When the first clip of “Dhoom Machale,” performing at Westminster Abbey, surfaced online, many social media users dismissed them as fakes. The pure impossibility of the Bollywood national anthem, echoing through one of the UK’s most stern royal venues, seemed too surreal. However, when Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band posted a video on the official Instagram and the BBC later covered it, Disbelief turned to surprise.
For some, it was an entertaining moment of cultural integration. For others, it was nothing but history being made. Twitter exploded with reaction. Some users jokingly called it “decolour colonization,” while others felt it was simply “symbolic.” The virality of that moment caused a wave of memes. Queen Camilla’s pink outfit depicts a creepy comparison with Hrithik Roshan’s appearance Dhoom 2 (2006)– Where, twisting the irony of the film, he disguises himself as the queen, plotting the robber of Kohinor.
Heritage and modernity
For a long time, a symbol of British heritage and royal tradition, Westminster Abbey has taken an unexpected step towards embracing multiculturalism by including songs from Indian cinema in honorable events. This moment highlights the changing cultural dynamics as Bollywood music, known for its universal charm and vibrant energy, continues to permeate unexpected spaces. Although Bollywood previously entered the global arena, this performance at Westminster Abbey stands out, offering a notable example of a cultural fusion that has attracted attention from audiences around the world.
The Swaminarayangadi pipe band, which combines traditional Scottish piping with Indian musical elements, has long represented the harmony of the Indian Brit. Performance of Dhoom Machale At Westminster Abbey, “a popular cultural tradition in a modest and simple way” in the foreground, ensuring greater impact than forced exhibitions, Dr. Swapnir Lai of the University of Michigan and the author of the authors argue. Networked Bollywood. However, she criticized Bollywood’s connections as “it should have been more emphasised and not remained as something for Indian netizens to judge the facts.” Without broader awareness, she warns, such moments are “ineffective, boundaries” and risks[ing] About cultural appropriation. ”
In addition to surprises, several other Bollywood songs were included in the performance, including Teri Meri from the film Body Guard (2011). The choice of Bollywood tracks produced an unprecedented blend of South Asian and British traditions, introducing the universal resonance of Indian music.
The band itself has long incorporated Bollywood, Hollywood and Scottish songs into the royal event. In the press release, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury’s Shri Mkutajee Van Swami Bapa Band said that Charles III, Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess, Anne, and Gloucester Duke and Duchess who were fused with Gloucester at a traditional Scottish celebration. Their performance, which attracted the attention of the royal family, was intended to represent unity and cultural harmony at the heart of the Federation.
Did you miss the opportunity?
Many celebrated the moment as a victory for Bollywood’s soft power, while others saw it as a meme-worthy sight, not a meaningful cultural exchange. Writer and pop culture expert Leah Chopra said that one of the main reasons the incident has spread through word of mouth is Dhoom Machale It’s not a “inappropriate” choice for the Royal Event. The more elegant songs would have been more effective and respectful. “If the idea is to wield soft power in any way, Ria says that song choice is not the right way to proceed.
She further states, “This is more meme-worthy than meaningful because it wasn’t properly executed, so it stands out for me.” While acknowledging that it shares London’s deep Indian diaspora and cultural history, particularly Punjabi music, the RIA question the need for such verification. “There are many ways to recognize the power of Indian culture. We haven’t done much about this particular incident. In a way, it shows a colonial hangover,” says RIA.
Beyond the music itself, the memes that followed reflect the power of pop culture in shaping global narratives. Humorous similarities depicted between Queen Camilla’s attire and hrithik Roshan dhoom Disguise Add another layer to this phenomenon and reinforce how media, history and digital culture intertwines in unexpected ways. Pop culture reinterprets colonial history, particularly through viral moments like this, and gently challenges the power structure by employing humor and irony.
For Swaminarayan Gadi Pipe Band, this moment is not just about being viral fame, but also about bridging the world through music. As Dr. Rai puts it, “The distribution of Bollywood as a cultural form is strongly linked to Indian identity and diasporic identity through dance, music, aesthetics or fashion.
Whether cultural diplomacy or seen as a digital age, this moment at Westminster Abbey highlights Bollywood’s evolving role in global conversation. The problem remains. Was this a bold claim to India’s cultural soft power, or was it simply the fleeting meme fuel oddity?
