As 2017 was vanishing out of sight in the rear-view mirror, a tweet by the advertising man Lakshmipathy Bhat caught the eye:
Ditto and likewise.
As an unabashed consumer of mediocre Punjabi music, the insane number of views on YouTube ascribed to the top hits have always amazed me.
Since you are supposed to stay positive on the first day of the new year, I decided to sit down and make a list of the page views, and add them all up.
Bhat-re, we have news for you.
If you leave out songs whose titles could well be the state’s anthem and whose views are in single-digit million (Pahunch 9.2 million, Zero figure 7.2 million, Koke 7 million; Eyeliner 4.8 million, Daaru 4 million), the top-50 Punjabi tracks have been viewed a staggering 3,002 million times.
That is 3,002,000,000 times.
Or, 300 crore times.
That is the entire population of China (1.379 billion) and India (1.324 billion) put together, plus the United States (323.1 million) thrown in.
High Rated Gabru,Guru Randhawa: 227 million
3 Peg, Sharry Mann: 200 million
Backbone, Hardy Sandhu: 185 million
Suit, Guru Randhawa: 140 million
Na ja, Pav Dharia: 136 million
Khaab, Akhil:120 million
Laembadgini, Diljit Dosanjh: 102 million
Na na na, J Star: 101 million
Badnam, Mankirt Aulakh: 99 million
Mercy, Badshah: 95 million
Bapu Zimidar, Jassi Gill: 75 million
Naah, Harry Sandhu: 74 million
Patake, Sunanda Sharma: 72 million
Gangland, Mankrit Aulakh: 69 million
Nakhre, Jassi Gill: 69 milion
Qismat, Ammy Virk: 66 million
Hostel, Sharry Mann: 63 million
Gani, Akhil: 59 million
Lahore, Guru Randhawa: 56 million
Bamb Jatt, Amirt Maan, Jasmine Sandlas: 56 million
Superstar, Sukhe: 54 million
Jaani Tera Naa, Sunanda Sharma: 53 million
Life, Akhil: 52 million
Gaal ni Kadni, Parmish Verma: 49 million
Yaarr ni milita, Hardy Sandhu: 44 million
Oh kyu ni Jaan Ske, Goldboy: 43 million
Cute Munda, Sharry Mann: 42 million
Yaari, Deep Jandu: 41 million
Munda Bhai di, Sherry Mann: 38 million
Gabroo, Jassi Gill: 37 million
Dil Chori, Yo Yo Honey Singh: 30 million
Aaja na Ferrari mein, Armaan Malik: 30 million
Daang, Mankirt Aulakh: 27 million
Sniper, Muzical Doctorz: 26 million
Call Aundi, Yo Yo Honey Singh: 25 million
Dil Tutda, Jassi Gill: 25 million
Zindabaad Yaarian, Ammy Virk: 24 million
Sohneya, Sukhe/Parmish Verma: 24 million
Wang, Preet Harpal: 24 million
Daru aale kehre, Parrish Verma: 23 million
Main Teri Ho Gayi, Milind Gaba: 23 million
Akhil Rukh, Sukh Sanghera: 22 million
Baari baari barsi, Miss Pooja: 22 million
Joker, Hardy Sandhu: 22 million
Yaadan Supne, Kulwinder Billa: 21 million
Punjab, Gurdas Mann: 20 million
Sunakhi, Kaur B: 18 million
Beware Hunde Ne, Raashi Sood: 15 million
Billi akh, Sunanda Sharma: 15 million
Transportiye, Sharry Mann: 14 million
Gaani, Ammy Virk: 13 million
Aaja merry bike pe, Tony Kakkar: 12 million
Raat di gedi, Diljit Dosanjh: 10 million+
Unless bots are at work, Punjabi musicians and music companies should be hired by media companies to ramp up circulation.
your piece set me thinking. everyday i am seeing awards for films and TV serials. all of them must be paid for by artists and producers. I also see ET, Indian express announcing awards for entrepreneurs and businesses, banks, start up etc. Many of the winners must be in the bank defaulters’ list . some of the defaulters may even be padmashris and padmabhushans. income tax dodgers and defaulters and also must be GOI award winners. A.Bachan and others are in Panama list, Paradise list and bitcoin investors. why this rash of awards? are,(awardees and awarders) their antecedents verified? India is proud of criminal politicians? Bala
Many of the winners must be in the bank defaulters’ list . some of the defaulters may even be padmashris and padmabhushans. income tax dodgers and defaulters and also must be GOI award winners.