Singer Tanvi Shah Photo Credit: Aadarsh
Singer Tanvi Shah said, “When God throws things at you, you shouldn’t disrespect him.” The Hindu a decade ago. At that time, she was one of the most sought-after singers in the film industry; Apart from being the first Indian woman to receive the prestigious Grammy for AR Rahman’s global hit ‘Jai Ho’ (Slumdog Millionaire), Tanvi also performed and recorded film songs.
The concert kept him stressed even till September last year, when one day he felt something was not right. A doctor’s reassurance that there was nothing wrong helped her to carry on, as she remained busy with her musical performances. “From September 2023 to March 2024, I was traveling constantly and was quite busy, but I kept thinking something was not right,” recalls the singer, best known for her Tamil hit tracks with Yuvan Shankar Raja and AR Rahman.
He consulted another doctor and got several tests done. March 27, 2024 changed Tanvi’s life, the day she realized she had breast cancer.
This was followed by surgery, chemotherapy and radiation sessions. “The process was difficult; I lost my mind. Even getting through the day was a difficult task, and I felt at a loss. I couldn’t hold a pen; My hands will tremble. I couldn’t journal, I couldn’t write my own songs,” she recalls.
Singer Tanvi Shah Photo Credit: Aadarsh
Tanvi also suffered second-degree burns due to radiation and lost a lot of her hair. “I couldn’t bring myself to look in the mirror for three months. Believe me, for women our hair is our ego. Besides, I don’t usually like asking for help. What I’ve realized through this step is that it’s okay to ask for help and it’s okay to not be strong.”
These were those weeks when Tanvi slowly went into a cocoon. “The doctors advised me to talk to people, but I didn’t want to burden anyone. I didn’t want people to tell me what to do or to share the experiences of someone they knew who had gone through similar experiences. I just wanted peace of mind and the courage to move forward from this.”
Regular workout sessions and several Shambavi meditation sessions on Primal Patterns helped the singer during this difficult phase. “In those days I was at peace.”
the music will continue
Tanvi did not turn on music for about 45 days, around which her life has revolved for so many years. “Mentally, I was not well enough to turn on the Shruti box…” After completing three weeks of radiation, the Grammy Award winner is now getting back to business. “I’m doing my job Riyaz For Hindustani classical. I’m also trying to create beats for new songs I want to write. I recently took out a pen from my fountain pen collection to write with…”
He is also getting calls to do shows. “The interesting thing is that people are requesting my ‘Tanasha’ band to sing Spanish, Arabic and world music. I’ve been fortunate that the few people who have called me have been patient and understanding.
Tanvi has promised to make a big comeback as a music artiste and will soon start recording and doing shows like before. “I have not disappeared,” she assures, “I will be back and when I disappear, I will be back much stronger. Now, I feel like I’ve got a second life.”
published – September 30, 2024 03:55 PM IST
