Dawn Images

This Indian rendition of a classic Christmas carol is what the world needs right now

In this ad, folk musicians desi-fy favourites like 'Rudolph, The Red-nosed Reindeer' and spread cultural harmony

24 Dec, 2015

As the year draws to an end, it wouldn't be wrong to say that 2015 contained plenty of moments when people were close to losing faith in humanity. However, this Indian ad showing folk musicians playing Christmas carols on their instruments is a gentle reminder that all is not lost.

The ad 'A Christmas Surprise' for Tata Sky has features folk musicians sitting amidst the faint glow of candles as they pluck away at their sarangi, mandolin and rubab to play Christmas carols like 'Silent Night', 'Rudolph, The Red-nosed Reindeer' and the popular 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'.

The message at the end of the ad reads: "Don't lose faith in humanity just yet. Merry Christmas.''

The description of 'A Christmas Surprise' elaborates: "The world could really use some love and hope right now. And this video is just that - a message of hope. It’s a gentle reminder that, though all seems dark right now, there is light still left in this world. And it’s time we let it in."

These carols are a perfect way to celebrate diversity on Christmas Eve, and we love them!

Comments

KHADAGG CHAUDARY Dec 24, 2015 01:23pm

SUPERB INDIANS . INDIANS ARE JUST SUPERB

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R K HASTIR (INDIA) Dec 24, 2015 01:33pm

L O V E TO A L L

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Indian woman Dec 24, 2015 01:58pm

Beautiful.

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Hitesh Dec 24, 2015 02:01pm

Its a lovely add, indeed.

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Rajat Dec 24, 2015 02:32pm

The world, after all their experiments, their "developed" criteria, will realise that the Indian way of living is the best. Most harmonious n joyful, accepting all people n religions (provided they don't create problems)

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Ali Dec 24, 2015 03:21pm

Hmmm... Indian classical musicians playing Christian songs, what does this have to do with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?

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hahah Dec 24, 2015 04:11pm

@Rajat hahahahahahahaha, you are hillarious

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Harsh Dec 24, 2015 04:22pm

In India Christmas is just like any Hindu festival. Everyone celebrates including Muslims.

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sahil Dec 24, 2015 05:03pm

@Harsh Graham Staines Will & his family will agree!

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Rahul Dec 24, 2015 06:11pm

@sahil - That was a long time ago. His killer was arrested and serving his sentence. His wife nonetheless continued her work in India despite her loss and was eventually awarded the Padma Shree by the Indian government which is one of the highest awards in India. And since then these incidents are rare and the perpetrators punished. That's something which we cannot say about Shamsa Bibi of Pakistan now can we?

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Kailash Dec 24, 2015 06:12pm

Today there was a big rally on the occasion of eid ul milad un nabi in Mumbai. No one felt threatened. No one experienced intolerance. Pakistanis should really visit India one day to see the real state of Hindu-Muslims to get over their prejudice.

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Indian woman Dec 24, 2015 06:21pm

@Ali its a show of humanity..anyone can see and learn

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manu Dec 24, 2015 06:31pm

kudos to The Dawn for spreading positive news about India. This is the need of the hour

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SHYAM LAL DADHICHI Dec 24, 2015 06:54pm

Dawn, you are always positive, constructive and informative. Reading you forcing us to change views of press in Pakistan.

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G M Patra Dec 24, 2015 06:57pm

Thank u very much for the article and the great video.

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G M Patra Dec 24, 2015 07:00pm

@Ali The message and music has nothing to do with India or Pakistan or any other country. IT is for HUMANITY. Please be Human.

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Vijay B. Dec 24, 2015 07:11pm

Except for a few occasional untoward incidents, the very diverse Indian commumities of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Buddhists live in peace and tranquaility, where all the different faiths celebrate their festivals with pomp and freedom together, Actually India is a glowing example of how to live together peacefully. Even some Muslim leaders have said 'The best place for Muslims to live is India"

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sreenivas Dec 24, 2015 07:37pm

Wonderful.

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Jimmy Jan Dec 24, 2015 07:43pm

So appropriate. Awesome production.

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Nilesh Dec 24, 2015 08:12pm

It happens only in India. Thank you Dawn!!

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Ajaya K Dutt Dec 24, 2015 08:19pm

I still remember that Eid Mubarik with a hug was also very common. (Eid Mubarik with a little bow would do too).

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Iqbal Dec 24, 2015 08:23pm

What a treat? Thanks Dawn.

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Ajaya K Dutt Dec 24, 2015 08:27pm

I remember hearing "Diwali Mubarik" just as much as "Shubh Diwali". (A poignant rebuke to those who think Muslims are intolerant of other faith).

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karur Dec 24, 2015 09:00pm

Wow, what a treat! An Ustad is an Ustad in any genre!

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ComoEstas Dec 24, 2015 09:09pm

@sahil Don't know about Graham Staines's family but Shahbaz Bhatti's might. So perhaps might those 75 Christians who were killed in All Saints Church (Peshawar)attack or the 15 people who perished in Lahore Catholic church attack earlier this year. Unfortunate that educated Pakistanis like you act like this.

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AA Dec 24, 2015 09:20pm

Twenty years ago Pakistan was just like India or any other secular country. I remember on Christmas Eve my muslims friends always waited for 24 December to Celebrate Christmas Eve with me and my Cousins unfortunately those days are gone Mullahs has messed up the mind of whole nations and my country became a living Hell. We Pakistani Christians always did and doing only good to Pakistan God Bless and Merry Christmas AB USA

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Truth. Dec 24, 2015 09:39pm

@Ali This shows tolerance.

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Paul Dec 24, 2015 10:34pm

India is the true model for the rest of the world when it comes to living harmoniously side-by-side regardless of the faith one follows, of course there are some unpleasant incidences but in the end it works out well for the largest diverse democracy of the world!

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Ajay vikram Singh Dec 24, 2015 11:00pm

Merry Christmas Pakistan. May the spirit of Christ - Of sacrifice, Of mercy, of grace and universal good, lives with us all, forever. Don't lose your faith, not just yet. We all are better than this.

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Figaro Dec 25, 2015 12:21am

Bravo! Kudos! Let in some light and fresh air, Please.

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Mark Lawson Dec 25, 2015 03:54am

The common ability we all share to enjoy and appreciate the work of a good arrangement is proof that all of our problems can be fixed. Why you ask? Because we caused them, we can fix them. The American Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal. I believe that "men" refers to all mankind and created equal not just for Americans but all of mankind. We have the inalienable right NOT to be killed, IMHO. Thanks for good sentiments upload. Lawson di Ransom Canyon

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Mark Lawson Dec 25, 2015 04:00am

@Ali I'm moved by the connection Tata Sky (if that is the group) has with music and their "reaching out" to all people of peace. We have as humans an penchant to reciprocality.... now I want to listen to their favorite piece. Not understanding a word, listening to the call to prayers in Marrakech, was spiritual across all mankind. I for one appreciated the combination of familiar melody on strange instruments, a joy to my ears...please don't cut them off.

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Rababistan Dec 25, 2015 05:26am

What an awesome tune done beautifully.

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Najam Dec 25, 2015 05:36am

Wishing all a very happy merry Christmas

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Naseer Dec 25, 2015 07:38am

Simply brilliant

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali Dec 25, 2015 09:41am

Very merry Christmas to all. Best wishes from Pakistan.