Zohran Mamdani made history by becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor and the youngest in a century! From the many moments during his victory speech, his Dhoom Machale exit instantly became viral.
The celebratory Bollywood song from Dhoom that blared during his speech was such a delight to watch, but what makes it even more iconic is a resurfaced tweet from 2021. Mamdani posted, “Dune Machale Dune Machale Dune” around the release of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune.
dune machale dune machale dune
And now four years later, the phrase has come full circle. So, let’s look at some more highlights from Mamdani’s victorious moment, and how he used his pop culture edge to win everyone over (along with his social work and genuine contribution to the people of New York, of course).
Other Highlights From New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Victory Speech
The speech that led up to the Dhoom Machale moment was packed with emotional highs and a roaring crowd. Zohran Mamdani opened with a nod to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, quoting his Tryst with Destiny speech.
He also emphasized unity, inclusion, and hope over fear and took a firm stance for all communities. After he addressed the ones who doubted that he could lead New York, Mamdani came in with a mic-drop moment directed squarely at Donald Trump.
So hear me President Trump when I say this, to get to any of us, you’ll have to get through all of us
He closed by expressing heartfelt gratitude toward his family and his campaign team, and then came the cue when he embraced his wife and mother, as the beat of Dhoom Machale filled the place.
How Zohran Mamdani Used Pop Culture and Films to Connect With Voters
Most politicians rely on boring, long speeches and whatnot to get their message across. They occasionally make one or two pop culture references to get the crowd going. But Zohran Mamdani is not the same, because cinema, songs, and entertainment aren’t just tools for him, but a part of his DNA.
Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair, is an acclaimed filmmaker, so he likely had more exposure to movies since childhood. If you go to his Instagram page, he’s doing Bollywood dances, dialogues, and trends that keep his voters engaged and build that human connection.
And that’s a big part of why Mamdani won New Yorkers over! So, how do you feel about him being the mayor of the biggest city in the USA?
