Mumbai’s iconic filmmaker Subhash Ghai has issued a heartfelt appeal to his fans on the 150th anniversary of India’s national song, Vande Mataram. In a poignant Instagram post, Ghai emphasized that singing this patriotic anthem goes beyond mere recitation—it’s about deeply understanding its profound significance.
‘Celebrating 150 years of Vande Mataram,’ Ghai captioned his post, urging followers to delve into the lyrics’ essence in both Hindi and English. He described the song as the soul of India’s culture, a powerful expression of pride, respect, and love for the motherland. ‘We must feel the six stanzas with true emotion and comprehension,’ he wrote, ending with ‘Jai Bharat.’
Penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s for his novel Anandamath, Vande Mataram’s opening stanzas in Sanskrit invoke Goddess Durga’s might and the glory of the homeland. The rest celebrate the nation’s breathtaking beauty and stir deep patriotic fervor. Rabindranath Tagore composed its melody, and it debuted publicly at the 1896 Indian National Congress session.
This anthem fueled India’s freedom struggle and Swadeshi movement, echoing in the Constituent Assembly’s first meeting on August 14, 1947. By 1950, it was officially declared India’s national song.
Ghai, renowned for blockbusters like Kalicharan and Hero, continues shaping talents through his Whistling Woods International institute. Recently, students there crafted a short film titled Rocketship, with its trailer out but no release date announced yet. His call resonates as a reminder to honor national symbols with authenticity in today’s fast-paced world.