A Tamil song with a English-sounding title, “Rowdy Baby”, from the movie “Maari 2,” amassed over 700 milion views, becoming the #1 Top Music Video on YouTube in India in 2019.
The duet between lead actors Dhanush and Sai Pallavi featured the perfect combination of elements for a rom-com anthem: choreography from celebrated actor-dancer Prabhudheva; composition from Gen-Z favorite Yuvan Shankar Raja; and catchy, part-Tamil, part-English lyrics.
On YouTube, the song took on new meaning as creators offered their interpretations in reaction, dance choreography, and parody videos.
