Bollywood song at Britain’s Westminster Abbey garners mixed reaction from desi folks.
When the first clips of “Dhoom Machale” playing at Westminster Abbey surfaced online, many social media users dismissed them as fake. The sheer improbability of a Bollywood anthem reverberating through one of Britain’s most solemn royal venues seemed too surreal to be true. But when the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band posted the video on their official Instagram and the BBC subsequently covered it, disbelief turned into astonishment.
For some, it was an amusing moment of cultural fusion; for others, it was nothing short of history being made. Twitter exploded with reactions, with some users jokingly calling it “reverse colonisation,” while others found it simply “ICONIC.” The viral nature of the moment even sparked a wave of memes, with Queen Camilla’s pink outfit drawing uncanny comparisons to Hrithik Roshan’s look in Dhoom 2 (2006)—where, in a twist of cinematic irony, he disguises himself as the Queen while plotting a Kohinoor heist.
Heritage & modernity
Westminster Abbey, long a symbol of British heritage and royal tradition, took an unexpected step towards embracing multiculturalism with the inclusion of an Indian film song at a prestigious event. This moment underscores a shift in cultural dynamics, as Bollywood music, known for its universal appeal and vibrant energy, continues to permeate unexpected spaces. While Bollywood has previously found its way into global arenas, this performance at Westminster Abbey stands out, marking a noteworthy instance of cultural fusion that has captured the attention of audiences worldwide.
The Swaminarayan Gadi Pipe Band, which blends traditional Scottish piping with Indian musical elements, has long symbolised Indo-British harmony. Their performance of Dhoom Machale at Westminster Abbey “foregrounds popular cultural traditions” in an “understated and simple way,” ensuring greater impact than a forced display, argues Dr. Swapnil Rai from the University of Michigan and author of Networked Bollywood. However, she critiques that the Bollywood connection “should have been highlighted more, and not stayed as something for Indian netizens to determine after the fact.” Without broader recognition, she warns, such moments risk being “ineffective and border[ing] on cultural appropriation.”
Adding to the surprise, several other Bollywood songs, such as Teri Meri from the movie Bodyguard (2011), were included in the performance. The selection of Bollywood tracks created an unprecedented fusion of South Asian and British traditions, showcasing the universal resonance of Indian music.
The band itself has long incorporated Bollywood, Hollywood, and Scottish tunes into royal events. In a press release, the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band from Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury stated that they welcomed King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester with a fusion of traditional Scottish and Indian melodies at the Commonwealth Day Celebrations held in March. Their performance, which captured the attention of the royal family, aimed to symbolise unity and cultural harmony, values at the heart of the Commonwealth.
Missed opportunity?
While many celebrated the moment as a win for Bollywood’s soft power, others saw it as a meme-worthy spectacle rather than a meaningful cultural exchange. Writer and pop culture expert Ria Chopra offers a contrarian view, arguing that “one of the main reasons this incident went viral is because Dhoom Machale is not an ‘inappropriate’ choice for a royal event. A more elegant tune would have been more effective and respectful.” If the idea was to wield in some way soft power, Ria opines that the song selection was not the right way to go about it.
She further highlights, “This feels more meme-worthy than meaningful because it was not properly executed, which is why it stands out to me.” While acknowledging London’s deep Indian diaspora and shared cultural history, particularly Punjabi music, Ria questions the need for such validation. “There are many ways to recognise the power of Indian culture—this particular incident isn’t doing much. It, in a way, shows our colonial hangover,” posits Ria.
