Ed Sheeran tries sitar for the first time, plays ‘Shape of You,’ fans call him 'Pandit Ed Sheerankar'

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who is currently in India for his Mathematics tour, recently shared a special moment with his fans. In between his concerts, he took the opportunity to learn the sitar, a traditional Indian musical instrument. He posted a video on Instagram, where he was seen playing a sitar version of his hit song Shape of You. This marked his first attempt at playing the instrument, and fans were delighted to see him embrace Indian culture.
In the video, Ed was seen sitting cross-legged on the floor, holding the sitar as he tried to master its strings. Indian sitar player Megha Rawoot guided him through the process, helping him understand the instrument’s unique tuning and playing technique. The two also sang a part of Shape of You together, making the moment even more special. Ed kept his look casual, wearing a black T-shirt and olive-green pants as he enjoyed his musical experiment. Sharing the video on Instagram, he expressed his excitement, calling it a great experience. He also gave credit to his teacher, Megha, for her guidance, tagging her in the post.
As soon as Ed posted the video, fans flooded the comments section with love and admiration. Many appreciated his enthusiasm for learning about different cultures. One fan humorously declared that Ed would now be known as "Pandit Ed Sheerankar," blending his name with an Indian classical music title. Another person playfully altered the lyrics of Shape of You, saying, “Club isn’t the best place to find loving, Darbar is where I go!” referring to Indian classical music settings.
Some fans praised Ed’s curiosity and willingness to embrace new musical experiences. They pointed out how he always makes an effort to connect with different cultures during his tours. Others expressed their excitement for a possible studio version of the sitar rendition of Shape of You. One user commented, "This is amazing! We need a full version!" while another said, “This guy learns a new instrument and masters it so quickly!”
Before sharing his sitar-playing experience, Ed had already won over Indian audiences with a memorable performance in Chennai. On Wednesday, he shared the stage with legendary Indian composer AR Rahman. The two performed a special remix of Shape of You mixed with Rahman’s classic Urvasi. Fans were thrilled to see the collaboration, though there was a slight hiccup when Rahman’s microphone malfunctioned for a moment. Despite this, the energy remained high, and the performance was well received.
After the concert, Ed took to Instagram to share his excitement about the experience. Posting a picture with Rahman, he wrote that it was an "honor" to perform with the music maestro. The post received thousands of likes and comments from fans who loved the cross-cultural musical collaboration.
Ed Sheeran’s India leg of The Mathematics Tour began with a performance in Pune on January 30. Indian singer-actor Dot, best known for her role in The Archies, was the opening act for his tour in India. After Chennai, Ed is set to perform in other cities before wrapping up his tour with a final concert in Delhi-NCR on February 15.
His journey in India has been more than just performances; it has been about experiencing and embracing the country's rich musical traditions. His attempt at playing the sitar has only added to the admiration Indian fans have for him. As his tour continues, many are eager to see if he will surprise them with more cultural exchanges along the way.