Fans around the world were left captivated by the eerie tune and breathtaking visuals of Ed Sheeran's latest soulful collaboration with India's own Arijit Singh on Sapphire. The music video, shot entirely in India, is a cinematic postcard of a nation full of colours, lights and shadows. It captures India's architectural grandeur and diversity and delivers its turmoil and intimacy brilliantly in a multi-sensory experience. The various moods of India that have been captured in Sapphire entail the hills of Meghalaya, the cultural hub of Kolkata and the majestic built of Hyderabad. Here, we take a look specifically at the sites featured in the music video and find out what's intriguing for the travelling moviegoer in the form of places worth seeing.
The journey in the music video begins in Kolkata, where singer Ed Sheeran is seen walking through flower markets, crossing chaotic intersections and drifting past old colonial buildings. This part of the video goes into that heart of what's emblematic of Kolkata—its bustle, thumping rhythm and constant movement. The video evokes scenes around Mullick Ghat Flower Market, one of Asia's largest as well as the heritage-laden College Street, the haven for second hand books and cafés like the Indian Coffee House that preserve the city's rich intellectual legacy. The mix of British architecture and Bengali spirit is tangible here, making it a perfect canvas for Sheeran's opening verses.
From Kolkata's earthy hues, the music video shifts bases and lands in the lush, pine-lined hills of Shillong in Meghalaya. Here, Sheeran is joined by Arijit Singh for a quiet jam session. Renowned for its longstanding music scene, Shillong often feels like an acoustic retreat. The scenes filmed in the hill town for the music video capture its moody skies and the intimate café culture, a nod to its age-old rock and blues traditions. Here, mist trails over green slopes and local musicians are found playing in the open spaces or tucked-away cafés, echoing the same raw, heartfelt tone that the song champions. Shillong's beauty bursts forth brilliantly in these delineations with an emotional depth.
The video then bounces off and lands in Hyderabad, with visuals that feel at once cinematic and real. Though the exact filming spots are not officially confirmed, glimpses testify the appearance of Laad Bazaar, the arches of the Charminar and other Nizam-era architecture that bring an undeniable old-world charm to the video. The scenes tend to capture narrow market lanes, zari-studded bangles and the fragrance of street food shimmering into the urban spread of the city. Hyderabad's unique mix of Islamic heritage and contemporary tech culture comes alive, offering a regal counterpoint to other locations. It also represents the lyricism of contrast--a theme running throughout Sapphire.
Though Mumbai is not explicitly featured in the music video, the appearance of Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan ties it inexorably to the city. The capital of Indian cinema, Mumbai, looms in the background of this project like a silent muse. Even without showing Marine Drive or Bandra's film studios, Sapphire pays homage to the dream-factory energy of the city. It's a subtle nod to the place where East meets West in India's entertainment universe—and to the collaborative nature of the music video itself.
What makes Sapphire more than just a showcase of pretty visuals is its interactions with local life. Sheeran doesn't perform from a pedestal but takes a dip directly into the thicket of things, walking through streets, among children, playing with local musicians, drinking tea, taking auto rickshaw rides and so on. This sense of participation turns the video into a precursor as well as celebration of slow, immersive travel. Each frame in the music video is layered with the texture of life experience—school bells, temple bells, monsoon light and smoky food stalls, all come together to form the living backdrop of the song, and which is unmistakably Indian.
For travellers inspired by the video, retracing these locations offers a way to engage deeply with India’s layered narratives. Visit Kolkata to read poetry at the ghats, walk through foggy Shillong listening to local bands, or drift through Hyderabad’s bazaars in search of pearl necklaces and biryani. Each city holds its own rhythm, its own cadence, just like a verse in the song. And as you follow that path, you may find yourself not just visiting India—but understanding it, beat by beat.