Mera Joota Hai Japani

"Mera Joota Hai Japani" (pronounced [ˈmeːɾɑː ˈdʒuːtaː ɦɛː dʒaːˈpaːniː]; lit. 'My Shoes are Japanese') is a Hindi song with music by Shankar Jaikishan and lyrics by Shailendra, written for the 1955 Bollywood film Shree 420. It was performed by popular Bollywood star Raj Kapoor, though actually sung by playback singer Mukesh.

In the song, the narrator asserts pride in being Indian, despite their clothes all being from other countries. The chorus runs:

मेरा जूता है जापानी, ये पतलून इङ्ग्लिस्तानी

सर पे लाल टोपी रूसी, फ़िर भी दिल है हिन्दुस्तानी

Merā jūtā hai Jāpānī, ye patlūn Iṅglistānī

Sar pe lāl ṭopī Rūsī, fir bhī dil hai Hindustānī

My shoes are Japanese, these trousers are English;

The red cap on my head is Russian, but still my heart is Indian.

Due to its patriotic themes, the song was widely embraced in its time as a representation of the newly sovereign nation of India.[1] As India was gaining its status as a sovereign democratic republic,[2] this song depicted the casting off of the colonialist yoke and the recognition of the internationalist aim of uniting to make India and the world a better place.

The song was also a satirical retort at some of the political leaders and rich upper class of the newly independent India, who boasted of being swadeshi in their clothes, but were extremely western in their thought, outlook, affiliations and deeds.[3]

This song gained international fame, particularly in the Soviet Union.