Zohran Mamdani, an Indian-origin candidate for New York City mayor, has become an anthem in the Urdu language, with a video featuring a legendary Pakistani singer. The song, 'Mamdani mayor banaayenge, Zohran ko hi laayenge', is a collaboration between Saima Jahan, a granddaughter of the late Noor Jahan, and Dr Salma Kausar. The video, shared by fan accounts on Instagram, celebrates Mamdani's multicultural campaign and his potential impact on Pakistani political culture. The caption reads, 'You’re not relevant in Pakistani political culture until you have your own song, and [Zohran Mamdani has entered the big leagues with this one.' The video, which has English captions, has gained nearly 50,000 views since its release. Mamdani, a 32-year-old with an international family heritage, is the son of acclaimed Indian filmmakers Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, a globally renowned Ugandan-Indian academic. He was raised in Uganda, South Africa, and New York City, which has shaped his radical political perspective as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Currently, he is a New York State Assemblyman and is leading in prediction polls for the mayoral election, facing Islamophobia but highlighting his mixed heritage as a positive point.
