Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

British Asian music artists come together to promote organ donation

British Asian music artists come together to promote organ donation

British Asian music artists have recorded a new version of the song ‘Hero’ as part of an urgent call for members of the British South Asian community to pledge their support for organ donation and potentially save lives.

According to research, the UK has the lowest deceased organ donation rate in Western Europe and the demand for organs is rising by over 8% per annum.


The new music track is part of the initiative ‘Life beyond Death - Pass it on’ which was commissioned by three community organisations: Veerayatan UK, Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur the UK and Shishukunj London.

The cover of Mariah Carey's iconic track performed by 16 talented British Asian artists, including Ambika Jois, Shivali Bhammer and Sonna Rele, has already received rave reviews from across the board. The song has been released with the hope of spreading awareness about the NHS' organ donation campaign in the UK.

In June 2019, 1023 people from the Asian community were waiting for an organ transplant in the UK, making up 17% of transplant waiting list. While between June 2019 and May 2020, 922 people from an Asian background received a deceased donor transplant, making up 14% of all recipients. Yet during the same period, only 71 organ donors came from an Asian background, just 3% of all donors.

The project was made possible thanks to funding from NHS Blood and Transplant’s Community Investment Scheme, which provides grants to organisations to raise awareness of blood and organ donation amongst Black and Asian communities.

The three community organisations are making an urgent call to the British South Asian community to open a dialogue about organ donation with their families and be proactive as despite the recent change in the law which has taken effect families will always be involved before organ donation goes ahead.

Jagdeep Shah of Shishukunj passionately says: “Without people saying yes, sadly hundreds of people still die each year whilst waiting for that life-saving call. If a member of your family needed a transplant, would you take one? If the answer is yes, please consider how by pledging your support for organ donation by talking to your families, you could save the life of someone else’s mother, brother, sister, father, husband, wife, son or daughter.

“The importance of organ donation is obvious - it can help save lives! By being a donor, I may be able to save the life of someone you love and vice versa. There is a desperate shortage of donors amongst the Asian community, so please start a conversation and express your wishes to your family, so you may also help to save the life of a loved one.” Commented Ashwin Mehta, Head of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care UK.

Raj Mistry, Co-Founder of Ragatip Music, says: “I actually had very little understanding about the lack of South Asian organ donors until I got involved with the campaign, it’s clearly something most of us would like to do, but we simply do not think about it, which leads to inaction. It’s such a simple thing to register and the fact that you can potentially save someone’s life makes it a no-brainer in my opinion.”

So far, the video has been viewed tens of thousands of times across social media channels. The video has also received the support of a number of other Asian singers as well as leading charities and organ donation supporters.

One supporter of the project is organ donation ambassador, Jay Patel, from Croydon, South London, whose young son Aari became an organ donor aged just three, following his death after an accident at home. Through his generous gift of life, Aari was able to donate seven organs, saving the lives of two children.

Sending a message to those featured on the Hero video, and all those who have listened to its message, Jay says: “Thank you so much, my hero is Aari.  Whilst we lost our little boy, he donated his organs and we’re proud of that. He was our shining star, and it is an enormous comfort to know he helped those two children.

“As a family, we urge everyone from across the Asian community to think carefully about organ donation and speak with your families about your decision. Until Aari died, we weren’t aware of how rare it is to be able to donate your organs.

Altaf Kazi, Head of Partnerships, at NHS Blood and Transplant, says: “This song is a brilliant opportunity for us to raise awareness and get people talking about the importance of discussing organ donation with your family. It is fantastic to see so many artists coming forward to show their support for organ donation and encourage others to do the same. Please take a moment to register your organ donation decision and share your decision with your family. It only takes two minutes but you could save up to nine lives.”

For more information, or to register your organ donation decision, please visit: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ or call 0300 123 23 23.

NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their organ donation decision. 

For additional information please contact Sabrina Kumari in the NHS Blood and Transplant press office on 01923 367600 or email pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk

More For You

Yash responds to JJ Perry's praise for upcoming film Toxic, A power-packed collaboration

The makers of Toxic have kept many details about the film under wraps, including its complete cast

Instagram/ jjlocoperry

Yash responds to JJ Perry's praise for upcoming film Toxic, A power-packed collaboration

Kannada superstar Yash, who garnered global recognition for his KGF films, is once again in the spotlight. This time, it’s for his upcoming film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas. The film, which is highly anticipated, has been receiving praise from Hollywood action director, JJ Perry, known for his work in blockbusters like John Wick and Iron Man. Perry, who joined the Toxic team a few months ago, recently took to Instagram to share his excitement about the project and posted a behind-the-scenes picture from the set.

In his post, Perry expressed how much he enjoyed working on Toxic and called the film “a banger.” He also mentioned that it was a pleasure collaborating with Yash and his close friends from Europe. This public appreciation from a Hollywood heavyweight has only amplified the buzz around the film, especially given Perry’s reputation for working on high-octane action sequences.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aamir Khan at 60: A to Z of Bollywood’s Mr Perfectionist

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan attends the launch ceremony of a film festival showing his movies ahead of his 60th birth anniversary in Mumbai on March 9, 2025.

Getty Images

Aamir Khan at 60: A to Z of Bollywood’s Mr Perfectionist

THE remarkable career of Aamir Khan has included record-breaking movies, an Oscar nomination, and memorable roles across a wide array of genres.

Known affectionately as Mr Perfectionist, he has firmly established himself as one of the finest stars in Bollywood history, alongside being a successful producer and a powerful role model. The actor will celebrate his 60th birthday on Friday (14), receiving well-wishes from around the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kim Kardashian Didn’t Know Ambanis Before Accepting Invite

The Kardashian sisters stunned in traditional Indian attire at the Ambani-Merchant wedding celebrations

Instagram/Kardashiansfan

Kim Kardashian didn’t know the Ambanis before saying yes to their ‘wild’ 50-pound wedding invite

Kim Kardashian and her sister Khloé Kardashian recently opened up about their whirlwind trip to India in July 2024. The two reality stars were among the global celebrities who attended the grand wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. In the latest episode of The Kardashians, Kim admitted that she didn’t personally know the Ambani family before attending the wedding. In fact, the decision to go was made pretty casually.

During the episode, Kim shared that her connection to the Ambanis came through Lorraine Schwartz, a close friend and well-known jeweller. Schwartz designs jewellery for the Ambanis and was attending the wedding herself. She mentioned to Kim that the family was interested in inviting the Kardashian sisters to the event. “Lorraine said they’d love to have us there. We thought, why not? And we just went for it,” Kim explained.

Keep ReadingShow less
Deepika Padukone Stuns as Sabyasachi’s Muse for 25th Anniversary

Deepika Padukone makes a stunning runway comeback, opening Sabyasachi’s 25th anniversary show in signature elegance

Deepika Padukone returns to the runway as Sabyasachi’s first Bollywood muse for his 25th anniversary show

When Sabyasachi Mukherjee decided to mark his 25th year in fashion with a grand showcase, he broke one of his own long-standing rules by inviting Deepika Padukone to open the show. It was the first time he ever brought a Bollywood star onto his runway, and he’s clear it will likely be the last. But for Deepika, he made an exception.

“I’ve never featured Bollywood at my shows,” Sabyasachi admitted. “But for my 25th anniversary, I wanted it to be personal. Deepika was the only person I could think of who carries the essence of what I believe in: tradition, modernity, and a certain quiet strength that speaks for India on a global stage.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Kareena Kapoor on Avoiding Intimate Scenes: “Not Necessary”

Kareena Kapoor in conversation with Gillian Anderson: A candid chat on acting choices and personal boundaries

Getty Images

Kareena Kapoor tells Gillian Anderson the reason why she turns down intimate scenes

Kareena Kapoor Khan, one of Bollywood’s most loved stars, has spent over two decades making deliberate choices about the roles she takes. One of those decisions is steering clear of sex scenes on screen, a stance she recently explained in a conversation with Gillian Anderson for The Dirty Magazine.

Kareena was upfront about her reasons. “I’ve never felt the need to do it,” she said. For her, intimacy doesn’t have to be shown explicitly to tell a compelling story. “I don’t think it’s necessary to push a narrative forward,” she added, making it clear that such scenes have never been part of her creative comfort zone. Unlike many in the industry, she’s never seen them as essential to her craft.

Keep ReadingShow less