Urvasi Urvasi
{{Short description|1994 song by A. R. Rahman}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Urvasi Urvasi
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist = A. R. Rahman feat. Suresh Peters and Shahul Hameed
| album = Kadhalan: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| released = 1994
| recorded = 1994
Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios, Chennai
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 5:39
| label = Pyramid
| writer = A. R. Rahman (composer)
Vairamuthu (lyrics)
| producer = A. R. Rahman
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|5vkRRYMlmuo|"Urvasi Urvasi"}}
| type = single
| header = Music videos
}}
}}
"Urvasi Urvasi" is an Indian Tamil-language song composed by A. R. Rahman and written by Vairamuthu for the soundtrack of the 1994 film Kadhalan. The song features vocals by Suresh Peters, Shahul Hameed and A. R. Rahman himself.
Other versions
The song was later dubbed into Telugu and Hindi. The Hindi version of the Kadhalan soundtrack, called Humse Hai Muqabala, sold 2.5 million units in India,{{cite web|title=Music Hits 1990-1999 (Figures in Units)|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102010439/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=284&catName=MTk5MC0xOTk5|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2010|website=Box Office India|date=2 January 2010}} with "Urvasi" being one of its most popular tracks.
In 2014, American hip hop recording artist will.i.am and singer Cody Wise, re-created "Urvasi Urvasi" as It's My Birthday.{{cite news | url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/happy-birthday-ar-rahman-12-songs-that-defined-mozart-madras-over-years-711164 | title=Happy Birthday AR Rahman: 12 songs that defined the Mozart of Madras over the years|first=Arkadev|last=Ghoshal|date=6 January 2017|newspaper=International Business Times|access-date=15 August 2020 }} It's My Birthday topped the charts in the United Kingdom, becoming will.i.am's tenth chart-topper there (including five as a member of The Black Eyed Peas).Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/JuM7hObGjWI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140528071646/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuM7hObGjWI&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuM7hObGjWI| title = will.i.am, Cody Wise - It's My Birthday (Official Music Video) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{bsn|date=March 2025}} In 2016, this song was featured in the Australian movie Lion.{{cn|date=March 2025}}
In early 2017, AR Rahman released the unplugged version, which was written with help from his fans. Among its differences were more contemporary references such as the 2016 US Election and demonetisation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mad-about-ar-rahman-s-urvasi-urvasi-unplugged-check-out-the-translation-from-tamil-2292033|website=dnaindia.com|title=Mad about AR Rahman's 'Urvasi Urvasi' unplugged? Check out the translation from Tamil}}
Yo Yo Honey Singh released a cover version called "Urvashi" in 2018.{{cite web |title=Urvashi Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VwgpYJ4q38 |website=YouTube |publisher=T-Series |date=September 28, 2018 |access-date=10 November 2020}}{{bsn|date=March 2025}} It was also re-used in online pharmacy application named pharmEasy's commercial.{{Citation|title=PharmEasy - Kharchnatyam|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PRo4dEkgu8|language=en|access-date=2022-01-04}}{{bsn|date=March 2025}}
In popular culture
The line "Take It Easy Policy" from "Urvasi Urvasi" was used as the title of Prabhu Deva's 2021 autobiography.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-09 |title=A tell-all audio book on Prabhu Deva |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2021/Aug/09/a-tell-all-audio-book-onprabhu-deva-2342054.html |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127170304/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2021/aug/09/a-tell-all-audio-book-onprabhu-deva-2342054.html |url-status=live }}
The song's name also inspired the title of Rajsirpy's 1996 film Take It Easy Urvasi.{{cite web|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/celebs/2017/oct/25/benny-dayal-is-bringing-back-the-classic-with-project-urvasi-4188.html|title=Benny Dayal is bringing back the classic with Project Urvasi|date=25 October 2017|access-date=10 November 2019|work=Indulge Express|archive-date=1 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101082709/https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/celebs/2017/oct/25/benny-dayal-is-bringing-back-the-classic-with-project-urvasi-4188.html|url-status=live}}