The sweet success of ‘Afghan Jalebi’

Composer Pritam happy with his song garnering 13 million hits on YouTube

MUMBAI: Pritam is particularly delighted with the massive viral response received by his song Afghan Jalebi from Kabir Khan’s espionage-drama Phantom. Despite the song not being on the fore during the film’s promotion and not featuring Katrina shake a leg, it garnered close to 13 million hits on YouTube.

“Yes, Afghan Jalebi has received close to 13 million hits ... It’s in an action film, so the song was neither in the forefront of promotion, nor did it have Katrina dance in the video because of restrictions in the character, according to the film. And fairly so,” said Pritam.

Pritam revelled in how the song managed to top the characters despite not getting support from the film’s success. “Following its release, it didn’t get support from the success of the movie, as it’s not a highlight in the movie. Although it’s very intelligently placed in the background ... So yes, I’m very happy with the song’s performance,” he noted.

Read: We don't make films for numbers: Kabir Khan

“The fact that it managed to break through in spite of all these hurdles and get hits over 10 million views in less than a month is superb,” he added. Composed by Pritam and sung by local singer Asrar, the song features Katrina Kaif, who plays the lead in the film along with Saif Ali Khan.

Phantom, which revolves around global terrorism, is an adaptation of the novel Mumbai Avengers and is based on events post-26/11 Mumbai terror attack. It released on August 28. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2015.

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