NEW DELHI: At Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, guests were treated to a performance of the iconic Hindi song “Mera Joota Hai Japani”, with minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth sharing the moment on social media. Seth, who represented India at the event, said the rendition highlighted the global reach of Hindi music. “Music connects many countries on the global stage. If the song is in Hindi, then everyone feels connected. This song was performed at the residence of the esteemed President Vladimir Putin in Russia, where heads of state from several countries were present,” he wrote on X. He added that the performance by Russian artists reflected India’s cultural influence abroad. “Undoubtedly, this song has brought many hearts together. It is indeed the growing influence of Hindi on a global level that today, Hindi songs are being sung and listened to even in Russia; that too by Russian artists. Therefore, we say that Hindi unites everyone. India as well as the world.” The song, originally from the 1955 Raj Kapoor classic Shree 420, has long been seen as a symbol of India’s soft power and cultural outreach.
