Aishwarya's image: www.ndtv.com | Daler's image: www.dalermehndi.com
The world is a strange place and stranger still, is this news. For years now we've have believed, grudgingly perhaps, but believed nonetheless that a certain green-eyed former beauty queen is India's most famous export. And while Aishwarya Rai is indeed India's most well-known face internationally, she most certainly is NOT our greatest export.
That honour is reserved for Daler Mehndi's utterly brilliant
bhangra song,
Tunak Tunak Tun. No, we're not kidding. Known as the King of
Bhangra in his hey days, Daler's popularity is today a mere shadow of its former self. However, fear not
bhangra-lovers. This peppy number, with its amazing 'butterfly-is-flying-away' step is a rage on foreign shores. They love it, even if we Indians have sadly moved on.
Here are 10 instances when
Tunak Tunak Tun made people truly happy:
1. This is the first one (of many), so forgive the picture quality. When this crazy video first came out in 2000, it reportedly received more than 15,000 hits per day. We ought to enter this one for Ripley's Believe It Or Not.
2. Admit it. This is one of the most epic dance videos. Slowest clap ever. Well done, boys in gym shorts.
3. Okay. No. THIS is the most epic dance video. What in the name of the great wide world are these two doing? Whatever it is, it's got 3, 540, 122 views (and counting) on YouTube. WHOA.
4. School kids soon followed suit and decided that this song was the best thing to happen to those with four and a half left feet. This one's from Bloomingdale High School in Valrico, Florida. Teachers were game enough to dance as well. Lady Gaga style applause for these teenagers.
5. The song became a rage and somehow managed to sneak its way into weddings. Kudos to the bride for dancing in that heavy white dress.
6. And then is became positively cool to
Tunak Tun.
7. Seriously.
Tunak Tun even took over Zumba classes.
8. But it was when even belly dancers wanted to dance on a
bhangra number did the song's popularity reach its peak. I mean. Come on!!
9. Then soon enough, internationally acclaimed DJ DeadMau5 fell in love with
Tunak Tun and remixed it.
And performed it much to the delight of the crowd at the 2014 Sunburn Concert in Delhi:
10. But it was when this guy decided to give
Tunak Tun a metallic twist, that the world stopped for a minute and from then on wasn't the same again. Coolest thing ever!
In case you've forgotten (WHAT!) the awesomeness that was Daler Mehndi's original 1998 track, we shall judge you but here's the track anyway: