A Tamil song is currently leading a poll being conducted by the BBC World Service to find the most popular tune in the world. The song, Rakkama Kaiya Thattu, features in the 1991 Indian film ‘Thalapathi’ – its position in the poll probably tells us more about which countries have been voting though - two other songs popular with Indian audiences, ‘Vande Mataram’ by Bankim Chandra Chatarji, said to be the country's national song, and ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ by Sukhvinder, from the 1998 Bollywood movie ‘Dil Se’, are at number five and seven.
A bizarre mix of Western songs appear elsewhere in the chart. Cliff Richard's 1979 hit ‘We Don't Talk Anymore’ is currently in second place, with Cher's 1998 hit ‘Believe’ in third. More predictably John Lennon's ‘Imagine’ is fourth and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is at number six.
Listeners in 112 countries have cast their votes so far since the poll opened two weeks ago – with various world leaders among those who have picked a favourite tine. Former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, chose ,The Hallelujah Chorus, from Handel's Messiah, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi opted for the theme music from the Robert De Niro film ‘Once Upon A Time In America’ while the president of Mongolia, Natsagiin Bagabandi, went for The Beatles' ‘Let It Be’!
The results and final chart will be announced by Steve Wright in Wright Round the World on 21 Dec.