It's a first in Britain's electoral politics: a slick video in Hindi seeking votes from the influential Indian community has been released by the Conservative party, highlighting the party's colour--'neela' (blue)--and hitting all the right buttons for the community.
A duet song composed for the 2.37 min film appeals to voters to repose their trust in Prime Minister David Cameron, because 'Sapne, apne poore honge, vaade yeh poore karenge' (he will realise our dreams, keep his promises).
The video shows Cameron greeting religious leaders such as Morari Bapu with folded hands, while his wife Samantha appears at various Indian events decked in a sari. Cameron is shown visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar and gurdwaras in the UK.
VIDEO: Cameron, ga ga
Visuals accompanying the upbeat song include Cameron shaking hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 summit in Australia and unveiling the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square in the company of Amitabh Bachchan and Finance minister Arun Jaitley.
Dismissing the video, senior Labour MP from Southall Virendra Sharma told HT that the Indian community does not get swayed by Bollywood-style songs, but they use their intelligence and vote according to which party has the best policies. I am sure they will continue to support Labour this time too".
The Indian community has historically supported the Labour party, but ever since Cameron became leader of the Conservative party in 2005, he has assiduously wooed the Indian community, often appearing at religious events and places.
Cameron visited India three times during his prime ministership from 2010-15.
The video, released and uploaded on Youtube on Friday, soon clocked over 20,000 views. Labour is yet to respond to the video.
The political lyrics of the video's theme song:
'Neela hai asmaan, gagan vishaal
Yehi rang hai Britain ki shaan
Ao hum sab ghul mil jaye
Is neele rang ke saath
David Cameron, David Cameron
Tham lo inka haath
Jo leke chale hum subko apne saath
Sapne, apne poore honge
Vaade yeh poore karenge
Jo bhi kam liya David ne
Poora karke chhodenge
Inka saath na chhodo, inpe bharosa rakhho
Inka saath na chhodo, inke range mein rang lo
Dismissing the video, senior Labour MP from Southall Virendra Sharma told HT that the Indian community does not get swayed by Bollywood-style songs, but they use their intelligence and vote according to which party has the best policies. I am sure they will continue to support Labour this time too".
The Indian community has historically supported the Labour party, but ever since Cameron became leader of the Conservative party in 2005, he has assiduously wooed the Indian community, often appearing at religious events and places.
Cameron visited India three times during his prime ministership from 2010-15.
The video, released and uploaded on Youtube on Friday, soon clocked over 20,000 views. Labour is yet to respond to the video.
The political lyrics of the video's theme song:
'Neela hai asmaan, gagan vishaal
Yehi rang hai Britain ki shaan
Ao hum sab ghul mil jaye
Is neele rang ke saath
David Cameron, David Cameron
Tham lo inka haath
Jo leke chale hum subko apne saath
Sapne, apne poore honge
Vaade yeh poore karenge
Jo bhi kam liya David ne
Poora karke chhodenge
Inka saath na chhodo, inpe bharosa rakhho
Inka saath na chhodo, inke range mein rang lo