Adding an Indian twist to a song

SPREADING love and laughter is everything to restaurant owner and comedian Anasia Govender, pictured, whose video of herself belting out an Ed Sheeran hit with an Indian twist – to promote her business – went viral on social media in just two days last week.

East Coast Radio also shared the video on its Facebook page, helping Govender become famous for twisting the lyrics of Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud.

Govender and her husband Satha own Chilli Kadhai Restaurant and Takeaway off Durban’s North Coast Road.

When not busy there, the mother of three also MCs and does stand up comedy at corporate events. “I also sing devotional, Bollywood and English and I’m just passionate about effecting a positive change in the minds of people through my comedy and singing,” Anasia said.

The 41-year-old cooks daily at her restaurant even though she is not a qualified chef. Her shop is always buzzing with customers, especially since the video.

“The restaurant is very popular now. We prepare double the amount of food and still that’s not enough to satisfy the influx of customers,” she said smiling.

By time of publication yesterday, the video had been viewed 470 000 times and shared more than 6 400 times.

When asked why she chose that song Anasia said it was a love song and she knew that when people tasted her food “they won’t help falling in love, mainly it’s because I put a lot of love in everything that I do”.

She said she had a few more parodies about Chilli Kadhai and would be posting more.

The Durban resident, who said she had been approached by other business to do similar videos, has a comedy routine called Annakalakshmi which started within the Sathya Sai organisation during morality skits.

“It’s amazing how it has grown into a full scale persona.”

The Govenders’ son, Kamz, 21 is also a comedian and hosts buffet dinners and a show, Annakalakshmi’s African Adventure, at the restaurant.

Watch the video on our Facebook page, POST Newspaper.