New Delhi. With time the form of ‘Vande Mataram’ also changed. The tune of this national song has been echoed many times in Bollywood. From classical music to modern fusion, artists from different eras lent their voices to it. From Lata Mangeshkar to A.R. From Rahman, Vishal-Shekhar to Shankar Mahadevan, every version made it the national anthem of their generation.
The first echo of ‘Vande Mataram’ in Indian cinema was heard in the 1952 film ‘Anand Math’. This song, sung by Lata Mangeshkar and composed by Hemant Kumar, is still considered the most iconic version. This song in the film brings alive the spirit of freedom struggle and sacrifice.
AR Rahman immortalized the song
After this in 1997, A.R. Rahman presented it in a completely new style in the form of ‘Vande Mataram (Mother Salute to You)’. It was a non-film independent album, directed by Bharat Bala and Mehboob. With the fusion of rock, classical and modern, this track brought a new enthusiasm of patriotism among the youth.
A glimpse of ‘Vande Mataram’ was also seen in the 2001 superhit film ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’. This song, sung by Usha Uthup and Kavita Krishnamurthy, comes at the end of the film and combines the feelings of family and patriotism.
The confluence of dance and patriotism was seen in the 2015 film ‘ABCD 2’, where Sachin-Jigar presented it with energetic beats. This version was especially inspiring for the young audience.
‘Vande Mataram’ got a modern twist
Even in recent years, this song has been continuously creating new identities. Shankar Mahadevan’s voice in the 2022 film ‘Code Name: Tricolor’ gave it a serious and emotional look. Vishal-Shekhar’s ‘Vande Mataram – The Fighter Anthem’ in ‘Fighter’ released in 2024 became extremely popular. In the same year, its modern anthem style version was also heard in ‘Operation Valentine’, which made the climax of the film more impressive.
Apart from this, in 2021, Tiger Shroff released the independent version of ‘Vande Mataram’, which was also his Hindi singing debut. Composed with the music of Vishal Mishra, this song was full of youthful enthusiasm.
‘Vande Mataram’ was composed by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, which was published in the magazine ‘Bangadarshan’ on 7 November 1875 and later became a part of his novel ‘Anandamath’. This song, which worships the motherland as a goddess, will complete 150 years in 2025. On this historic occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a year-long nationwide celebration from Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on 7 November 2025, which will continue till 7 November 2026.
