“It is heart-warming to see you encourage people to limit the spread of the coronavirus," Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Devanjana Iyer.
"Your message about staying home and social distancing guidelines will help Australians overcome the virus,” he wrote in a letter to the nine-year-old.
Devy, as she is known, was over the moon while speaking about the letter of appreciation she received from the country's top politician.
“I was in a school zoom session when my mum came in and showed me the letter that arrived by post," she told SBS Malayalam.
"I was ecstatic reading it. I told a couple of my friends, they were really happy for me.”
The almost daily live streaming of COVID-19 briefings by Mr Morrison inspired this budding Melbourne based songwriter and singer to compose the 'Stay Home - Coronavirus' song.
Even though Scott Morrison continuously insisted on the importance of staying home, Devy who keenly watches the news every day, noticed that people were often not adhering to the PM’s advice.
“When I saw the Prime Minister going live, I wanted to spread the message because some people weren’t listening to what he is saying. So, I wanted to spread the message in a way that people could remember …like a tune…a tune…a song that could be in their head on what they need to do and what’s happening.
"So, I wrote this coronavirus song.”
However, Devy never expected in her wildest dreams that Scott Morrison would either listen to her song or write to her.
Hence, the letter came as a huge surprise to this little musician.
“I didn’t expect to receive this letter at all! I wasn’t even a hundred per cent sure that he would see my song. It was such a surprise for me.”
“I wrote the song to spread the message to help people around Australia and maybe the world, but I find it a great honour to receive his letter and his words of encouragement,” adds Devy.
"After the song was shared on social media it started getting attention beyond her expectation. It was then that my friends and family told me that the Prime Minister will be happy to see my song. So I, with the help of my mum, wrote an email to him.”
A few days later Devy received the letter from the PM in her post box. In it, Scott Morrison thanked her for her email and the song. It also said that the song made him smile.
“Thank you very much for your email and song. Your friends and family are right, your song did make me smile. You’ve shown great musical talent at such a young age - I’m expecting big things from you in the future!” the letter reads.
The letter also says, “hearing from concerned young people like you gives me a lot of hope because I can see how much you care for your family, friends, and our country.”
“The Prime Minister is a busy person. I am really happy that he took the time out to watch the song and write a letter, especially during this stressful and busy coronavirus period. It means a lot to me. This letter is really special," said Devy.
Devy also said that the letter was not only a surprise but it boosted her motivation too.
She's now planning to pen more songs to make Australians happy.
'Eurovision Australia 2020 opener'
Devanjana briefly rose to national fame this year when she performed in the opening of the prestigious Eurovision Australia 2020 song contest held in Gold Coast earlier this year.
She sang alongside Australian singer-songwriter and actress Kate Miller-Heidke in front of a packed crowd.
“When Kate Miller-Heidke performed in Melbourne in September 2019, Devy who was seated among the crowd sang the song aloud which gained the attention of the star singer," says Devy’s mum Deepthi Padmaja Sudhakaran.
"The little singer then got the opportunity to perform a song sharing the stage with the popular singer and received a standing ovation from over 2,500 people.
“Kate Miller-Heidke posted the video of Devy's song on her Facebook the very next day. It was widely received by thousands demanding her to contest in Eurovision. Many tagged the song to Paul Clarke, the Director of Eurovision Australia."
In 2019 Devy won Fast Track, one of Australia's biggest singing showcases performing Kate Miller-Heidke's Zero Gravity.
