Post by : Meena Ariff

Before she became a world-renowned icon with her Hollywood debut in Quantico (2015), Priyanka Chopra Jonas had already carved a niche as a singer. Her inaugural single In My City (2012), featuring the American rapper will.i.am, marked her entry into the global music arena. Despite a mixed response, her subsequent track Exotic with Pitbull skyrocketed her status as India’s pop phenomenon. After lending her voice to songs for films like Mary Kom (2014) and Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), she shifted her focus back to acting and production.

Now, after nearly ten years, the actress-singer re-emerges in the music scene with a fresh adaptation—a Desi version of the iconic holiday tune Last Christmas. This song is featured in the forthcoming film Christmas Karma, which has rapidly gained traction on social media, albeit not always positively.

Christmas Karma boasts a stellar cast including Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, and Boy George, and is helmed by British director Gurinder Chadha, renowned for Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Bride and Prejudice (2004). Set to premiere on November 14, the film aspires to convey a festive multicultural message. In anticipation of its release, the creators have shared Priyanka’s track—Last Christmas (Desi Version)—which preserves George Michael’s original tune while adding Hindi phrases like “Last Christmas de diya dil.”

While many fans are thrilled to witness Priyanka's musical return, the general response has been a mix of skepticism and disdain. A trending Reddit thread showcasing the song features harsh critiques branding it as a “ruin” of a cherished classic. One comment lamented, “Butchering one of the most iconic Christmas songs ever. George Michael is rolling in his grave.” Another user mirrored this sentiment: “George Michael crying in his grave.”

Some critics found fault with the lyrical translation, questioning, “It’s 2025, for God’s sake! Can we not craft better Hindi lyrics for adapted English songs?” Another chimed in, “Either sing the entire song in English or stick to Hindi.” Even among her staunch supporters, opinions are divided; one fan remarked, “I adore PC! But no amount of admiration can convince me she should continue singing.”

Yet, this controversy has reignited conversations about Bollywood artists merging Western influences with Indian sounds. Advocates for Priyanka commend her for daring to blend languages and cultures, labeling it a “bold creative initiative.”

On the cinematic front, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is gearing up for a significant return to Indian cinema. She is set to star in SS Rajamouli’s much-anticipated Telugu project alongside superstar Mahesh Babu, temporarily titled SSMB29. This film, anticipated to be an action-adventure with a worldwide appeal, signifies Priyanka’s comeback to Indian films after a series of international endeavors.

#Global News #Entertainment News