Priyanka Chopra's Festive Musical Return
Global icon Priyanka Chopra has marked her highly anticipated return to music with a distinctive desi rendition of the legendary Wham! holiday classic, 'Last Christmas'. This special track is a key feature of the upcoming family musical film, 'Christmas Karma', directed by the acclaimed Gurinder Chadha.
The Film's Release and Director's Praise
The movie is scheduled for a theatrical release in the UK, Ireland, and the US on November 14, with Indian audiences getting to experience it on December 12. Director Gurinder Chadha took to Instagram to share the song and express her profound gratitude towards Priyanka Chopra. She highlighted Chopra's immediate support for the project, praising her for consistently using her platform and even her singing voice to back visions from their community. Chadha's post expressed a hopeful sentiment that the late George Michael would have appreciated the playful reinterpretation of his iconic song.
Mixed Reactions from the Internet
Since its release, the music video has rapidly gone viral, creating a clear divide in public opinion. While a segment of fans celebrated the star's musical comeback, calling the track 'wonderful' and 'stunningly beautiful', a wave of criticism emerged on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Some users labeled the desi twist as 'cringe' and questioned the need to alter such a beloved classic. Critics pointed out the use of auto-tune and wondered why a Hindi version was necessary when iconic Indian Christmas songs already exist. The debate highlighted the challenges of reimagining a global classic for a new audience.
Priyanka's Statement and Future Projects
In an official statement responding to the collaboration, Priyanka Chopra clarified her involvement, stating that she was happy to support her dear friend Gurinder Chadha in a 'little way'. She expressed hope that this desi interpretation would connect with audiences for whom the song has long been a Christmas soundtrack staple.
This is not Chopra's first foray into international music, having previously released tracks like 'In My City' with will.i.am in 2012 and 'Exotic' with Pitbull in 2013. On the work front, the actor is now gearing up for her next major project, S.S. Rajamouli's 'Globe Trotter', alongside Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran, with her first look from the film expected soon.
