Even though I was born in Calcutta, we moved to Singapore when I was barely 3-4 years of age. I lived my entire life abroad and always participated in the Singapore National Day Parade – everything was wonderful, the spirit of doing something for the country I lived in was amazing. However, I always wondered what it would be like to celebrate Independence Day in India.
I was always curious to know and read about the history of India (I’m sure it’s quite common amongst us NRIs) and always desired to do something for the monumental day – 15 August. That’s when my friend, Pooja Das (PD), approached me with a beautiful song she had composed for the Independence Day. PD wanted me to be a part of the musical endeavor. To speak highly about India or to put up status messages wishing each other Independence Day is one thing but to actually do something for the country takes a lot of dedication, talent and hard work.
VANDE MATARAM – A Musical. You’ve heard the original, you’ve heard other versions, but isn’t it time someone brought a new lease of life into the iconic song that defines the spirit of India’s freedom movement? I am honoured to be a small part of this Independence Day Campaign. To be a part of something that is surely going to go down in the musical history of India… Spot me if you can!
With gentle sound of chimes in the background, the video begins with Pooja’s soothing voice uttering “Vande Mataram” – a term that means “Hail Mother India”. We then see iconic shots of the Taj Mahal, historic landmarks and different landscapes within India. There is a distinct folk flavour maintained in the beginning portions of the music. The middle bit of the video then shifts to celebrate the beauty of India showcasing different art forms, dance forms (and that’s where I come in .. hehe). The music takes a grand and ominous leap. I must say that the singers have sung with a lot of passion. The video then captures the rapid growth of India as the music shifts to guitar strums, giving the song a whole new western groove. The pace picks up and finally the video celebrates India’s legacy with a beautiful shehnai playing in the background that almost lends a spiritual touch to the entire song.
Well, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Don’t forget to subscribe to Pooja’s YouTube Channel and show her your support.
On that note, here’s wishing a very Happy Independence Day to everyone on Spotlight!
Xoxo
Ritwika
