From a Pakistani song that made it to almost everyone’s Spotify playlist in India to South Indian dance numbers that had people around the world dancing, here’s a look at the songs that went viral in 2022.
Pasoori
Ali Sethi and Shae Gill's ‘ragaton’ track (described as a mix of raga, reggae and other sounds) struck a chord with listeners and became an instant hit after its release in Season 14 of Coke Studio Pakistan. The viral song even made it to the discography of the MCU web-series Ms. Marvel, streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. With 480 million views and counting, Pasoori is one of the most beloved songs of 2022 that had people of all ages jiving to it.
Kesariya
One of the most anticipated love songs of the year, Kesariya from Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva became an instant hit, thanks to Arijit Singh’s soulful voice and Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt’s onscreen chemistry. Kesariya, composed by Pritam, tapped in a total of 375 million views and increased the hype around the release of the film before it hit theatres. Showing the serene views of the ghats of Varanasi, Kesariya went on to become the love song of the year. The song was originally supposed to be a dance number but later made into a slow romantic track, sung by Arijit and Nikhita Gandhi.
Arabic Kuthu
Arabic Kuthu from the Thalapathy Vijay-and-Pooja Hegde-starrer Tamil-language film Beast had fans recreating the hook step. Sung by Jonita Gandhi and Anirudh Ravichander, who also composed the song, the peppy dance number was shot in a palace-like set and included stunning visuals.
Naatu Naatu
S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR had everything right — from an enviable tale of friendship to gravity-defying action and an explosive discography. Naatu Naatu, featuring Jr NTR and Ram Charan, became synonymous with their on-screen bromance and got the entire globe dancing to its beats. An M.M. Keeravaani composition sung by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, the dance number, with over 100 million views, has also been shortlisted for the 2023 Oscars in the Best Original Song category.
Besharam Rang
Besharam Rang from the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan-and-Deepika Padukone-starrer Pathaan has been the talk of the town since its release for various reasons. The peppy dance number, featuring a ripped Shah Rukh and a sizzling Deepika, has clocked in over 152 million views since its release on December 12. The Vishal and Sheykhar composition has viewers in love with the unique hook step and Shilpa Rao’s mesmerising voice.
