How Amitabh Bachchan’s one tweet helped Anirudh Ravichander deliver his first big hit at 19. What is the song?

Anirudh Ravichander was just 19 when a song from his debut film turned into a global sensation, introducing his music to audiences far beyond India. What began as an unexpected online release soon became a defining moment in his career, with Amitabh Bachchan’s tweet giving the track an additional push. The song, Why This Kolaveri Di, featuring Dhanush’s quirky Tamil-English lyrics, has since amassed 616.6 million views on YouTube. Anirudh later recalled how the hit’s release unfolded unexpectedly.

Why This Anirudh Ravichander song was never meant for YouTube

Today, Anirudh is among India’s most sought-after music composers, but the release of Why This Kolaveri Di was far from the carefully planned launch one might expect for a major hit. The song featured in the soundtrack of 3, starring Dhanush and Shruti Haasan, and was originally intended to be released on a CD.

In a conversation with Film Companion, Anirudh described the period as a “total blur” and recalled how a rough version of the track was leaked from a studio in Chennai. With the leak already circulating, the team had to rethink its release strategy. The music company decided to upload the song to YouTube rather than wait for CDs to be manufactured and distributed, a process that could have taken at least a week. As Anirudh explained, they “didn’t have time to make CDs” and decided to release it online instead.


For the young composer, however, the decision was disappointing. He had hoped to see his first film song released on a CD, something he could share with his friends. Instead, his debut arrived on a platform that was still unfamiliar to many in the music industry. Recalling his reaction, Anirudh said he was “quite sad” because the version that had leaked was not the one he had wanted people to hear. At 19, he was also unsure about releasing his first song on “something called YouTube”.

From 3 lakh views to 3 million overnight

Despite the unplanned release, the response to Why This Kolaveri Di quickly exceeded expectations. Anirudh recalled that the song received around 3 lakh views on its first day online, a response that pleased the music company. The numbers rose sharply the following day, when the video reached 3 million views as more people began sharing it. The track’s unusual combination of Tamil and English, playful lyrics and catchy tune helped it stand out, turning it into an early example of a song spreading rapidly online.

The tune itself was reportedly composed by Anirudh in just 20 minutes, while Dhanush wrote the lyrics in six minutes. Its unconventional style helped the song connect with listeners in India and abroad, earning it the popular description of a “soup song”.

How Amitabh Bachchan’s tweet changed the song’s reach

The song was already gathering momentum, but a social media post from Amitabh Bachchan gave it another major boost. Anirudh recalled that the Bollywood megastar shared the track on Twitter a few days after its release.

Speaking to Film Companion, the composer credited that moment with helping the song take off on a much larger scale. Remembering the tweet, he said, “Amitabh sir shared it after a few days.” He added, “That’s when it actually went crazy.” The endorsement came at a time when social media was beginning to change how music reached audiences. What had started as a response to a leak had become a viral success, with the song finding listeners well beyond the film’s original audience.

With 616.6 million views on YouTube, Why This Kolaveri Di remains one of the defining early milestones in Anirudh Ravichander’s career, dating back to when he was still a teenager. Meanwhile, if reports are to be believed, he is gearing up to work with Lokesh Kanagaraj and Allu Arjun's upcoming big-budget film. As per Nakkheeran report, he is offered about Rs 25 crore.