AR Rahman: Commonwealth Games Theme Song

The official anthem for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Delhi, India going to be held between October 3 October and 14 October 2010, was composed by A. R. Rahman, who is speaking on the song in the video above. The song was released on August 28 for digital download. The title of the song, Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto (aka Oh Yaro Ye India Bula Liya), is based on the motto of the games, ‘Come out and Play’.

The song was first performed by Rahman at the song release function held in Gurgaon, Haryana on August 28, 2010. A shorter tweaked version of the song was released on 23 September.

For the song A. R. Rahman quoted Indian Rupees (Rs) 15 crores as remuneration, and the deal was finalized at Rs 5.5 crore, according to reports that appeared in the news channels.

The lyric of the song, penned by Mehboob, is in Hindi with a mix of a few English words. The song release was preceded by a promotional event held at Delhi. Rahman unveiled the title of the song and sang the initial lines, ‘Oh Yaro Ye India Bula Liya’. As you can understand from the video above, when a reporter asked about the song’s comparison to the style of Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), the theme song for 2010 FIFA World Cup, Rahman said, it would surpass Waka Waka. At the official release of the song on August 28, 2010, Rahman performed the song live.