Anush Hydros had just one day to rehearse before he got on stage to perform before a live studio audience. Performing on stage is not new for him, but what made it all the more special was that Anush was performing for Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. And what a performance it was!
For the uninitiated, Big Show, aired on BBC across the United Kingdom, is hosted by BAFTA award-winning comedian Michael McIntyre. It is a variety and stand-up comedy television series with celebrity guests and live performances in front of a 2,500-strong studio audience.
Anush with Michael McIntyre.
Anush is one of the youngest to perform at ‘Unexpected Star of the show’, a segment of Big Show in which McIntyre and his team go out of the way to surprise a commoner to make their dreams come true by giving them a chance to perform. The episode with Anush was aired on November 25 and that day on, Anush is a little rockstar of his country.
Anush’s parents, both of whom are from Kerala, are over the moon with the prayers and praise their son has been receiving. Over an email interview, his father Suhas Hydros and mother Sinu, based in London, write that they are already being contacted by several musicals. “It’s only been two days; we have had several offers from several musicals in London.”
Anush with his family.
What surprised everyone was the confidence with which this 11-year-old performed on stage. To top it all, he sang the much loved song Who’s Loving You, which was once performed and made famous by Michael Jackson when he was just 12.
Anush’s performance reminded many of MJ. Even McIntyre went on to mention that in another show. For Anush’s parents, however, his performances are an everyday affair. “We knew that he enjoyed music from a very very young age, but by two-and-a-half years of age, we were convinced he could sing reasonably well.” There is a YouTube clip of a two-year-old Anush singing Jana Gana Mana. “He does a lot of stage shows and has been doing so since the age of six. Anush is a different person on stage and gets going when he gets a very receptive audience. He derives his energy totally from the audience. The bigger the stage the better he becomes.” They add, “He surely enjoys performing on big stage and hence the day was memorable as the biggest audience he has ever performed to — 2,500 people in the amazing Theatre Royal, Drury Lane! Wow! He was mesmerised and especially loved the huge roars and applause.”
So how does Anush feel about all this? “I feel amazing,” he writes. And he is elated that McIntyre mentioned that he sings like MJ. “I feel very special that my favourite comedian would compliment me like that.” Anush is a huge fan of Michael Jackson as well, which is one of the reasons why he picked Who’s Loving You. “I am a big Michael Jackson fan. I had sung this song earlier and McIntyre’s team wanted this song too.”
Apart from singing, Anush plays the violin. “I have been learning western classical violin since the age of five from a wonderful Spanish teacher. I like to play Indian songs on violin as some of the songs are really beautiful. I love A.R. Rahman.”
There is a little music that runs in his blood. “Anush’s grandmother used to sing at school but nothing on a big scale,” writes Suhas.
Both Anush and his sister Anya have a YouTube Channel and their love for music and performance is evident each time they upload a video. “She can sing well too and together, we sing a lot at home,” says Anush.
Despite not being fluent in Malayalam, Anush has managed to learn and sing a few Malayalam songs. He writes, “I know three Malayalam songs. With Unnikale oru katha parayam, I won the Asianet Europe Award in 2015 in London. I also know Kaathirunnu and Malare.”
Are Suhas and Sinu prepared for young Anush’s stardom? “I don’t think we ever thought about it that way. We started encouraging him because of his love for music. It was never intended to make him famous or make him a star. His endeavour so far has always been to perfect his art and this, we think, should be the goal. Anush currently learns from a fantastic Argentinian teacher — Sebastian Embrel in Wimbledon. He has lots to learn.”
