In August last year, YouTube artist Rektron aka Raj in Mumbai was sipping a cup of chai outside a tea stall when he heard the song Manike Mage Hithe for the first time.
“Our chaiwala [tea seller] was making tea and suddenly his phone rang. This song was his ringtone,” Rektron tells The National. He couldn’t get the tune out of his head. After several failed attempts searching for the track online, Rektron came across the Sinhala-language official cover version of Manike Mage Hithe, sung by Sri Lankan artists Yohani and Satheeshan Rathnayaka on YouTube.
A few days later, Rektron released a Hindi cover of Manike Mage Hithe. “I remember it was the morning of August 17. I just published it and fell asleep. When I woke up at 2pm, my phone was buzzing. I had 500,000 views,” says Rektron, “I was shocked. How could this happen?”
Within a day, Rektron’s cover received one million views on YouTube — now it has more than 38 million views.
This isn’t the only cover version of Manike Mage Hithe. Since the release of the official Sinhala-language song seven months ago, it has been covered by various artists across the world in a number of languages. Some of these versions include a Bengali cover with more than three million views, a Nepali cover and a recent English cover released by Dutch singer Emma Heesters.
The song is a global hit now, with 130 million views, favoured by people from chai stalls in India to Bollywood celebrities such as Madhuri Dixit and Jacqueline Fernandez. And recently, another Hindi cover of the song became the official poll anthem of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, for the state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Despite the immense popularity of Yohani's viral version, it was also a cover of the Sinhala song released in July 2020, by Rathnayaka and composed by Chamath Sangeeth. Artist Dulan ARX wrote the lyrics.
“The original song was [a] sort of an experiment. We wanted to see how people would receive it,” says Rathnayaka. Later in 2021, Rathnayaka worked on the official cover with Yohani, who performed the song at Expo 2020 Dubai on Saturday, March 5.
“Within three weeks after Yohani and I released the cover, we started getting a few comments from the Indian audience.”
Rathnayaka credits the song's popularity in India to a number of factors. “First, both mine and Yohani’s names have a subtle Indian resemblance. And some of the Sinhala lyrics — if you take words like manahari for example — have a Hindi touch," he says.
But above all, Rathnayaka says the song became popular thanks to its strong sonic qualities. “It’s a very catchy tune that you can’t easily forget.”
Rathnayaka believes that the song grew in popularity when child artist Miah Kutty from Kerala sang it live on television. “And then, [Bollywood superstar] Amitabh Bachchan tweeted about it. After that, it was everywhere,” he says.
YouTube artists Jalaj and Rajat Sharma, who post covers under the name JalRaj, also recorded a Hindi version.
“We received the request to cover Manike Mage Hithe in almost every second comment on YouTube. That’s when we decided to look for this song," the siblings, from Mohali in Punjab, say. "The tune and the lyrics, although we couldn’t understand a word [of it], straight away went into our head. It captures your soul, so it was clear why everyone wanted us to cover it."
The song’s popularity in India was also one of the reasons why BJP picked it up for their election campaign, says Urmi Chanda, Harmony scholar at University of Wales Trinity Saint David. “BJP plays an A-game when it comes to using the media. Their first major political success seven years ago hinged largely on the success of their media campaign. They've continued to harness this potent force,” says Chanda.
“Using the Sri Lankan super-hit Manike Mage Hithe as the template for their political anthem in UP shows that they know what works with the masses, especially the youth. Yes, the original song has musical merit, but that's not the sole reason for it being picked. Its insane popularity among Indian audiences, especially on social media platforms, is what drives this choice. It is catchy and it is immediately recognisable."
Rathnayaka says he came to know about the BJP anthem on social media. “They didn’t reach out to me. I don’t know if they sought permission from Chamath, who’s the music composer of the song,” he says.
No official acknowledgement or a statement was given to Yohani either, Chanda says. “If they didn’t inform the original artists, it’s blatant lifting to use a popular song for political ideologies.”
But Rathnayaka is happy that the song is taking Sri Lankan music global.
“I think it’s the first time a song from Sri Lanka became a viral hit across the world. It was so humbling to see how people from different countries came to embrace this song despite the political tensions between our countries," he says. "People loved and appreciated music for music. I come from a small island nation, and to see something like this was a special feeling.”
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas
Three stars
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
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Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
