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Posted: 2024-07-26 00:23:39

In short:

Aasa Kooda, Tamil for "my growing desire" is a romantic song that is riding high on the Global Top 100 Music Videos chart on YouTube.

It's the first independent Tamil song to make the list. 

What's next?

Western Sydney musician Sathyan Ilanko, who wrote the lyrics to Aasa Kooda, has released new music off the back of the track's success, telling ABC News it's all still sinking in.

A 21-year-old from St Clair in Western Sydney has gone global with the Tamil song Aasa Kooda.

It is the first song singer-songwriter Sathyan Ilanko has written for another artist as a lyricist.

"It hasn't really hit me yet," Ilanko told ABC News, speaking for the first time to a media outlet.

"I'm like, 'Yo, OK, first song I wrote, I guess I just see the numbers, [and] I can tell people like it.'

"It's definitely a whole team. There's obviously beautiful music production that's been done to a beautiful composition. I hope people think the lyrics are beautiful as well," he laughs.

The song is performed by international artists Sai Abhyankkar and Sai Smriti, with music composition by Abhyankkar.

It was released June 13, and in a little over a month it has amassed more than 44 million views on YouTube, in excess of 30 million streams on Spotify, and it has featured in about 500,000 videos by social media users on platforms such as TikTok.

The song is particularly popular in India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates.

At the time of writing, it was sitting at number 15 on the Global Top 100 Music Videos chart on YouTube, the first independent Tamil song to make the list.

To put that in perspective, Kendrick Lamar is at number three with Not Like Us. And Sabrina Carpenter's hit Espresso is at 27.

A romantic song written in Tamil

Like a lot of modern and not-so-modern pop, Aasa Kooda is a love song.

"Aasa Kooda pretty much means my growing desire," says Ilanko.

Sathyan Ilanko in a black and white photo wearing a beanie, arm to head, not smiling, bum bag slung over shoulder

Ilanko is blown away by the success of the track.(Supplied: Vishnu Edi)

Ilanko was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia with his parents when he was a year old. His father is from Sri Lanka and his mother from India, both are Tamil.

Ilanko, who has a younger sister who is also fluent in Tamil, says he spoke the language growing up, and also learnt how to read and write, but is still learning.

"Language is very important to us," he says.

"We just have a lot of love for our language and a determination to keep it living."

Ilanko has also sung and written songs for Kollywood, the Tamil film industry.

He's hoping to capitalise on the popularity of the Aasa Kooda as he releases his own music as an artist.

He's teamed up with Tamil rapper Ratty Adhiththan, who is based in Europe, on the song Nethu Adicha Sarakku out now.

Sathyan Ilanko with arms raised as if dancing, wearing sunglasses, a backwards cap and black basketball jersey

Ilanko has released new music out now.(Supplied: Vishnu Edi)

"I love to collab because of what comes out of it, these two different visions or three different visions coming together.

"I think it's a good thing for music."

Ilanko's parents beaming with pride   

Ilanko's mother Subashini Ilanko can't contain her pride.

"We are very proud that our son is part of this great production," she told ABC News.

"He is the only person from overseas to be a part of this production.

"As a migrant, like every other parent, we know how challenging it is to take our language to the next generation.

"My son, who was born in New Zealand and [has] been living here since the age of one, has not only learnt our language well but also taken it to a professional level."

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