Music and medicine - Oyshee joins her two passions to fight coronovirus

Fatima Tuz Zohra Oyshee - a well-liked young singer renowned for performing folk songs is also a medical student. Her life revolves around music and studying medical science, however, her known world has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and like everyone else, she has confined herself at home. 

The Business Standard had a conversation with Oyshee through Facebook and here is what she had to say. 

TBS: How are you passing your time during the lockdown?

Oyshee: An eerie silence is prevailing all around. We are staying at home for our safety but sometimes, staying indoors for long can be tiresome. Many people have asked how I am passing my time at home; to be honest, everything felt monotonous at the beginning. Then, while thinking about what I could do, I found an amazing idea and started working on it. 

TBS: What is the idea you are working on?

Oyshee: I do not have the option to intern or work at a medical facility as I am still a student pursuing my medical degree. So, I am trying to raise awareness about COVID-19 through social media platforms. I made several awareness-building videos and published them on Facebook and YouTube. I have observed that everybody is appreciating the videos and enquiring about more details as well. Being able to do something that is benefitting others is such times has worked as a huge inspiration for me. 

Apart from this, she is also working on new songs. Recently, Oyshee, along with several other singers, sang a song over coronavirus titled "Har Manbo Na". 

Besides, Oyshee is passing her days in quarantine by cooking, watching movies, and hanging out with her family members. She requests everyone, through The Business Standard, to stay at home, be aware, and remain well. 

Last year, Oyshee won the India-Bangladesh Film Award in the best playback singer category for the title song of "Chittagainga Poa, Noakhailla Maiya" film. Four years back, she sang Paban Das Baul's song "Tomar Dil Ki Doya Hoyna," which got more than 18 lakh views on YouTube. Even Paban Das Baul praised Oyshee for her rendition.

Oyshee first appeared in the music album of Hridoy Khan titled "Hridoy Khan Mix-3" in 2012. Then she brought out her solo album "Oyshee Express" in 2015 which was a big success. According to her, she had not thought of such a response from the audience. After that, she never looked back. 

She mostly does playback singing in films; her debut in playback singing was with popular singer Kumar Bishwajit. Oyshee took part in many music competitions, including Notun Kuri and Shapla Kuri. She learned music from her mother in her childhood.