World Cup Theme Song

I have asserted all along that Bollywood and cricket have a very close relationship, and this song proves just that. For the ICC World Cup 2011 theme song has been composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (SEL), a Bollywood trio of music makers.

For the benefit of the uninitiated, SEL comprise Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa, who have been among major music producers for Bollywood movies in the last decade.

Their best and most successful work has been heard (and seen) in movies such as Mission Kashmir, Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Na Ho, Bunty Aur Babli, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Taare Zamin Par, Wake Up Sid, My Name Is Khan, Karthik Calling Karthik, and Housefull, among several others.

The song is titled "De Ghuma Ke" which is an exhortation to players to give it all they've got, in other words, "Sock it to them",an apparent reference as to the competitiveness of sport and the desire to win.

Three versions of the song have been rendered, in Hindi, Sinhalese and Bangla, the languages of the co-hosts of the tournament, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

I hope you like the composition, because with 50 days to go for the tournament, you are going to be hearing this song again and again, and that's the understatement of 2011, on the first day of the year!