Those of us staying on top of social media trends might’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon recently: Bappi Lahiri’s disco classic ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ is now trending in China.
《借米》火了！一切信号都告诉你 #粮食危机 pic.twitter.com/HXHScw1cP4
— 历史铭记（澳喜特战旅.第6号） (@guozhanshi) October 30, 2022
And another…. And there are thousands more! pic.twitter.com/z7fqu0KUFC
— Ananth Krishnan (@ananthkrishnan) October 31, 2022
Turns out, the popular hit from Bollywood film Disco Dancer (1982) has become a protest anthem of sorts in the country. Did you know that, in Mandarin, the words ‘jimmy jimmy’ (or ‘jie mi jie mi’) translate to ‘give me rice’?
As the Chinese population continues to face extended lockdowns from Xi Jinping government’s strict zero COVID policy, they’re now using the song to express their frustration about lack of food and uncertainty about the future.
People in China trapped in their homes due to the lockdown have turned to the Indian song, “Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja” to convey their frustration over the Govt’s strict Zero covid policy..
In mandarin “Jie MI Jie Mi’ translates into “Give Me Rice, Give Me Rice”
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/xv17j3a6fj— MαverΐcҜ 🇮🇳 (@iMavvy_) November 2, 2022
#BappiLahiri‘s ‘#JimmyJimmy‘ becomes a #Covid #lockdown anthem in #China 😆🕺 pic.twitter.com/0EVufiRoYW
— Shyamanga Barooah ☮ (@Shyamanga) November 1, 2022
All over social media, people are marvelling at the interesting interpretations of “Jimmy Jimmy” by the Chinese public as they hold empty rice vessels and mouth the Hindi words.
Despite tense relations between the two countries over the years, Bollywood actually remains fairly popular in China. Films like 3 Idiots (2009), Hindi Medium (2017), and Dangal (2016) have been met with “Indian film fever” over the years.
Earlier this year, Sushant Singh Rajput’s film Chhichore (2019) ended its Chinese box office run making around USD $3 million.
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