Famed composing brothers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant have created monster hits in India as songwriters as well as singers. Their sounds have helped make movies such as 'Fashion,' 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi,' 'Chak De India,' as well as more recent hits like 'Pyaar Impossible' and 'Teen Patti,' memorable. The Merchants have also composed songs for Indi-pop stars such as Shweta Shetty, Asmaan and Viva, not to mention working with famed classical artists Ustad Zakir Hussain and Ustad Sultan Khan. Now they have achieved another honor: writing music for the closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup on June 11 in South Africa. Composing in Mumbai's Juhu studio, the brothers injected African percussion and Zulu chanting into the song, which will also be used in promotion of the World Cup. "It is wonderful that we got to compose a track for an international event as big as the World Cup. The FIFA Committee has already heard the song and they are happy with the results," Salim stated.
The song was originally sung by Mumbai vocalist Siddharth Coutto, but ended up being crooned by legendary Senegalese artists Yossou N'Dour, as the FIFA committee wanted an African voice. According to Sulaiman, the song "has originated in India but is completely African in spirit."
