Shree Hanuman Chalisa Becomes First Indian Video to Reach 5 Billion Views

In a significant achievement for Indian digital content, the video of Shree Hanuman Chalisa has become the first and only video from India to surpass five billion views on YouTube. Released on May 10, 2011, the video has garnered an impressive total of over 5,006,713,956 views since its debut.

The Shree Hanuman Chalisa video features the late Gulshan Kumar, the founder of T-Series, and is performed by renowned playback singer Hariharan. The melody was composed by Lalit Sen. This milestone not only highlights the video’s immense popularity but also cements its place in the history of YouTube as one of the most viewed videos globally.

Bhushan Kumar, the current Managing Director of T-Series and son of Gulshan Kumar, expressed his gratitude regarding this achievement. He stated, "Hanuman Chalisa holds a special place in the hearts of millions, including mine. My father, Shri Gulshan Kumar ji, devoted his life to taking spiritual music to every household, and this milestone is a reflection of his vision. Crossing 5 billion views and also being YouTube’s top 10 most viewed videos of all time is not just a digital achievement; it reflects the unwavering devotion people have in this country."

In comparison to Shree Hanuman Chalisa, other popular Indian videos fall significantly short in view counts. The Punjabi song Lehenga, which has reached approximately 1.8 billion views, is the next closest video. Following Lehenga are the Haryanvi song 52 Gaj Ka Daman and the popular Tamil track Rowdy Baby, both of which have around 1.7 billion views.

Other notable Indian videos that have attracted significant attention include Zaroori Tha, Vaaste, Laung Laachi, Lut Gaye, Dilbar, and Bum Bum Bole, all of which boast view counts in the hundreds of millions, yet none have approached the heights achieved by Shree Hanuman Chalisa.

On a global scale, Shree Hanuman Chalisa's record places it among the most viewed videos on YouTube, alongside international hits such as Baby Shark Dance, which has amassed over 16.38 billion views, and Despacito with 8.85 billion views. Other videos like Wheels on the Bus and Bath Song also rank highly on the platform, showcasing the diverse range of content that captures the attention of viewers worldwide.

The success of Shree Hanuman Chalisa reflects not only the popularity of devotional music in India but also the growing influence of digital platforms in shaping cultural consumption. As social media continues to evolve, this milestone serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of traditional spiritual content in a rapidly changing digital landscape.