That's the question that has been on everyone's mind, ever since the promos of Ram Gopal Verma's latest flick Rann hit the airwaves.

A lot of hue and cry (by the media, quite obviously) has been raised over whether RGV should have twisted the actual words of the Indian National Anthem, which is otherwise considered to be sanctified and divine. There has also been talk about the imposition of a ban on the Jana Gana Mana song from the movie.

My question is, what sense does the National Anthem make to today's Indian? If we look back in History, the Indian National Anthem was first composed for King George V - the "Overlord of India's Destiny". It was never written with the idea that it would become India's National Anthem a few years later. A loose translation of the National Anthem goes as follows: (source : Wikipedia)

O! Dispenser of India's destiny, thou art the ruler of the minds of all people
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, the Maratha country,
in the Dravida country, Utkala and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
it mingles in the rhapsodies of the pure waters of Yamuna and Ganga
They chant only thy name.
They seek only thy auspicious blessings.
They sing only the glory of thy victory.
The salvation of all people waits in thy hands,
O! Dispenser of India's destiny, thou art the ruler of the minds of all people
Victory to thee, Victory to thee, Victory to thee,
Victory, Victory, Victory, Victory to thee!

Keeping such a background in mind, I don't quite feel proud of our National Anthem. I might passionately sing out the National Anthem at a multiplex screen before the movie begins, and I might feel a tinge of pride in doing so; but deep within, I know that I sing only because it is my fundamental duty. The overwhelming pride, ironically, is mostly missing. The Constitution of India can direct the citizens to respect the National Anthem - that I shall comply with. But sadly, the Constitution of India cannot direct its citizens to take pride in singing the National Anthem.

So what if RGV re articulated the National Anthem and put in a few lines of his own? After taking a look at the promos of Rann, one realises that the in-your-face lyrics of the song from the movie are an apt reminder of the murky state of affairs in the country. I don't feel that by adding a few lines to the National Anthem and composing an altogether new song, RGV has shown any kind of disrespect towards the National Anthem.

In fact, in my opinion, the song must be looked at and treated as just another (hard-hitting) movie number, interspersed with lines from the National Anthem. And more or less, that's exactly what it is. I would call it an artiste's creative liberty at its very best. The imposition of a ban would imply the demise of free speech and individual opinion.


Lyrics:

Jana Gana Mana Rann hai..
Iss rann me, Zakhmi Bharat ka Bhagya Vidhaata..
Punjab Sindh Gujrat Maratha..
Ek doosre se lad ke mar rahe hain...
Iss desh ne humko ek kiya,
Aur hum desh ke tukde kar rahe hain..
Dravid Utkala Banga..!
Khoon bahakar ek rang ka, kar diya humne Tiranga,
Sarhadon pe jung aur, galiyon me fasaad-danga..
Vindh Himachal Yamuna Ganga, mein tezaab ubal raha hai,
Mar gaya sab ka zameer, Jaane kab zinda ho aage..
Phir bhi tava shubh naame jaage.. Tava shubha ashish maange..
Aag mein jal kar cheekh raha hai, Phir bhi koi nahi bachata..
Gaahe tava jaya gaatha..
Desh ka aisa haal hai lekin, Aapas me ladh rahe neta..
Jana Gana Mangal Dayak Jaya Hai..
Bharat ko bacha le Vidhata!
Jaya He! Ya yeh marann hai..
Jana Gana Mana Rann hai..


Go ahead and listen to the song. Digest the lyrics. And deep within, feel ashamed. Jai Hind. Or should I say Jaya He?

-HK
12:00 am; 8th May '09