Actor Dhanush opens up about Why This Kolaveri Di at a recent event, sharing how the viral song was created and why it continues to haunt him after 12 years.
Why This Kolaveri Di: The Viral Song That Continues to Haunt Dhanush
The Why This Kolaveri Di phenomenon refuses to fade, even 12 years after it first broke the internet. Actor Dhanush, whose playful Tanglish lyrics and vocals brought the song to life, recently shared his thoughts at a News18 event. When asked to sing the track and recount its backstory, he laughed, admitting, “Kolaveri Di still haunts me.”
The Story Behind Kolaveri Di
Dhanush reflected on the song’s creation, revealing its spontaneous origins. “It was so late in the night when we made it that we forgot about it by the next morning,” he said. The team rediscovered the song on a computer screen labeled Kolaveri Di. “We opened it and thought, ‘Oh, we made this.’ It was funny to us, but we never expected it to be such a big sensation. These things can’t be planned; God has to deem you worthy.”
The track was composed for the Tamil film 3, directed by Dhanush’s then-wife, Aishwarya Rajinikanth, and featured Dhanush alongside Shruti Haasan. While the movie tackled serious themes, Why This Kolaveri Di? stood out as a lighthearted take on heartbreak, blending humor and catchy music.
Kolaveri Di: An Unplanned Internet Sensation
When Kolaveri Di was released in 2011, it quickly became India’s most-searched YouTube video, garnering millions of views and making waves across Asia. Composed by debutant Anirudh Ravichander, the song featured quirky Tanglish lyrics and a conversational tone, making it relatable to audiences worldwide.
The track’s unique charm lay in its simplicity—a deliberate rawness that struck a chord with listeners. Its viral success turned Dhanush into a global name and introduced Tamil cinema to a wider audience.
Dhanush’s Mixed Feelings About Kolaveri Di
Despite its unparalleled success, Dhanush admits he has a complicated relationship with the song. At the event, after some insistence, he reluctantly sang a few lines, receiving applause from the audience. “Kolaveri Di is something I didn’t plan for; it just happened,” he said. “It’s funny how something so unplanned can have such a lasting impact.”
While the song is celebrated for its cultural significance, Dhanush revealed that its constant association with him sometimes feels overwhelming. “It still haunts me because it keeps coming back,” he said with a smile.
Legacy of Kolaveri Di
Why This Kolaveri Di? remains a milestone in Indian pop culture. It marked the beginning of viral marketing for Indian cinema and showcased the power of digital platforms like YouTube.
For Dhanush, the song is both a blessing and a reminder of the unpredictability of creative work. As he said, “Some things are beyond planning; they just resonate with people.”
