The Indian Ambassador to the United States recently posted a video of some American naval personnel singing a popular Hindi song. Check out the rendition of the song from Swades, Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera at the Chief of US Naval Operations dinner. A R Rahman, the composer of the song as well as many others responded. Check out the video:
Bilateral ties between India and the US have been close and mutually beneficial in recent times. This was echoed in the song that appeared to be sung by non-Hindi speakers.
Filmmaker Ronnie Screwvala replied to the song and tagged Shah Rukh Khan as well as Ashutosh Gowariker in his tweet.
This song is highly evocative of one's homeland; particularly when one is far away from it. It is the essential song of the NRI that chose to return home.
This is one of the most timeless movies of Bollywood – not a formulaic masala film but one that has stood the test of time.
The song also exemplifies how diversity was always in the DNA of India; something that is now being called into question unfortunately.
This song evokes profound emotions in so many of us.
SRK fans are proud of the kind of international fame the star enjoys.
People pointed out how new global alignments have formed in recent times and how these reflect in cultural exchanges between countries.
Some loved the rendition, others thought otherwise. It seems like the ‘entertainment at US military events is similar to the ‘entertainment’ that we have in ours – amateur singsongs with more enthusiasm than skill. Cute nonetheless.
It cannot have been easy to learn and perform a song in a different language and an unfamiliar musical style.
A R Rahman himself responded to the Ambassador’s tweet – Swades Rules for ever, he tweeted.
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