Priyanka Chopra has made a surprising return to the music scene with a Hindi-infused rendition of Wham!’s holiday classic, “Last Christmas.” The track is featured in Gurinder Chadha’s upcoming film, “Christmas Karma,” set to release in the UK, Ireland, and the US on November 14th, and in India on December 12th. The song’s release has ignited a flurry of reactions, ranging from enthusiastic support to critical disapproval.
Chadha, the acclaimed director known for films like “Bend It Like Beckham,” expressed her gratitude to Chopra for her support. In an Instagram post, Chadha wrote, “This is @priyankachopra for you. One call to support the movie and she was in… Always ready to support filmmakers from our community. Using her platform and her voice (in this case even the singing one) in support of my vision. Thank you for supporting me always Pri. And so here it is… our reimagined version of @georgemofficial #LastChristmas classic with all the playfulness I hope #georgemichael would have loved.”
Initial responses to the song were largely positive. Many fans celebrated Chopra’s return to music, praising the “desi” twist. Social media platforms saw comments like “This is unreal!” and “It’s STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL. So proud to be a part of this incredible film and Priyanka is amazing! Spreading the word!”
However, the tide quickly turned, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where a wave of criticism emerged. Some users questioned the need for a Hindi version of such a beloved song. One user wrote, “What in the world is this PC? Why isn’t anyone talking about Priyanka Chopra’s poor choices in life? Did we really need ‘Last Christmas with a Desi touch’… oh man. It’s giving me the ick! Major cringe…”
Others compared the rendition unfavorably to existing Bollywood classics. “PC was on a good wicket till she decided to sing Last Christmas in Hindi. Why would anyone do that when the iconic Dil Mera Churaya Kyon exists? How can anyone go past Anu Malik singing ‘Why did you break my heart, why did you go away away?’” another user commented. Concerns were also raised about the use of autotune, with one tweet simply stating, “Why is Priyanka singing Last Christmas in Hindi in horrible autotune?”
Chopra, in an official statement, addressed the collaboration, stating, “Gurinder Chadha is a dear friend and I am so happy to support her in my little way in Christmas Karma. I hope this desi twist to a song that has long been the soundtrack of Christmas for so many of us, resonates with audiences.”
This isn’t Chopra’s first foray into international music. In 2012, she released “In My City” featuring will.i.am, followed by “Exotic” with Pitbull in 2013, both of which garnered mixed reviews at the time.
Beyond her musical endeavors, Chopra is currently preparing for her role in SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film, “Globe Trotter,” alongside Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The first look of Chopra’s character is expected to be revealed soon, with Mahesh Babu’s look to follow on November 15th.
The controversy surrounding Chopra’s “Last Christmas” highlights the challenges of reimagining iconic songs and the diverse reactions that can arise when cultural elements are incorporated. While some embrace the “desi” twist as a fresh take on a familiar melody, others find it jarring and unnecessary. The success of “Christmas Karma” and the long-term impact of Chopra’s rendition will ultimately depend on how audiences worldwide receive this bold musical experiment.
