Dhanush's song "Kolaveri Di" became a major hit in 2011 in India, though many other songs like "Bhaag D K Bose", "Sadda haq", "Dhinka chika" and "Chammak Challo" were also popular. The music world lost several legendary artists that year, including Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Bhupen Hazarika, Jagjit Singh, and Ustad Sultan Khan. A.R. Rahman's music for the film "Rockstar" was particularly praised. The year also saw some international musical acts perform in India.

1. The Phenomenon of 2011 Called 'Kolaveri Di'
New Delhi: The chartbusters in 2011 saw the likes of 'Bhaag D K Bose', 'Sadda haq', 'Dhinka
chika' and 'Chammak Challo' fighting for supremacy until Dhanush crooned 'Kolaveri di' and
as the year drew to a close his soup song was on everyone's lips.
Controversial lyrics, inspirations from global folk, influence of Punjabi music were the order
of the day. There was agony as well as the music world lost some of its best known names.
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Classical music maestro; Bhupen Hazarika, legendary singer-
composer; Jagjit Singh, ghazal king; Ustad Sultan Khan, sarangi player and singer and actors
Shammi Kapoor and Dev Anand, on whom hundreds of Bollywoods songs were pictured,
passes away during the year.
Of the films released in the year, the music of A. R. Rahman's "Rockstar" stood out. While
'Sadda Haq' became a virtual anthem of sorts, other songs of the Ranbir Kapoor-Nargis Fakri
starrer like the foot-tapping 'Tango for Taj' and the Sufi 'Kun Faya Kun' were quite
hummable.
The year also marked a new achievement for the double Oscar-winner, who collaborated with
international names like Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart and Damian Marley for
'SuperHeavy', taking 'Satyamev Jayate' to the global audience in the band's first album.
Raising hopes for the coveted Oscars, three songs from "Dam 999', which sparked the
Mullaperiyar dam controversy, are in the race in the Academy's Original Song category.
'Dakkanaga Dugu Dugu', 'DAM999 theme song' and 'Mujhe Chod Ke' are penned by director
Sohan Roy and set to tune by noted Malayalam composer Ousephachan.
Some of the big names of the musical world came to India during the year -- Bryan Adams,
Metallica, Lady Gaga, Shakira, Bob Sinclar and Pitbull. However, Delhiites missed their date
with Adams and Metallica as the concerts were postponed and cancelled due to various
reasons.
Three of the year's top songs were inspired by folk songs from abroad. The rumbustious
'Darling' from "Saath Khoon Maaf" sung by Usha Uthup and Rekha Bharadwaj was inspired
by the Kalinka song of Russia.
Then there was Himesh Reshammiya's love song 'Teri Meri' from " Bodyguard", which was a
rip off of Romanian folk song La Betleem (Down There in Bethlehem). The 'Senorita' song
from "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" had lots of Spanish elements infused in it.