:16You know

42:17Biscuits

42:17And sweets

42:18And things like that

42:18Yeah

42:19It's lovely to know

42:20It's lovely

42:21It's sweet

42:21I'm so glad

42:22That I got to meet you

42:24I came to Kochi

42:26And I got to

42:27In a little bit of culture

42:30Here

42:30Myself here

42:31And

42:32Just

42:33Before we

42:34Come towards the end

42:35Of it

42:36I want to ask you

42:39What is next

42:40What is next

42:42To you now

42:42Like what can your fans

42:44Expect out of you

42:45It's definitely

42:47A lot of songs

42:48Which

42:49Which would be

42:50My own project

42:51So

42:53And a lot of collaborations

42:55Are coming up

42:56Yeah

42:56Yet to be announced

42:57And

42:58Will most probably

42:59Be releasing

43:01My upcoming track

43:02The next month

43:04In a couple of weeks

43:05Okay

43:05Which

43:06It's called

43:07Street of Wombs

43:08Just for the namesake

43:10Yeah

43:10It's called

43:11Street of Wombs

43:11Wow

43:12Lovely

43:12It's about

43:13A girl child

43:15Who was born

43:16To

43:16A mother

43:19Who's

43:20Into prostitution

43:21And a father

43:22Who is working

43:25As a pimp

43:26Kind of

43:27Kind of dark story

43:28But the thing

43:28That led to me

43:29It was that

43:30I read a book

43:31By Nalini Jamila

43:32Called Nalini

43:33Zaturalali

43:33And

43:34I started

43:35Watching a lot

43:37Of documentaries

43:38In the life

43:39Of people

43:40Who are into

43:40Into that

43:41Profession

43:43Or whatever

43:44Who got into it

43:45Or

43:45Unfortunately

43:46Had to

43:47And

43:48It's something

43:49That happens

43:50Worldwide

43:50The trade

43:52Women

43:53Treated as bodies

43:53And

43:55I was so

43:56Disturbed to

43:57Read it

43:58The book

43:59And

43:59I wanted to

44:00Write something

44:01And I

44:02Wrote it

44:04And

44:05Music

44:05I didn't know

44:07What to do

44:08With the music

44:08But eventually

44:10As I said

44:11Eventually

44:12I got to meet

44:14A producer

44:15From Morocco

44:16He knows

44:18Just

44:18Arev

44:19But

44:19We had a

44:20Translate

44:20In between

44:21We had a

44:21Production

44:22That song

44:23Is done

44:24It's gonna

44:24Get released

44:25So

44:25I don't know

44:26My manager

44:27Would ask

44:27To cut

44:28Most of it

44:28But

44:30That's the

44:31Next

44:31Project

44:32And we

44:33Have

44:33I

44:34Have

44:34A lot

44:35Of

44:35Malayalam

44:35And

44:35English

44:36Songs

44:36Coming up

44:38Projects

44:39Are completed

44:39We're just

44:40Planning on

44:41The release

44:41Wow

44:41Lovely

44:42I wish you

44:43All the

44:43Very

44:44Best

44:44Thank you

44:44For your

44:45Upcoming

44:45Project

44:46And once

44:47Again

44:47Congratulations

44:48Not only

44:50Not only

44:50For your

44:50Professional

44:51Achievements

44:52But personal

44:53Milestones

44:54Like getting

44:55Married

44:55And I hope

44:55You have

44:56A very

44:56Beautiful

44:57Marriage

44:57As well

44:58Thank you

44:58And we

44:59Get to see

45:00More of you

45:00Online

45:01Also

45:02And that you

45:03Definitely

45:04Meet your

45:04Idol

45:05I wish

45:06I hope

45:09You do

45:09And on

45:10That note

45:11It's a wrap

45:12Thank you

45:13Thank you

45:14Thank you

45:14So much

45:15So happy

45:15To be

She Mixed Carnatic with Pop — and the World Took Notice | Arya Dhayal Exclusive on TFT

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