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News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Bharat Bala Recalls AR Rahman Recording Vande Mataram At 2 AM: ‘Woke Up, Lit A Candle'
Last Updated: Filmmaker Bharat Bala revealed that AR Rahman made a separate studio to record the song. AR Rahman's iconic 1997 rendition of Vande Mataram remains a classic hit to this day. Reminiscing about the old times, filmmaker Bharat Bala shared behind-the-scenes stories of recording this iconic track. Bala, who directed the music video, shocked fans as he revealed that AR Rahman recorded the track past midnight. AR Rahman Recorded The Song At 2 AM During an interview with The Lallantop, Bala revealed that AR Rahman made a separate studio to record the song. 'He made a separate studio on the second floor for this project. We were trying, but nothing was working out till six months," Bala recalled, sharing that one day AR Rahman woke up at 2 am and wanted to record the song. 'He suddenly woke up at 2 am. He made everything spiritual. He lit a candle that came from Ajmer Dargah and woke me up. He asked me to call the sound engineer, but there was no one," he added, revealing that he was the one who recorded the track with Rahman without anyone else present at the studio. Bala further stated that Rahman wanted him to sit down with him and work on the song. 'I didn't want to take responsibility for recording in those 15 minutes. But nobody was there. He went into the recording studio and started singing. 'Maa Tujhe Salaam.' That emotion…I was in tears!" Bala narrated the whole event. Filmmaker Bharat Bala's Vision Behind Vande Mataram Music Video Bala was also seen sharing his thoughts behind making the music video. While talking about the song, Bala shared that he wanted to go for a more romantic vibe than making it purely patriotic. 'I wanted to make an idea called Vande Mataram, not just a music video," he stated, revealing that he worked on it for nearly six months. 'Uss zamaane mein vo All India Radio mein aata tha, ek purana sa scratch tha. There was no feeling as such; I wanted to change that. Even though we took the idea of creating that for India, we wanted to keep it romantic. It's a love song for your country, your mother. That's why it's much deeper and stays like that even today," he said. Additionally, Bala confessed that there was no prior planning or storyboarding involved; he just wanted to capture the real people. 'I was clear about one thing: I will film with real people; there will be flags, and people of every village and landscape will be filmed artistically," he stated. 'Jahan bhi jayenge, ek bada jhanda rakhenge, logon ko ikkattha karenge, and we will shoot it. No makeup, no choreography, but it should be epic," Bala revealed about his vision. The music video was ultimately filmed within 20-25 days and was out in another ten days. First Published: July 26, 2025, 13:20 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bharat Bala recalls AR Rahman recording Vande Mataram song at 2AM, says he makes everything spiritual: 'He lit a candle that comes from Ajmer dargah...'
Bharat Bala revealed that 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' aimed to be a love song for India, not just a patriotic anthem. AR Rahman recorded the iconic track at 2 a.m. after a spiritual awakening, using a candle from Ajmer Dargah. The final version is the raw, unedited take from that night, capturing pure emotion. 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' was more than just a song—it was a moment in history. Nearly three decades later, AR Rahman's 1997 rendition of Vande Mataram still echoes across generations. But few know the intimate, almost spiritual circumstances under which the track came to life. A love song, not a patriotic slogan During a conversation with The Lallantop, filmmaker Bharat Bala revealed that his vision for Vande Mataram went beyond a conventional patriotic anthem. He wanted the song to carry a romantic tone — a heartfelt ode to the country, rather than a jingoistic message. Bala shared that the idea was in development for nearly six months, inspired by an old scratch version that once aired on All India Radio. According to him, the goal was to craft something deeper — a love song for the nation and its people, one that would resonate emotionally and stand the test of time. A 2AM recording sparked by faith He also recalled the lengths AR Rahman went to for the recording of Vande Mataram. Rahman had set up a dedicated studio on the second floor of his home solely for the project. Despite months of effort, the right moment didn't arrive—until one night. Bala shared that they had been sleeping on the studio floor when Rahman suddenly woke up at 2 a.m., lit a candle brought from the Ajmer Dargah to set a spiritual tone, and felt inspired to record. With no sound engineer available at that hour, they still decided to capture the magic as it unfolded. Bharat went on to reveal that the version of Vande Mataram we hear today is the very same raw take recorded that night—without any retakes or refinements. With no sound engineer present, Rahman asked Bala to sit with him and assist. Though hesitant to take on the responsibility, Bala agreed, and within 15 minutes, Rahman stepped into the booth and began singing 'Maa Tujhe Salaam.' The emotion was so overwhelming that Bala was moved to tears. That powerful, impromptu rendition—captured in complete solitude—became the final version used in the now-iconic track. Details of the video Bala further shared that the Vande Mataram video was made with minimal planning and maximum emotion. There was no storyboarding or elaborate prep—instead, he focused on capturing real people, real landscapes, and genuine emotion. The vision was simple yet powerful: to shoot across diverse regions of India with a giant flag, gathering locals at each spot. There was no makeup, no choreography, no rehearsals—just raw, unscripted patriotism filmed artistically. The shoot wrapped in just 20–25 days, and Bala had the final video ready within another ten. His goal was clear: to make something epic, honest, and deeply human.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
AR Rahman sang ‘Vande Matram' at 2 am, filmmaker recalls wanting to keep it ‘romantic': ‘I was in tears…vohi recording aaj gaane mein hai'
AR Rahman's 1997 rendition of 'Vande Matram' remains an iconic track to this day. . In a recent interview, filmmaker Bharat Bala, who directed the music video of the song, revealed that Rahman recorded the track at 2 a.m. He also reminisced about the organic and natural approach they took while filming 'Vande Mataram'. During a conversation with The Lallantop, Bala shared that he wanted the song to have a 'romantic' vibe, instead of purely patriotic. 'I wanted to make an idea called Vande Matram, not just a music video. Worked on it for six months. Uss zamaane mein vo All India Radio mein aata tha, ek puraana sa scratch tha. There was no feeling as such, I wanted to change that. Even though we took the idea of creating that for India, but we wanted to keep it romantic. It should be like a love song, not patriotic or jingoistic. It's a love song for your country, your mother. That's why it's much deeper and stays like that even today,' he said. AR Rahman had made a separate studio to record the track. 'He made a separate studio on the second floor for this project. We were trying but nothing was working out till six months. We used to sleep on the floor in his studio. He suddenly woke up at 2 am. He makes everything spiritual. He lit a candle that comes from Ajmer dargah and woke me up. He asked me to call the sound engineer, but there was no one,' he shared. ALSO READ | AR Rahman joins forces with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for his AI project Secret Mountain, a musical metaverse Bharat Bala recorded the track with Rahman without anyone else present in the room and that version was used in the OG song. 'He asked me to sit with him and work on the song. I didn't want to take responsibility of the recording in those 15 minutes. But, nobody was there, it was quiet, everything started moving. He went in the recording studio and started singing 'Maa Tujhe Salaam'. That emotion…I was in tears! Merko nahi pata kya hua, he finished singing. That is the very recording jo uss gaane mein hai. We didn't refine it,' he revealed. The filmmaker continued, 'There wasn't any storyboarding or planning. I was clear about one thing, I will film with real people, there will be flags and people of every village and landscape will be filmed artistically. We identified the location, kahin recce nahi kia tha. It was filmed within 20-25 days, I got the video out in another ten days. Jahan bhi jayenge, ek bada jhanda rakhenge, logon ko ikkattha karenge and we will shoot it. No makeup, no choreography, but it should be epic.'
India.com
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This singer who gave tough competition to Lata Mangeshkar, made 170 songs, later faded into poverty, Salman Khan helped her; She was...
Between 1950 and 1970, the golden age of Hindi cinema echoed with the voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi. Their songs played on every radio station, at every celebration, and became an integral part of India's musical identity. But there was another voice, soaked in simplicity, pain, and raw emotion—that once shared the stage with these legends. Her name was Mubarak Begum. Where did her journey in music begin? Mubarak Begum began singing for All India Radio in her childhood. Her first break in films came in 1949, with the movie Aiye , where she sang 'Mohe Aane Lagi Angdaayi' and also shared a duet with Lata Mangeshkar, 'Aao Chale Sakhi Wahan'. The years that followed brought her moments of glory. In Devdas (1955), she gave us 'Woh Na Aayenge Palat Kar', a haunting melody. She moved hearts with 'Hum Haal-e-Dil Sunayenge' in Madhumati (1958). But it was her soulful rendition of 'Kabhi Tanhaiyon Mein Yun' from Hamari Yaad Aayegi (1961) that became her most iconic song. How many songs did she sing? In her lifetime, Mubarak Begum sang in over 110 films, lending her voice to more than 170 songs. Her voice had sweetness, pain, and purity, yet, as the industry evolved, support dwindled. New trends came. New voices took over. Work dried up. By the 1970s, she had almost entirely vanished from the playback scene. But she never gave up her love for music. What happened to her later in life? Age caught up. Her health declined. So did her financial condition. She lived with her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in a tiny one-room flat in Mumbai's Jogeshwari area. Her family barely managed to survive. Her only steady income came from her late husband's meagre pension. Her son worked occasionally as a driver, and her daughter-in-law, Zarina Hussain Sheikh, became her full-time caregiver. Did anyone from the film industry help her? When things got worse, the family had to ask for help. And surprisingly, Salman Khan was the only person from the industry who came forward regularly. Zarina shared with the media, 'Salman Khan was the only one who kept helping us and bore all of her medical expenses.' In 2016, even then-minister Vinod Tawde extended a hand. While government aid didn't materialise, a trust run by his associates helped with some financial relief. How did her story end? Mubarak Begum breathed her last on 18 July 2016, at the age of 80. No grand tributes. No star-studded send-off. Just silence. The voice that once brought emotion to the silver screen slipped away quietly, like the last note of an old, forgotten song.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
A MiG-21 Crash Made Rang De Basanti A Cult In 2006. 19 Years Later, The Fighter Jet Is Retiring
Almost two decades ago, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Rang De Basanti broke new ground. The 2006 film was both a box office and critical hit with the youth at the centre of the story revolving around current affairs. It had a star-studded ensemble cast of Aamir Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Siddharth, Atul Kulkarni, Soha Ali Khan, R Madhavan, Anupam Kher, and Waheeda Rehman. AR Rahman's music and Prasoon Joshi (now CBFC chairperson)'s lyrics made it a memorable soundtrack. More than that, Rang De Basanti was the first film to put the MiG-21 fighter jet under the scanner as by the time the ageing plane had a long history of fatal crashes, lending it the nickname "flying coffin". On Tuesday, the Indian Air Force announced that the MiG-21 will be phased out of active service by September, to be replaced by the newer and nimbler Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. Here's what revisiting the controversy around MiG-21 that erupted when Rang De Basanti was up for release on the Republic Day of 2006. Rang De Basanti And MIG-21 Rang De Basanti follows a group of young college students who are devastated when Indian Air Force Officer Flight Lieutenant Ajay Singh Rathod (Madhavan), one of their friend's Sonia's fiance, is killed when his MiG-21 jet malfunctions and crashes. The government pins the blame of the incident on Ajay, calling it pilot error and shuts the case close. Sonia (Soha) and her friends refuse to accept it as reality. They soon find out that Defence Minister VK Shastri (Mohan Agashe) signed a deal for importing cheap parts for the MiG-21 aircraft for a personal favor. It also comes as a massive shock for Karan (Siddharth) when he discovers that his father Rajnath Singhania (Kher) played a key role in the deal. Hurt and angry by the revelation, the friends assassinate the Defence Minister and Karan kills his own father. Later, the group takes control of an All India Radio station, letting its employees go. Karan goes on air and reveals the defence ministry's corruption to the public. The group of friends are killed by the police later. The Rang De Basanti Controversy Around The MIG-21 The film showed the Defence Minister as corrupt. Not only that the Defence Minister is also "brought to justice" by the youth of today who avenge the unfortunate death of their friend, an IAF officer, by assassinating him. It would be surprising had Rang De Basanti got a clearance for the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) as well as the government of the day -- Pranab Mukherjee was the Defence Minister at the time under then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. According to producer Ronnie Screwvala, who backed the film via UTV Motion Pictures, the then CBFC chairperson Sharmila Tagore told him that the Censor Board was "not ready to issue the censor certificate" to Rang De Basanti. "Not that we found anything offensive about your film, just that we want you to get approval from the air force and the defence ministry before we sign off... Look, we're trying to get a special screening organised tomorrow on an emergency basis with the head of the air force. We just want them to see the movie," Ronnie Screwvala wrote in a 2015 opinion piece. The producer further wrote that Aamir Khan was of the opinion that they should protest if things didn't work out for them after the screening. "I think we've made the movie with a very clean heart. We're as patriotic as the next guy. I'm telling you, Ronnie, if they want us to cut a single frame of that film, I'm not going to allow it. In that case, let's not release it," the Bollywood star said as quoted by Ronnie Screwvala. The producer said the team of Rang De Basanti went to Delhi for the screening, which was a "preview, not a review" as Air Marshal Padamjit Singh Ahluwalia put it. "Not only was the head of the air force in attendance, but the heads of the Army and the Navy, as well as the then defence minister, Pranab Mukherjee. Two-and-a-half hours later when the lights came up, Rakeysh, Aamir and I went in front of the group to answer questions. The heads of the Army and the Navy both liked the film and had little to say." Pranab Mukherjee asked, "I really enjoyed the movie, too. What's the problem?" The defence minister's words must have come as a relief to the makers. But it was not over yet. Ronnie Screwvala said Air Marshal Padamjit Singh Ahluwalia, the head of the Indian Air Force, was still left to offer his opinion. "I think it's a fine movie... And we would never censor a movie except under extreme circumstances... All I can tell you is that I get about 10 calls a month from the mothers of my boys who fly the MiGs. Of course, they're concerned about their sons' safety. We all are. Who wouldn't be? But after this movie, I'm going to get 100 calls a month. Best of luck," the chief of the IAF said. Real-Life Flight Lieutenant Ajay Singh Rathod Madhavan's character of Flight Lieutenant Ajay Singh Rathod in Rang De Basanti was based on Flight Lieutenant Abhijit Gadgil who died in a MiG-21 crash in 2001. After his death, his parents Kavita Gadgil and Captain Anil Gadgil fought with the government seeking improvements in aircraft safety. Rang De Basanti got a clean chit from the government and other authorities, was cleared by the CBFC, went on to do great business at the box office (around Rs 100 crore at the time which was massive), earned critical acclaim and won multiple National Awards, brought an important hotbutton topic to the fore, and continues to live in public memory as a radical piece of art. The film did something that is almost impossible today.
