Notthetag at 03:59, 17 March 2026

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{{Short description|2013 single by Yo Yo Honey Singh}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Lungi Dance
| cover =Lungi Dance cover.jpeg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Yo Yo Honey Singh]]
| album = [[Chennai Express]]
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2013|07|13}}
| format =
| recorded = 2013
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack]], [[pop-folk]]
| length =
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| writer = [[Yo Yo Honey Singh]], Lil Golu
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|2kWLyInyjOE|"Lungi Dance"}}}}
}}
"'''Lungi Dance'''" is a 2013 Indian track composed and performed by [[Indian music|Indian]] singer and [[rapper]], [[Yo Yo Honey Singh]] for the soundtrack of the 2013 Indian [[masala film]] ''[[Chennai Express]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Br5HLmP1c|title=The Thalaivar Tribute (Lungi Dance) Feat. Yo Yo Honey Singh|date=23 July 2013 |publisher=[[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]|accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref> The song is a tribute to Indian actor [[Rajinikanth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-3003573001.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329175751/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-3003573001.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2015|title=SRK-Honey Singh Pay Tribute to Rajinikanth in Chennai Express|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=25 June 2013|accessdate=31 January 2015}}</ref><ref name=naughty>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/rajinikanth-likes-naughty-lungi-dance-says-shah-rukh-173224-2013-08-07|title=Rajnikanth likes naughty 'Lungi Dance'|work=[[India Today]]|date=8 August 2013 |access-date=30 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/movies/Lungi-Dance-Raghupati-Raghav-Music-review/videoshow/21555530.cms|title='Lungi Dance', 'Raghupati Raghav' Music review|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=30 December 2013}}</ref>

The soundtrack was officially released on 1 July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://releasedateindia.in/other/chennai-express-music-release-date.html|title=Chennai Express Music Release date|publisher=ReleaseDateIndia.com|accessdate=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229085014/http://releasedateindia.in/other/chennai-express-music-release-date.html|archive-date=29 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Release==
"Lungi Dance" was released as the ninth single from the album. The launch of the original music of the film took place in [[Mumbai]], where performances were seen by the film's music directors and cast members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.in.msn.com/gallery/chennai-express-audio-launch|title=Celebs at the audio launch of Chennai Express|publisher=MSN Entertainment|accessdate=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234728/http://entertainment.in.msn.com/gallery/chennai-express-audio-launch|archive-date=30 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The event's telecast rights were sold to a TV channel for INR48 crore (US$7.7 million).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://businessofcinema.com/business/chennai-express-satellite-rights-sold-for-rs-480-million/88541|title='Chennai Express' satellite rights sold for Rs. 480 million!|publisher=Business of Cinema|accessdate=30 December 2013|date=1 August 2013}}</ref> The song is said to have significantly more popularised the [[lungi]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/madras-checks-still-do-the-lungi-dance/article5034039.ece|title=Madras checks still do the Lungi Dance|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=18 August 2013|accessdate=2014-01-06|author=Susanna Myrtle Lazarus}}</ref> a traditional dress in India.

==Lyrics==
{{listen
| filename = Lungi Dance.ogg
| title = "Lungi Dance"
| description = A sample of "Lungi Dance"
| pos = left
}}
[[File:Rajinikanth at the Inauguration of MGR Statue.jpg|thumb|Actor Rajinikanth in 2018]]
The song was composed by Yo Yo Honey Singh, as a tribute to Indian movie actor [[Rajinikanth]].<ref>MovieReviewPreview.com, [http://www.moviereviewpreview.com/chennai-express-exclusive-lungi-dance-song-review/12783/ "Chennai Express Exclusive: Lungi Dance Song Review"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224053152/http://www.moviereviewpreview.com/chennai-express-exclusive-lungi-dance-song-review/12783/ |date=24 February 2017 }}, ''MovieReviewPreview.com'', July 31, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2017.</ref>

==Critical response==
"Lungi Dance" received mainly mixed reviews from critics in India. Mohar Basu of Koimoi wrote in his review, "I am quite assured that not every Rajni fan has Lungi as their favorite attire and neither will they appreciate Lassi in their coconut! Not that I was expecting meaning in the lyrics of the song, but the song's words are as meaningless as the aimless Deepika Padukone shaking her leg in this too-desperate-to-be-funny song."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-popular/chennai-express-song-review-srks-lungi-dance-is-a-well-intentioned-but-racist-tribute/|title=Chennai Express Song Review: SRK's Lungi Dance is a Well Intentioned But Racist Tribute|publisher=Koimoi|first=Mohar |last=Basu|date=30 July 2013|accessdate=6 January 2014}}</ref> The [[Firstpost]] review said, "I may have to go swallow some Kafka and Faulkner after this column to feel smart again, but at least I know that I have done my Patient Zero duty in spreading the Lungi Dance virus. Thalaivar, everyone!<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/srk-salutes-rajini-you-cant-miss-the-lungi-dance-1013855.html|title=SRK salutes Rajini: you can't miss the 'lungi dance'|date=6 August 2013|accessdate=6 January 2014|first=Anuya |last=Jakatdar|work=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref>

==Controversy==
The film's music composing duo, [[Vishal–Shekhar]], were under the impression that they were the only musicians working on ''Chennai Express''. Meanwhile, Honey Singh was asked by the film director to perform in the promotional song of "Lungi Dance". When rumours surfaced about Honey Singh's involvement, [[Vishal Dadlani]] tweeted, "It's hilarious and pathetic how desperately this tacky rape-rapper is trying to ride on the fame of SRK and Chennai Express (sic)".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ematterz.com/celebrity-gossip/vishal-shekhar-say-no-to-srks-lungi-dance|title=Vishal-Shekhar Say No To SRK's 'Lungi Dance'|publisher=EMatterz|accessdate=30 December 2013|author=}}</ref> The rumour turned out to be true and the composers felt cheated. Dadlani and [[Shekhar Ravjiani]] did not promote the film's music nor attended the film's promos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-express-vishalshekhar-upset-with-srk-over-lungi-dance/411119-8-66.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804021001/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-express-vishalshekhar-upset-with-srk-over-lungi-dance/411119-8-66.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2013|title=Chennai Express: Vishal-Shekhar upset with SRK over 'Lungi Dance'?|publisher=[[IBN Live]]|accessdate=30 December 2013|date=1 August 2013}}</ref>

==Charts==

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2013 weekly chart performance for "Lungi Dance"
!scope="col"|Chart (2013)
!scope="col"|Peak<br>position
|-
|UK Official Asian Music Chart ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/asian-music-chart/20130901/asian/|title=Asian Music Chart on 1/9/2013|website=officialcharts.com|date= October 11, 2025|access-date=October 11, 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 12
|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2014 weekly chart performance for "Lungi Dance"
!scope="col"|Chart (2014)
!scope="col"|Peak<br>position
|-
|UK Official Asian Music Chart ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/asian-music-chart/20140112/asian/|title=Asian Music Chart on 12/1/2014|website=officialcharts.com|date= October 11, 2025|access-date=October 11, 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 19
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Yo Yo Honey Singh}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:2013 songs]]
[[Category:Yo Yo Honey Singh songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Yo Yo Honey Singh]]
[[Category:Songs written for Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Pop-folk songs]]
[[Category:Indian pop songs]]

Lungi Dance - Revision history

Notthetag at 03:59, 17 March 2026